Online Therapy Texas: Questions to Ask an Online Therapist

What questions should you ask when you are trying to find a therapist? Hopefully, the questions in this blog will be of help!

Finding the right online therapist for you can feel overwhelming. You may be thinking, Okay, I found some online therapists in Texas with free consultations, now what in the world do I ask them?!

Questions to ask an Online Therapist in Texas

If you are looking for an online therapist, there may also be questions directly related to that experience. I want to give you a guide to “interviewing” your online therapist in Texas. They work for you and with you so asking some good questions can give you the information you need to make a good decision in seeking support:

Question #1: Do you have experience working with the issues I am looking for help with?

It is nice to know that your therapist has experience in helping people with similar issues. Most therapists have one or several areas that they specialize in. All therapists are trained to help in a general way, but it is helpful to know if the online therapist in Texas you are choosing to work with “gets” you.

Question #2: What is your approach to therapy? Do you use any specific modalities or techniques?

Most therapists use one or a combination of several approaches to work from. For example, I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT) and incorporate some parts of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy(DBT) and Solution Focused Therapy as appropriate. It is good to know what approaches the online therapist in Texas uses and how the approaches may apply to your particular reason for reaching out.

Question #3: What technology do I need to have a successful session? Is there anything different that I should know about online therapy versus in-person therapy?

This question is a good one because different online therapists in Texas use different forms of video conferencing. I use doxy.me and the video conferencing material from Simple Practice in my work with clients online. It would be great if you can have a test run with the online therapist in their free consultation to see if this works for your computer, phone, or tablet if possible.

Question #4: How long do you typically work with clients? Is there a set number of sessions or is it open-ended?

This is good to know so you are prepared in your time and finances. You may also have a set timeline because of those factors. For example, I normally work with clients weekly or every other week for at least five sessions. I rarely have clients complete the process after five sessions and we meet on average for three to nine months. This also depends on if you come weekly or every other week. It can be normal to not have a set timeline because each clients experience with online therapy is so different. I have seen some clients for several weeks and others for several years…neither way is right or wrong.

Question #5: What are your fees and do you accept insurance? If not, do you offer a sliding scale or other payment options?

Budget is a major part of the process. Do not be afraid to directly ask these questions. My practice is private pay and I give clients reasons why that is if they ask (it’s also in the FAQ and Fees sections of my website). Other online therapists in Texas take insurance so you will have to ask them about the insurances that they accept and any limitations that may come with that.

Question #6: What is your availability? How often can we meet, and how do you handle scheduling changes or cancellations?

Asking about what times and what days of the week your online therapist is available is very important. You will need someone who can work with the availability in your schedule. Ask them when their normal hours are during the week to find out if their times match up with yours! Also, if you are in a job or living where your schedule changes quickly, you may want to ask more about the therapist’s cancellation policy to see if it going to work. Most online therapist’s in Texas will charge a late cancellation fee.

Question #7: How will you involve me in the therapy process? Will I be an active participant in setting goals and planning our sessions?

Many online therapists in Texas have a different process for this. In my work with clients, in the first session I am getting to know you and more about what brought you in. In the second session we set goals together. I ask about what yours goals are and then help to firm them up as needed. Ask the online therapist in Texas how you will be part of the goal setting and treatment planning.

Question #8: How will we measure progress in therapy? What are some signs that therapy is working?

This is such an important question. Sometimes online therapy can feel like your are just sharing your information and are feeling heard by the therapist. Even this can have great benefit but it is nice to take some time to measure your progress according to the goals that are set with the online therapist in Texas. I use an Outcomes Assessment in the fifth session and then try to reevaluate that assessment quarterly if I meet with a client for an extended period of time.

If you would like to make an appointment or you have more questions, call or message me at 956-307-6137 or email me at mpici@threeheartscounseling.com to set up a free 15-minute consultation. I am an online therapist in Texas! I would love to answer your questions about my work or help you find other online therapists in Texas.