Most people wait until something breaks before calling a therapist. That's usually the worst time to shop around. A little research upfront saves a lot of hassle.
Licensing & Insurance Questions
Ask for their license number and state. Look it up yourself on the state board website — it takes two minutes. Some people call themselves "counselors" without real credentials. If they can't rattle off their license type and number from memory, that's a red flag. Insurance is simpler than people make it. Call your insurance company first and ask what mental health codes they cover. Then ask the therapist if they accept that specific plan. Don't assume because they "take Blue Cross" they take your Blue Cross plan. Verify everything yourself.
Experience & References Questions
Ask what they've actually treated, not just what they list on their website. "I work with anxiety" is vague. "I've done 200 sessions with combat veterans" is specific. If you're hiring for a group practice, ask how many clients each clinician has seen with your specific issue. References are tricky because of confidentiality. A good therapist will offer to connect you with a former client who has agreed to speak. If they dodge or say "I can't due to privacy," that's a polite way of saying they have no one willing to vouch for them.
Pricing & Timeline Questions
Get the per-session cost in writing before the first appointment. Ask if they offer a sliding scale and what the top and bottom numbers are. Some charge a premium for first sessions — that's normal, but they should say it upfront. Timeline matters more than people think. Ask how long typical clients stay in treatment. If they say "it depends" without any range, they either don't know or don't care. A reasonable answer sounds like "most people see me for 8 to 12 sessions, but some stay longer." Anything under four sessions is a red flag for a quick-buck model.
Contract Questions
Read the intake agreement before you sign. Look for cancellation fees, no-show penalties, and session limits. Some contracts let them charge you for missed appointments even if you give 24 hours notice. Others require a month's notice to stop treatment. Both are common but you need to know before you're stuck. Ask about record sharing — some practices sell data or share notes with third parties without clear consent. If the contract has a binding arbitration clause, think twice. That means you can't sue them if something goes wrong.
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