Questions to Ask a Counselling Therapist
If you are looking for a Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT), this page will help you make an informed decision. It can also help you decide if a particular counselling therapist will be a good fit for you.
It is important to confirm that they are licensed to practice counselling therapy in Nova Scotia. Confirm their licensing status by searching the Directory or by clicking License Status Check on the Home Page of this website.
Questions to Ask a Counselling Therapist
If you are looking for a Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT), this page will help you make an informed decision. It can also help you decide if a particular counselling therapist will be a good fit for you.
It is important to confirm that they are licensed to practice counselling therapy in Nova Scotia. Confirm their licensing status by searching the Directory or by clicking License Status Check on the Home Page of this website.
Questions to ask when you first speak with a Registered Counselling Therapist:
- What should I expect on my first visit?
- How long will my appointment be?
- How much will it cost? How will I need to pay? Do you accept my health insurance? Is your service covered by Nova Scotia Provincial Health Insurance?
- When can I schedule a session (mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends)?
- What happens if I miss a session?
- Can I contact you using email or text? Can I contact you outside regular business hours?
- Will you make notes during our sessions? What happens to the notes?
- Is everything I tell you confidential?
- What can I do if I have a complaint or concern about the services you provide?
It is helpful to learn if the counselling therapist and the type of counselling therapy they offer will suit your needs. Asking questions helps you to understand what to expect and how it might be effective for you.
Questions that might help you decide if a particular RCT is the right fit for you:
- What type of counselling therapy do you provide?
- I am here because ______________, and I’m having trouble with _______________. Do you have training and experience working with clients with issues like mine?
- I’m from a ______________ (e.g., ethnic, racial, gender or other community). How do I know you’re going to understand my perspective?
- Do you see clients for short-term or long-term counselling therapy?
- Some counselling therapists address an immediate problem. Others seem to focus on deeper issues and past events. Which approach do you use?
An RCT must follow Standards of Practice and a Code of Ethics. You can expect care in a confidential setting where there are clear professional boundaries. An RCT will understand if you choose to meet with different counselling therapists to find a therapist who is the best fit for you.
Questions to help you decide whether to continue to see a particular RCT:
- Is there a limit to the number of appointments I can have?
- How will I know counselling therapy is working for me?
- What happens if counselling therapy doesn’t seem to be working?
- How do I end counselling therapy if I have worked through my issue or that counselling therapy is not working?
Remember to check the license status of your counselling therapist before your first appointment. If their name does not appear in the NSSCT registry, they are not licensed to practice counselling therapy in Nova Scotia.