Therapy Check-In Questions PDF: the ultimate list

Therapy Check-In Questions are fundamental to sessions yet are often overlooked in the realm of therapy. Saying that there is an art to the check-in question might be a stretch, but these initial inquiries, simple as they might seem, are not just mere formalities. They can be, in fact, the compass that can guide the therapeutic journey, the keys that unlock the therapeutic interaction, change, and connection. If you're looking for some ideas of what these look like, we've got 20 Check-In Ideas as a PDF Download, the link is below.

You probably already know that open-ended questions are positively associated to a more detailed understanding of clients.In my practice, I've observed that therapy check-in questions serve a multitude of purposes, in different forms of therapy, that can work together to develop a therapeutic relationship and that stack up to make significant progress in treatment.

Functions Of Check-In Questions

Assuming you're already a mental health professional, or training to be one, you'll likely know a lot of this intuitively, but when you can categorize what you're doing and why, it helps you feel more confident and empowered. 

Breaking the Ice: Consider the world outside – bustling, chaotic, often unrelenting. Our clients, whether a group or and individual student just like us, navigate this world with its myriad demands and distractions. As they step into the therapeutic space, a check-in question acts as a gentle invitation, a transition from the outer noise to an inner dialogue. It's like offering a warm, calming beverage to someone who's just come in from a storm. It soothes, it warms, and it says, 'You are here now, and this space is for you.'

Providing Structure: In therapy, as in life, a sense of direction is vital. For clients who arrive feeling overwhelmed or adrift in the sea of their thoughts, a structured question can be a lighthouse – guiding and reassuring. It's not about dictating the journey but about providing a starting point from which they can embark on their explorative voyage.

Establishing a Baseline: The heart of therapy lies in understanding – understanding not as a static concept but as a fluid, evolving one. Where is our client at this very moment? What burdens or joys do they carry into the session today? Establishing this baseline is one of the ongoing conversations in therapy, like taking the pulse of their emotional state, allowing us to tailor our approach to their present, not their past.

Continuity: The therapeutic journey isn’t a series of disjointed encounters; it's a continuous narrative. Check-in questions ensure that the threads of previous discussions are not lost but are instead woven into the fabric of ongoing dialogue. They remind us that every session is a chapter in a larger story, and an ongoing conversation during therapy sessions in the course of treatment. 

Prompting Reflection and Disclosure. As part of a mental health check-in, these questions are the catalysts for reflection and disclosure. They gently encourage clients to turn their gaze inward to explore the landscapes of their minds and hearts. It's in this introspective process that true insights and breakthroughs are born.

Let's reimagine these meetings not just as procedural necessities but as opportunities to foster a culture of engagement, respect, and shared purpose.. They don't have to be merely an administrative exercise; these can become a ritual that can shift the therapeutic relationship into one of more collaboration and insight. 

Before we go on, if you're looking for questions to ask in therapy sessions, you should really check out the information I have on circular questioning - it's another powerful questioning tool. See some circular questioning examples here.

Types and Themes for Check In Questions

Check-in questions in therapy are just common therapy questions - there's nothing revolutionary about them. They can be categorized into several types, each serving a unique purpose in understanding and assisting clients. Here are four key categories:

1. Scaling Questions

Scaling questions are a quantitative way to gauge a client's emotional or mental state and if they're having more distressing emotions. It can assess progress or reaction to specific situations and what type of experience they are having.  By asking clients to rate their feelings or experiences on a scale, therapists can obtain measurable and comparative insight into their clients' perspectives. Asking for a number rather than a direct feeling can often be easier for clients and less intimidating or threatening. For instance, a therapist might ask clients to put feelings on a rating scale:

• "On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your overall mood this week?" 
• "From one to ten, how confident do you feel about managing the challenges we discussed last time?"

These questions provide a clear, structured format for clients to express the intensity or frequency of their experiences, making it easier to track changes over time.

2. Questions About Feelings (The Free Feelings Wheel PDF)

Delving into emotions as part of a check-in conversation is an obvious and vital function. Some therapists might want to use the Feelings Wheel, a tool that helps clients identify and articulate their feelings, the obvious and the more difficult emotions, and get in the practice of using this regularly. Questions in this category encourage clients to explore and name their feelings, which can be particularly helpful for those who struggle to express themselves emotionally. Conflicting emotions are really important for a therapist to help a client understand as that leads to a lot of ambivalence and feelings of being stuck. A therapist might ask,

• "Looking at the Feelings Wheel, which emotions best describe how you've been feeling lately?" 
• "Can you identify a feeling on the wheel that you experienced strongly this week?"

By referring to the wheel, clients can become more aware and articulate about their emotional states, promoting deeper self-understanding and emotional literacy.

3 Goal-Oriented Questions

Goal-oriented questions focus on the client's aspirations, objectives, and the steps they are taking towards achieving them. These are often discussed or decided. These questions can help clients to clarify their goals, recognize their own agency, and reflect on their progress. Therapists might ask,

• "What are some goals you have for yourself in the coming weeks?" or
• "How have you moved towards your personal goals since our last session?"

These questions not only foster a sense of direction and purpose but also help clients to acknowledge their achievements and challenges, facilitating a proactive approach to their personal growth and therapy goals. It gives therapists an insight into what type of experience they are having in between sessions and if the therapy is being internalized. 

4. Questions From Our Other Sessions

A mental health check-in allows for follow-up questions about previous therapy sessions to be asked. They can be great for building continuity and depth in the therapeutic process and to understand previous experiences in the room with you. They serve as a bridge between sessions, allowing both the therapist and client to revisit and build upon past discussions. Such questions might include,

• "Is there a particular topic from our last session that you've found yourself thinking about more this week?"
• "Were there any insights from our last meeting that you felt particularly resonated with or challenged you?"
• "is any particular behavior worse or symptom better?"

By asking these questions, therapists can help clients reflect on their ongoing journey, recognize patterns in their thoughts or behaviors, and evaluate the impact of previous discussions. This category of questions encourages clients to engage in an ongoing, reflective dialogue with themselves and the therapeutic process, fostering deeper self-awareness and a sense of progress over time.

What About Check-Out Questions?

If you lead with check-in questions, you could also end with a series of check-out questions. Out of all the common questions therapists ask, I am not sure we focus on the ones at the end of the session as much as the ones at the start.  Creating a check-out ritual at the end of meetings or group session can serve as a pivotal role in fostering a sense of closure, reflection, and collective growth. It's almost like a transitional item; although not something tangible, it does mark the transition of sorts.

As a ritual, it could be a meaningful opportunity for an individual student to consolidate their experiences and express their thoughts about the session. It’s a moment to pause and reflect on what has transpired, providing a structured way for each member to articulate their takeaways, feelings, and suggestions. A check-out can be a powerful tool for gauging the effectiveness of the session, understanding diverse perspectives, getting feedback and ensuring that all voices are heard.

It marks not just the end of a meeting but the beginning of a deeper processing of what has been shared and learned.

The Importance of Check-Out Questions

Again, there's no right or wrong way to do a check out, the questions you ask can vary widely, but as always, you might want to consider that they all aim to encourage thoughtfulness, insight and perhaps honest feedback.

•  "What is one key insight you are taking away from today's meeting?"
• "How do you feel about the discussions and decisions made today?"

Expanding the Impact of Check-Out Rituals

Beyond its immediate benefits of summarizing the session or transitioning to the end, the check-out ritual can have a lasting impact on the overall culture of your work and the relationship.

Regularly engaging in this practice cultivates a relationship where feedback is valued and continuous improvement is the norm. It sets a precedent for open communication, mutual respect, and shared responsibility. Over time, these rituals can lead to more effective, cohesive connections with clients, in which they might hopefully feel more connected to you and their work.

Working In The Transference

Additionally, by routinely asking new and diverse questions about the process and your relationship with the client, you get more insight into how they view you. You can gain insight into the transference or who you are being to the client from that information, which is a vital aspect of therapy.

If you're new to being a therapist, this might be unfamiliar territory, but as a clinical supervisor, I love helping my associates understand these dynamics and use them to take therapy to the next level. 

Download 50 Therapy Check In Questions Here

Click Here for 50 Check-In Ideas as a PDF Download