Your Introductory Consultation: Everything You’re Worried About—Answered
Your Introductory Consultation: Everything You’re Worried About—Answered
You’re interested in therapy, but you’ve got questions, doubts, and a dozen practical worries. Good. This page is the straight answer to all of them—what the consultation is, who it’s for, what happens, what doesn’t happen, and what blocks people from booking (with clear answers to each).
What exactly is the consultation?
A short, focused 15–20 minute video call where we:
Understand what you want help with.
Explain how AWKN works (matching, plans, privacy, what to expect).
Outline next steps if you want to start.
It’s not a therapy session, crisis support, or “free advice.” Think of it as a fit check: are we the right service for you, and are you the right client for AWKN?
Who’s eligible?
Simple: people seriously considering therapy who understand we’re a premium service and are exploring starting soon.
No tricks, no deposits, no commitment to subscribe after. But it’s also not for casual curiosity or one-off quick tips.
What happens on the call? (Minute-by-minute)
Welcome & purpose (1–2 min): why you booked, what you need from the call.
Your headline (3–5 min): key challenges, goals, any deal-breakers (timing/budget/therapist gender, etc.).
How AWKN works (5–7 min): matching, plans (2/4/8 sessions per month; 45, 60, or 90 minutes), boundaries, and privacy.
Your questions (3–5 min): anything you’re unsure about.
Next steps (1–2 min): we propose the best match and a start plan—or we’ll say if we’re not the right fit and point you elsewhere.
What to bring: your calendar, rough budget, preferences (therapist gender/language/style), and one clear goal for the first 4–6 weeks.
Common worries—and straight answers
“Is this just a sales call?”
No. It’s a screening + clarity call. If you’re not a fit, we’ll say so. If we are, we tell you exactly how to start. No pressure.
“Will I be judged if I’m not ready to commit?”
No. But eligibility means you’re genuinely considering starting therapy soon. If you’re unsure whether therapy is even right for you at all, read our resources first and book when you’re closer.
“Is the consultation free advice in disguise?”
No. We don’t do diagnosis, treatment, or crisis counselling on this call. We explain process, not therapy content.
“What if I don’t click with the therapist?”
You won’t be stuck. We rematch quickly if the fit isn’t right. We treat matching as a process, not a one-shot guess.
“I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t work.”
Tell us what failed—pace, style, homework, cultural misfit, availability. We match based on method + personality + logistics, not just availability.
“Will I be pushed into a long contract?”
No. We offer monthly plans (2, 4, or 8 sessions/month) and you can pause or cancel. We’ll advise a plan based on goals and urgency—you choose.
“Is online therapy as good as in-person?”
For many issues, yes—often better for continuity, privacy, and time. If your situation requires in-person or specialist care, we’ll tell you.
“I’m worried about privacy.”
Good. You should be. We operate with strict confidentiality standards and secure record-keeping. Your employer/family/insurer doesn’t get access to your sessions or notes without your consent, except where safety or legal duties apply.
“Will my therapist understand my culture?”
We’re built for the GCC/Middle East context. We consider language, culture, religion, family systems, and local norms when we match you. If you need a particular cultural lens, say so.
“What if my schedule is chaotic?”
We’ll look for a therapist with time-zone alignment and flexible slots. You can choose 45, 60, or 90-minute sessions. If you travel, we’ll work around that.
“What if I’m in crisis or feel unsafe?”
Skip the consultation and use emergency services or local crisis support immediately. Once safe, we can discuss ongoing therapy. The consultation isn’t emergency care.
“What if I’m not great at talking about feelings?”
Welcome to the club. Your therapist will lead the process with structure, not push you to “open up” randomly. We set clear goals, measure progress, and keep it practical.
“How fast can I start?”
Often within a few days after the consultation, depending on your preferences and the therapist’s availability.
“How do payments and refunds work?”
We’ll walk you through pricing, how subscriptions work, and the pause/cancel anytime policy. No surprise fees. We’ll confirm everything in writing.
“Can I do couples or family therapy?”
Yes—tell us who’s involved, locations, and goals. We’ll match you to a therapist who does that work often, not occasionally.
“What outcomes should I expect?”
No magic. Expect: clearer patterns, tools you can use between sessions, and decisions you can stand behind. We aim for noticeable shifts by weeks 4–6.
The barriers that stop people from booking (read this if you’re hesitating)
1) “I don’t want to waste money.”
Reality: therapy is an investment, not a bet. You’ll get a structured plan and a clear yes/no on fit before you pay for ongoing sessions.
2) “What if I start and then stop?”
Then you stop. You can pause/cancel. We’d rather you try, learn, and adjust than stay stuck.
3) “What if therapy makes things worse at first?”
It can feel tender as you finally look at the thing you’ve been avoiding. We pace it. We focus on stability first, depth second.
4) “I’m embarrassed to talk about this.”
We’ve heard it. Truly. Shame hates sunlight. Ten clean conversations can do more than ten years of “I’ll handle it.”
5) “I don’t want a therapist who lectures me.”
Good—neither do we. Expect collaboration, not sermons. We set goals together.
6) “I’m scared of choosing the ‘wrong’ therapist.”
We match based on issue fit, style, culture, logistics—and we rematch if needed. That’s built in.
7) “I’m too busy.”
Then you need efficiency. Shorter sessions, focused homework, scheduled check-ins. Therapy should save time by reducing chaos.
8) “I don’t know what to say in session.”
We lead. You show up. We bring frameworks, prompts, and practical tools.
9) “I don’t want my partner/family to know.”
Your sessions are confidential. You choose what to share.
10) “I’m worried I’m ‘not bad enough’ for therapy.”
Therapy isn’t a last-resort ER. If your patterns are costing you time, money, energy, or peace—you’re “enough.”
How matching works (so you don’t roll the dice)
Inputs: your goals, history with therapy, preferences (gender/language), scheduling, and budget.
Our map: therapist specialisms (e.g., anxiety, relationships, ADHD, trauma), methods (CBT, psychodynamic, EMDR, integrative), and cultural alignment.
Output: 1–2 best-fit options with rationale. You choose. If the fit isn’t right after session 1–2, we adjust.
What therapy with AWKN tends to look like
Weeks 1–2: stabilization, goals, and quick wins.
Weeks 3–6: pattern work, experiments, and feedback loops.
Ongoing: refine what works, drop what doesn’t, build sustainable habits.
Plans: 2 / 4 / 8 sessions per month, with session lengths of 45 / 60 / 90 minutes. Upgrade or reduce as you go.
Who we’re not right for (honesty matters)
You want a diagnosis-only letter or court reports.
You want crisis management or emergency care.
You want free ongoing advice.
You’re not interested in consistent sessions or doing the work between them.
If that’s you, we’ll point you to better-matched services.
Quick FAQ
How long is the consult? 15–20 minutes.
Is it video or phone? Video by default; phone if necessary.
Can I bring my partner? For couples consults, yes—tell us in advance.
Can I reschedule? Yes—please give 24 hours’ notice so we can offer slots to others.
Will I get notes or a plan after? You’ll get a summary + next steps by message/email.
What if I need to think about it? Take your time. We’ll keep your match options open for a short window.
Bottom line
If you’re serious about starting therapy, the consultation gives you clarity, a realistic plan, and a clean yes/no on moving forward—without guesswork, pressure, or fluff.
We’re currently offering a complimentary introductory consultation (subject to eligibility).
Apply here → https://awkn.online/apply-now
Prefer to learn first? Explore our YouTube channel for deeper breakdowns of how therapy works and what to expect.