In short
- A free consultation exists so that deciding whether someone is right for you does not cost anything. Paying to find out is its own barrier to starting at all.
- Treat it as an interview you are conducting. Training, approach, whether they have worked with your situation before, cancellation policy, session frequency, cost.
- At Toronto Therapy Practice the call is 15 minutes, by phone or video. Intake forms are emailed beforehand and are optional; filling them in just lets the therapist aim their questions better.
- The call follows a set shape: you talk about why you are looking now, they ask light follow-up questions without going deep, then they describe their training, approach, session length, cost and suggested frequency.
- There is no pressure to book at the end. Booking later, or not at all, is a normal outcome, and the point of the call is to give you room to decide afterwards.
Free consultations let you develop and reflect on a connection with a therapist without any money worries. Here’s what to expect from a free consultation with Toronto Therapy Practice.
When looking into how to find a therapist, you want to be sure you’re searching for the best one for your needs.
Your first meeting with a therapist is a chance for you two to learn more about each other and see if you two are the best fit for one another.
A costly meeting may stop you from reflecting on whether it’s the right fit or seeking therapy altogether.
Free consultations help you find the right therapist without any financial barriers.
Toronto Therapy Practice offers free consultations, and we’ve outlined what that meeting would look like!
What is a Free Consultation?
A free consultation is helpful when finding a therapist!
It gives you the chance to decide whether a therapist is well-suited for your needs, without charging you for wanting more information.
You can get to know the therapist and their practice better before committing to therapy together.
The therapist can share how they typically communicate with patients or their preferred approach to therapy.
You can even briefly share broad concerns you’d want to discuss when you start therapy to ensure that this therapist has experience with those conflicts before and can support you best!
Think of a consultation as a job interview for your therapist.
You can ask about their expertise, their education, their favourite techniques, and more about their practice.
A free consultation is also where you would ask about the logistics of working with that therapist, like cancellation policies, session frequency, and associated costs.
It is a chance to confirm that the therapist doesn’t hold any beliefs that may harm your healing. You can even discuss your therapy goals if you have already thought about them!
A free consultation is an opportunity to get your questions answered and learn the details of working with this therapist.
There’s no reason for you to be nervous about it! Go in open-minded and get all of the information you need.
Benefits of a Free Consultation
A free consultation lets you get to know your potential future therapist without any financial barriers!
The therapist can confirm whether they have the training/experience to support you before you commit to them.
If you find that it isn’t the right fit, many practices will help you move to a different therapist on their team. Ask how that works, and whether there is any cost, before you book.
Free consultations also give you the chance to reflect on how you felt with your therapist with no financial pressure.
Reflect: do you feel understood, safe, and engaged with your therapist?
Does the environment feel comfortable? Do your schedules and values align? A free consultation lets you consider all of this without spending anything.
It can also set the tone for your connection with your therapist, so it feels less intimidating to share deeper details of your concerns further into your therapy.
Free consultations also show that the therapist wants you to find the best fit for YOU without putting yourself in financially tough positions.
Free Consultation with Toronto Therapy Practice
Toronto Therapy Practice offers 15-minute free consultations over the phone or virtually.
Our therapists will email you intake forms before your consultation, but there is no pressure to fill them out, they are optional!
Filling them out before your consultation does help our therapists tailor their questions for you to ensure they fully understand you.
Consultations are a chance to get to know each other, so having some extra details about you can be helpful!
At the start of the call, we will outline everything you can expect from the consultation so you know how the meeting will go.
First, we’ll give you some space to talk about yourself.
We want to know why you’re looking for a therapist right now, what are your goals or main concerns?
If you feel comfortable sharing, we’ll ask some light follow-up questions.
We won’t ask anything overly deep or personal to ensure this session stays comfortable and safe.
Once you’ve shared about yourself, our therapists will talk about themselves and our practice. Our therapists will share more about their training and therapeutic approaches.
They will also outline basic information, like session duration, cost, and recommended frequency.
To wrap up, we’ll answer any final questions you may have.
Finally, we will make a plan as to whether you’d like to book your first session right away or follow up with us at a better time.
There is no pressure to book right away, we want to give you space to reflect on how you felt about our practice.
We’re here to support you while you find a therapist, and we bet we have the right therapist for you.
Free consultations can be beneficial for finding the right therapist.
They help you learn more about the therapist and their approach and to start developing your relationship.
The service behind this article
How to choose a therapistSee how we work with this, who on the team does it, and what it costsClinically reviewed. Written by Toronto Therapy Practice, Written for the practice · clinically reviewed by Mila Arsenijevic, MSW RSW, and reviewed by the clinical team on 28 December 2023. This article is general information, not a substitute for individual care. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
