Consult Calls: Are They Worth It?

Consultation Calls - are they worth your time? The intention of a consultation call is to explore whether you and the prospective client could potentially be a good fit to work together. While consult calls are more of an investment for the provider on the front end, they tend to really be worth doing in the long run. You sacrifice 15-20 minutes of your own time in order to conduct a video call or phone call, but during that time you are able to determine if this client is a good fit for you, or if you should give them referrals for other options.

Having a template that you use to guide you through the consult calls can help you streamline them, move the call along, and ensure that you cover all of the pertinent information that you need. Consult calls can allow you to spot contraindicators for therapy - which in turn really helps the person seek therapy not waste their time or money by starting with you, only to be referred elsewhere. Additionally, if you are speaking with the potential client and don’t feel knowledgable or skilled enough in the areas they are seeking support- it is much better to realize this before they spend time filling out paperwork, pay for the intake session, and you spend time preparing for the intake session as well.

Another plug for consult calls - it is probably your first real touch point with this client! They get to experience you in a video call or on the phone, and the rapport is already starting to build. If you are able to put them at ease and create a comfortable environment in the consult, you are setting yourself up for success with these clients before the intake session even takes place!