Finding the right therapist in the Fort Smith area can be challenging. Not because they are hard to find, but there are so many good therapists out there that it can be difficult to choose the one that is right for you. If the therapist offers a free consultation, take advantage of that! In this post, I want to help you come up with a game plan for what to ask a potential therapist or counselor in the Fort Smith area before you decide to schedule an appointment with them.
If you are planning to do a free consultation with a potential therapist, you’ll get a better idea of whether or not this therapist is right for you if you’ve taken some time to plan out the questions you’re going to ask.
Think of it as an interview! You are essentially the one who is hiring the therapist, so it’s important to make sure that you are hiring the best candidate for your mental health needs.
Here are 13 Questions to Ask A Therapist in the Fort Smith area
- How long have you been practicing therapy?
This is a good question to start off with because it opens the door to allowing the therapist to give you a lot of information about their training, where they studied and the kind of experience they’ve had in providing therapy. - What kind of license or certification do you have?
The title “therapist” or “counselor” includes a few different disciplines in the mental health field. There are Psychiatrists who have a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and specialize in mental health disorders. There are also Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (NP or APRN) who also specialize in mental health treatment. Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are the only mental health providers able to prescribe medicine. Psychologists have a Ph.D. in psychology and many of them are able to provide psychological examinations in addition to therapy. Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) have completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work. And Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) have completed a Master’s Degree focusing on individual or family therapy. - What is your approach to therapy?
There are several different philosophies that have evolved in the mental health field and therapists usually have one philosophy or “theoretical orientation” that they use when working with clients. Some of the common ones are Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Humanistic Therapy. In addition, therapists can get certified in specialized treatment approaches like Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Hypnotherapy, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and many, many others. - How much experience do you have working with people with my issues?
Similar to the previous question, it’s important to not only know about their approach to therapy, but how they think their approach would best help you. You also want to make sure that the therapist has enough experience helping people with your issue that they are comfortable working with you and you are comfortable trusting them with your mental wellbeing. - How often do you meet with clients?
For most therapists, this will depend on the severity of the issues as well as availability. Typically therapists will encourage clients to meet once a week or every other week. Ask if the frequency can change if your circumstances change. For example, if a crisis occurs, will they see you twice a week for a while? - Do you provide therapy online?
Online therapy has become more popular over the past few years, especially since the pandemic when almost all therapy was provided online and every insurance company was covering it. Online sessions can make therapy more accessible if there are transportation issues or other challenges to meeting in person. Since the pandemic, some insurance companies have changed their policies for online therapy, so that is something to look into if you are interested in online therapy. - How do you track progress in therapy?
Therapists will work with you on developing a treatment plan at your initial intake session. The treatment plan helps to direct the course of treatment as well as provide a way of identifying how much progress has been made over a given time period. Some therapists will use questionnaires at the beginning of treatment and at each follow up session to see if things are getting better or worse. - How long does therapy last?
This is an important question, but there isn’t a cut and dry answer. It will really depend on the severity of the issues. However, it is important to ask this question in the beginning because it ties in very closely to your treatment plan. Most people do not want to be in therapy forever. So it’s important to begin thinking about how you will know when therapy is complete and how quickly you can get there. - Do you prescribe medication?
We discussed this in Question 2, but asking about medication is still an important topic to cover with any therapist. Not everyone needs medication, but some people do. So even if your therapist can’t prescribe medication, they should be comfortable with making a referral to someone who can if you and your therapist feel it’s necessary. - What happens if therapy isn’t working?
Unfortunately, sometimes therapy doesn’t bring about the results that you are looking for. There could be a number of reasons, but in most cases, a referral to a different therapist will be in your best interest. After a few sessions, if you or your therapist feel like therapy isn’t working, then the therapist should have enough of an understanding of your needs to be able to make a referral to a different therapist who would be a better match for you. Therapy is about getting you the help you need. - How much do you charge for therapy?
Therapists charge different rates based on their licenses, but in the Fort Smith area, typical rates are between $120 – $150 per 50 minute session. If your insurance covers therapy, you may still be responsible for a copay or deductible. Some therapists may provide a “sliding scale” for their rates based on your income. - Do you accept my insurance?
Not all therapists accept insurance, and those that do may not accept all insurance. So you need to know if the therapist takes your insurance, but you also need to know if your specific plan covers therapy (and online therapy if you’re interested in that – see Question 6). If a therapist doesn’t accept insurance, they may still be able to provide you with an invoice that you can file with your insurance. - Do you have a cancellation or no-show fee?
Most therapists have a Cancellation or No-Show Policy that they discuss with you at your initial session. They usually require 24 – 48 hours notice for cancellations. This gives them time to get someone else scheduled in that time slot. If a session is canceled on the day of, or if the client is a no-show, the therapist may charge the client a fee which could be anywhere from $25 to the full cost of the session.
I hope that this gives you a good idea of some of the things that you can ask the therapist during your consultation. If you’re still needing help with finding a therapist here in the Fort Smith area, feel free to contact me to set up a free consultation and we can explore what your needs are and if I or one of my colleagues would be a good fit for you!
