Professional Phone Contacts and the Initial Phone Call

Abstract This chapter leads the beginning psychotherapist through the steps of making an initial contact with a psychotherapy client over the phone. Personal and professional phone greetings are discussed with examples of dos and don’ts. The process of making an initial contact with a client is reviewed, including how to manage clients who are difficult to reach, and those who leave a phone number that is shared. What to discuss and how to manage the initial phone call is reviewed, as well as how to end it tactfully in a timely manner. The reader is counseled on the importance of keeping their personal phone number secure.