What to expect at your initial consultation

Your free initial consultation with your counsellor is for you and your counsellor to make sure that you are a good fit for each other. Listen to your counsellor as they explain their approach and how they would work with you. If you feel like your counsellor is the right person to help you on your journey you can book a follow up appointment with them. If you feel like your counsellor wasn't the right match for you, that's okay! You can do the matching steps again and book another free initial consultation with a new counsellor.

Sometimes the counsellor you meet with might feel like they aren't the right match for you. This has nothing to do with you personally or your concerns. Sometimes a counsellor might not specialize in an area you want help with and they might think someone else would be a better match for your goals and presenting concerns. Although this can feel discouraging at times, since seeking help can be a hard step to take, this is a natural part of the process. Finding a counsellor who has the right areas of specialty will get you the best possible care and a partner for your mental health journey.

Questions to consider asking in your initial consultation

It can be hard to think of questions to ask a prospective counsellor when you are asked on the spot. Here are some different themes and questions you could ask about:

Table 2. 

Theme	Questions
Their background and qualifications	What schools of therapy do you use most often? Why did you want to become a mental health counsellor? How does your lived experience impact your practice? Are you comfortable supporting someone with the concerns and specializations I requested during the matching survey? (ex. diagnoses, identities, specialities, languages, religions, etc.)
Their treatment philosophy	What does it mean for your clients to be well? How do you determine when a client is finished therapy? What is your strategy for developing a treatment plan? Do you assign homework after sessions?
Payment and number of sessions	Can I get tax receipts? How many sessions do we have together? How often will we meet?
Dealing with conflict	What instances would cause you to terminate a counselling relationship? How do you approach situations where you think a client is avoiding certain issues?
How will you be supported	Anything else you think will help you feel supported in building a working relationship with the counsellor