Questions to ask a therapist before you book

Questions you can ask a therapist, sorted by when they’re useful: before you book, and in your first session. Choose the ones you want and download your list. You don’t need to ask everything here. Pick what matters to you, and leave the rest. Where a question has square brackets, fill in your own words when you ask the question.

Before you book

For the first phone call or email.

Are you taking new clients, and how long is the wait?
Do you work with people who are dealing with [what's going on for you]?
How much of your work is with people dealing with something similar?
What approach do you mostly use, and do you have any formal training in using that approach?
Am I eligible for a Medicare rebate when using your services?
What do you charge, and what will I pay after any Medicare rebate?
If I'm getting a Mental Health Treatment Plan, how would you like the referral sent?
What's your cancellation policy, and how much notice do you need?
Do you offer telehealth?
Do you offer a short call first, to see if we're a good fit?

In the first session

For when you're in the room, or on the call.

What would our sessions actually involve?
Roughly how many sessions do people usually need for something like this?
How often would we meet?
Would how often we meet change over time?
Will there be things to do between sessions?
If something is hard to talk about, can we take it slowly?
What stays private, and when would you have to tell someone something that I've told you?
What happens if I don't think it's working?
If we're not a good fit, can you suggest someone else?
What happens if I need a break, or go quiet for a few weeks?

Therapists are used to questions like these, and asking them is an ordinary part of starting. If you’re not sure what to say when you first get in touch, what to say when you book has words you can use.

Checking registration

Before you book, check that they’re Registered For psychologists, psychiatrists and occupational therapists, registration with Ahpra is required, and using the title without it is an offence. Counsellors and psychotherapists can register with their national associations, which is voluntary. More in the jargon decoder with the appropriate body. Who does what covers how to check.

If you’re already seeing someone

The questions above are for before you start. If you’re already seeing someone and it feels stuck, why therapy stalls goes through the common reasons and what each one points to. Telling your therapist something isn’t working covers how to raise the problem with them.

Your list

Your list is made in your browser and saved to your device. Nothing is sent to us or stored.

Where next

Finding a therapist covers where to look, and what happens in a first session covers what to expect when you get there.