A woman has decided to try counselling. Before she contacts anyone, she wants to know three things: how much it will cost each week, how long sessions last and whether she can get an evening appointment soon. The first practice she finds lists none of this. The second has a clear fees page, explains session length and says there are evening appointments with a short wait. She gets in touch with the second.
Practical questions often decide whether someone takes the step. Clear answers make it easier.
What people ask
People usually ask how much a session costs, how long sessions last, how often they would come, whether there are reduced fees, whether sessions are online or in person, whether evening or weekend appointments are available, how long the wait is, how many sessions they might need, what the cancellation policy is and whether insurance can be used.
Example conversations
These scripts use information a practice might publish. Your answers should come from your own pages.
Visitor: How much does a session cost? Assistant: The fees page lists the cost of individual sessions and explains that a limited number of reduced-fee places are available. Couples sessions are priced separately.
Visitor: Do you have evening appointments? Assistant: Yes. The availability page explains that some therapists offer evening sessions, and that the current wait for a first appointment is shown on the page.
Visitor: What if I need to cancel? Assistant: The page explains the cancellation policy, including how much notice is needed.
How many sessions
Many people ask how many sessions they will need. The honest answer is that it varies and is discussed with the therapist. Explaining that some people come for a few sessions and others for longer helps set expectations without promising anything.
Reduced fees
If the practice offers reduced fees, explain how to ask for one without having to justify it in writing. Families researching care face similar money worries, as described in care fees and funding questions families ask.
Insurance and employer schemes
Some people can use health insurance or employer schemes. Explaining which the practice accepts helps them plan.
Online or in person
Many people ask whether sessions can be online, by video, or whether they need to attend in person. Explaining both options, how online sessions work and what people need for them, helps those who live far away, work long hours or feel more comfortable at home. Some people start online and move to in-person sessions later.
Hidden costs
People dislike surprises, such as extra charges for assessments or missed sessions. Being clear upfront builds trust. Hidden costs are a common complaint with many services, as covered in hidden costs answering services.
First contact
Once the practical questions are answered, the next step is first contact, covered in therapy enquiries from people who find it hard to ask. Keeping it simple helps.
Safety
Any message suggesting someone is in crisis must be met with direction to emergency services or a crisis line, as covered in what a therapy practice website must handle with care.
Answering at any hour
SpideyChat for therapy and counselling practices answers fees and availability questions from your own pages at any hour and captures contact requests. It does not provide therapy or assess anyone.
A fees and availability page
Publish fees, session length, formats, availability, reduced-fee options and cancellation terms. Try SpideyChat on your own site, or read about answers on the features page.