Choosing the Right Anxiety Therapist in Cincinnati: 5 Essential Questions to Ask

When you’re struggling emotionally, reaching out for help can be both exciting and intimidating. If you’ve gotten to the point of making a phone call to a counselor, then there’s something in you that knows relief may be on the other side. But if this is your first time calling a therapist, you don’t know who is going to answer or if they can even help you. That can be scary, and might prevent you from taking action and feeling better. I want to help. 

Research shows that the most important factor determining your success in counseling is the relationship with your therapist. This is huge! Regardless of the therapist’s experience, skills, or techniques, it’s really important that you like your therapist! I’d like to walk you through a few important questions to ask a prospective therapist in Cincinnati to help determine if they’re going to be a good fit. The goal is to know by the end of the call whether you feel confident and excited to schedule an appointment, or if you need to keep looking. 

Note: These questions can also be asked via email, but I really encourage you to get on the phone or video to see if you “click.” This also drastically lowers the anxiety anticipating your first session. 

What is your therapy specialty?

You can ask what type of therapy they do, or what types of problems they usually help with. It’s okay if you don’t know what you’re looking for! The therapist might tell you they specialize in specific diagnoses (like anxiety or depression), or they use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or they work with couples or children. This will start to paint a picture of what type of practice they have. It’s also an easy first question to ask when you’re nervous.

How long and how frequent are therapy sessions?

Depending on the practice (if they take insurance or if they’re with an agency), this can vary. The typical structure is a 45-50 minute session, weekly to start. However, this is typically dictated by insurance and what they’ll pay for. If you’re not using insurance, many therapists still use that type of schedule. Sometimes the first session is 90 minutes to do a full assessment. 

Private practice therapists might also offer longer sessions to do more intense work, shorter and more frequent sessions, or even immersive retreats. Some therapists will ask for a commitment up front (like weekly sessions for 8 weeks) so you’re much more likely to make progress rather than coming in “as needed.” This is all really good information to have before your first session! 

How much does therapy cost?

If you’re using health insurance, you’ll want to know if your therapist is “in network.” If they’re out of network, you still might be able to use your benefits for reduced cost (they may reimburse a portion of the fee, or it will count toward your deductible). You may be able to use your Health Savings Account card for therapy, even if they’re out of network. I have clients doing this, and it works out great.

If they are “in network,” then the cost will be determined by your insurance plan. The best way to know this is to call the number on your insurance card and ask how much mental health therapy costs. You might have a copay, or coinsurance. The therapist won’t know this for you ahead of time, but most of us will certainly help you figure it out, because insurance can be SO confusing. 

If they’re out of network, or if you don’t want to use insurance because of privacy reasons, then the fee will be per session, usually paid at the time of session. My system automatically charges for invoices every night at midnight. You can ask how and when fees are paid so you know. I once saw a therapist in college who only took cash or check, but that was a LONG time ago.

Can you address my specific needs?

If the therapist didn’t ask yet what you need help with, it’s important to let them know what’s going on. You don’t need to tell your life story, but in general a couple sentences about what prompted you to make the call. Are you overwhelmed and need help figuring out next steps? Have you been moody and irritable, and your partner or coworkers have noticed? Are you having problems in a relationship? Do you have a history of depression and want to get back into therapy to stay on track? 

Asking the therapist how they help specifically will give them a chance to say what makes them different. They might tell you their theory or techniques, or what happens in sessions. This will set some expectations for what therapy will look like, and you can decide if it feels like the right direction to go.

What are your thoughts on…?

This one is open for anything you’re specifically concerned about. Some people are adamantly opposed to medication, and they don’t want to be referred to psychiatry. Others might need a therapist who is well-versed in psychotropic medications who can work closely with their prescriber. You might be looking for someone who comes from a holistic background, who works with chronic pain patients, or who has experience with harm reduction substance abuse treatment. You might need someone who is specifically experienced with LGBT relationships, Christian counseling, or the kink community. 

If you’re having a thought like, “I hope they aren’t like this/I hope they understand/I hope they don’t just say this,” then now is the time to feel them out! Unfortunately, I’ve had some clients who have had disappointing experiences with therapists in the past. Let’s try to nip that in the bud. 

I hope this helps in your search for the right therapist. It’s okay if you don’t feel a connection, since we’re all human. I recommend calling a handful of therapists so you can see how each is different, and to save you the trouble of going to an initial session and not returning. 

If you’re still feeling unsure, feel free to call/text me at 513-461-2045 or click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation for online anxiety therapy in Cincinnati, or anywhere in Ohio or Indiana. You can read more about how I help here.