What should a therapist say in a first reply to an inquiry?

The first reply carries more weight in this profession than in almost any other, because the person receiving it is deciding whether to keep going with something difficult.

Four things belong in it:

• An acknowledgment. Brief and warm. Something that registers that reaching out took effort.
• The fee and insurance situation, unprompted. Do not wait to be asked. This is the single highest-impact change most practices can make to their intake.
• One sentence explaining the consultation call. "A free fifteen minute call so you can ask questions and we can both see whether I am the right fit, with no obligation." People avoid booking a call they cannot picture.
• A booking link. One click, real availability.

Keep it short. A long reply asking several questions before anything is scheduled adds effort at the point where the person has least capacity for it.

Write it once as a template and reuse it. Consistency matters more than personalization here, and having it saved means you can respond the same day even during a full clinical week.

If you cannot take them, say so quickly and offer two or three alternatives.