Once you have found one or more potential therapists, you should call them to set up a brief telephone interview. This interview will allow you to find out which therapist will best satisfy your and your family's needs. Some questions you might consider asking include:

• Is the therapist a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Virginia? Only therapists who hold a marriage and family therapist license meet the professional standards of MFTs in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Is the therapist a Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)? Clinical Membership in AAMFT means that the therapist has met the stringent standards of the Association for a practitioner of marriage and family therapy (which are even more rigorous than the requirements for licensure in Virginia), that the therapist is bound by the strict AAMFT Code of Ethics which takes family issues into consideration, and that you will have recourse to a grievance procedure in the event your therapist does act unethically.
• What is the therapist's educational and training background? In most cases, the professional will answer this question in terms of their graduate education. The therapist might have a doctorate or a master's degree in marriage and family therapy or an allied discipline such as psychology, clinical social work, medicine/psychiatry, psychiatric nursing, or the ministry. If the professional's degree is not in marriage and family therapy, you could ask about additional post-graduate training they have completed in marriage and family therapy.
• Does the therapist have experience treating the kind of problem you are experiencing; for example, marital stress, intimacy or sexual problems, infidelity, domestic violence, depression, child's behavior, alcohol or drug abuse?
• How much does the therapist charge?
• (If you are looking to use health insurance.) Are the therapist's services covered by your health insurance plan?
• Where are the therapy sessions held, and what are the office hours? Therapists often have several offices. In addition to regular business hours, some therapists have evening or weekend office hours available.
• How long do sessions last? The length of sessions often vary between therapists. Frequently they are 45 to 50 minutes in length, but they can sometimes be shorter or longer.
• How often are sessions scheduled? One session per week is common, while in some cases sessions are scheduled more or less frequently.
• What is the therapist's appointment cancellation policy? Some therapists charge regular fees for missed appointments that are not cancelled early enough for them to reschedule other clients.
• Will the therapist be available by phone in times of crisis? Many therapists are available for emergency phone calls or appointments. Some therapists arrange for other professionals to be available during times when they cannot be reached (for example, during illness, vacations, or holidays).
• If you or any family members are not proficient in English, ask the therapist if they are fluent in your native language.