A free therapy consultation is not a therapy session. It is a short first conversation to ask practical questions, share enough context to understand fit, and decide whether booking an appointment makes sense.
At Anchor & Bloom, consultations are 15 minutes and happen through Jane. The goal is simple: make the next step clear without asking you to commit before you have met the person you may work with.
What usually happens
Most consultations include four parts:
- What brings you here. You can share a brief version of what you are looking for. You do not need to tell the full story or go into anything that feels too personal for a first call.
- Fit and scope. The clinician will listen for whether Anchor & Bloom is likely to be a good fit, and will be honest if another service, level of care, or modality may be more appropriate.
- Practical details. You can ask about online sessions, in-person availability in Mississauga, fees, receipts, insurance reimbursement, scheduling, and how Jane works.
- Next steps. If it feels aligned, you can book an initial session through Jane. If it does not, there is no obligation to continue.
What to ask
You do not need to prepare a perfect list. These questions are useful if you are not sure where to start:
- Do you work with the issue I am bringing?
- Would online therapy be appropriate for this?
- Which clinician would be the best fit?
- What are the fees and session lengths?
- How do receipts and insurance reimbursement work?
- What happens if I book and then need to reschedule?
You can also ask what therapy tends to look like after the consultation. The answer will depend on your needs, but you should leave with a clearer sense of the first few steps.
What not to expect from the call
Because the consultation is short, it is not a clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment plan, or crisis appointment. It is also not a place where you need to prove that things are “bad enough” for support.
If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, please call or text 9-8-8, contact local emergency services, or go to the nearest emergency department. A consultation is not crisis care.
How Jane fits in
Booking, intake, secure video, payment, and receipts are handled through Jane. After you choose a consultation time, Jane sends the appointment details and keeps the booking process in one place.
If you continue after the consultation, intake and appointment details are completed securely through Jane as well. The website does not replace Jane, and we do not ask you to fill out duplicate scheduling forms.
A low-pressure first step
People often wait because they are unsure whether they are choosing the right therapist, whether online sessions will work, or whether their concern is a fit. The consultation is meant to answer those practical questions.
You can book a free 15-minute consultation with Anchor & Bloom, or read more about online therapy across Ontario and fees and insurance before choosing a time.