Frequently Asked Questions for Therapists in Wisconsin or Illinois

Once you’ve narrowed down the options and have a list of potential therapists in Wisconsin or Illinois who might be a good fit for you, you’ll probably still have a lot of questions you want to get answered before you’re ready to take the next step and schedule an appointment.

Many therapists try to answer the most common questions on their website, so that’s a good place to start before you decide to schedule an initial consultation or an appointment. If you can get your questions answered from their website, you may be able to narrow down your list before you ever make that first call. Some common questions you might have about therapy can include:

Are you a generalist or do you have a specialty? - All licensed therapists are trained as generalists with the skills to assess and facilitate treatment for general conditions. Many may choose to work throughout their career as a generalist because of the variety and ongoing learning that it provides. However, some therapists gain experience and eventually choose to work in a more specialized way, focusing on specific populations or with particular issues or treatment modalities. Finding out whether a therapist is a generalist or a specialist can help you decide whether they are good fit for you, depending on what your concerns or needs are at this time in your life.

Do you have experience working with individuals who are similar to me in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, spiritual beliefs, ethnicity, national origin, etc? - This is a question that may be very important to you based on your own background and life experiences. Finding a therapist who understands, or at least seeks to understand, your lived experience without bias can be vital to your progress in therapy. This can be true even if the issues that bring you to therapy feel unrelated to these important aspects of your identity.

What should I expect in a typical session? - A therapist should be able to give you a general outline of how sessions are structured. This can be helpful for you to learn more about how the therapist works and what you can expect during your time with them. For example, you may prefer a therapist who talks quite a lot during the session or directs the flow of the work. Or, conversely, you may prefer a therapist who generally steps back and allows you to lead the session.

How frequently would we meet? - The frequency of sessions will vary depending on the severity of your distress, the nature of your concerns, your schedule, your therapist’s schedule, and the financial investment you’re able to make in your therapy. Frequency of sessions can vary and may occur weekly, biweekly, monthly, or as-needed, depending on your specific needs and how your therapist works. Some therapists may be open to adjusting frequency as the therapy progresses, while others may work according to a specific schedule from beginning to end. If you have a specific need, it can be important to share that with the potential therapist to make sure it is an arrangement that both of you can agree to.

Will we work towards specific goals? - Therapy without specific goals can feel like you’re getting lost in the weeds and going nowhere. As you think about choosing a therapist, be sure to ask them about whether they work with goals and a treatment plan. It is also important to understand how you will know if you’re making progress and achieving your goals. Goals can certainly change as the therapy progresses, but generally having clear goals will help guide the work and let you know if you’re making progress.

What kind of treatments do you offer? - Of course, human beings are infinitely complex. Consequently, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment when it comes to the individual thoughts, emotions, and behavior that a person may bring to therapy. There are hundreds of therapeutic approaches and theories offered in psychotherapy, each with its own set of applications, interventions, and outcomes. Some treatments are better known than others and some treatments have been more widely researched than others. In any case, when you consider working with a therapist, you will want to understand what kind of evidence-based treatments they practice and how these can be effective with your primary concerns.

What is your fee? - The cost of individual outpatient therapy will vary depending upon the provider you choose and the time spent in sessions. Generally, in Wisconsin and Illinois, therapy sessions lasting 50-60 minutes in length will range from $95 to $250 or more.

Do you take my insurance? - If you have insurance and wish to use it for your therapy sessions, your out-of-pocket costs may be less than the provider’s fee depending upon your plan’s deductible, copays, or coinsurance amounts. Be sure to ask the therapist if they work with your insurance plan and whether they are an in-network provider or an out-of-network provider. The therapist may ask you some additional questions about your coverage, or they may direct you to contact your insurance plan to learn more about the details of your plan and your expected costs.

How will we schedule appointments? - Therapists typically have a preferred method of scheduling, either online or directly. Some may leave all the scheduling up to you, at your discretion, using an online calendar. Others may talk with you at the end of each session to schedule the next sessions. Be sure to ask how the therapist handles scheduling, both initially and for ongoing appointments, so you know what to expect in terms of frequency and timing of your sessions.

What should I do if we meet for a while, but it doesn’t feel like a good fit? - Unfortunately some people may continue to work with a therapist who doesn’t feel like a good fit because they’re uncomfortable bringing up the subject or afraid they might offend the therapist. As you consider which therapist to choose for yourself, it’s important to ask them how they would approach this situation, if it were to happen. Knowing that you can end a therapy relationship without any hard feelings can help you to feel more comfortable moving forward with that person.

Knowing When You’re Ready to Move Forward

The beginning of a new therapeutic relationship can feel like a big step, especially if you’ve never met with a therapist before. Finding and getting to know a new therapist often brings up some anxiety, confusion or discomfort, even for people who have been to therapy before.

After you’ve looked at the therapist’s website and gotten the answers to some of the most common questions, you should have a good sense of whether the therapist is someone you’d like to meet. If they still seem like they could be a good fit, it’s time to reach out and schedule an initial consultation.

I Can Help You Get Your FAQ’s Answered about Therapy in Wisconsin or Illinois

If you’re still feeling stuck, feel free to give me a call or schedule a free consultation with me so we can talk about what you’re looking for. I’m happy to hear about what is happening in your life and help direct you to the right person, even if that’s not me. And if you’re looking for help with anxiety, depression, chronic stress & burnout, work-life balance, career transitions, or financial wellness, you can read more about how I can help with these issues by clicking here.