The 15-Minute Vibe Check: A No-BS Guide to the First Call

By Liz Wooten, LPC

About the Author: Liz Wooten, LPC, is the founder of Enlitens and a rebellious academic dedicated to dismantling the broken mental health system. As an AuDHD therapist with years of front-line crisis experience, she brings a deep, lived understanding to her work. Read Liz’s Full Story Here

You’re the one everyone else counts on. You hold down your family, your job, your community. You’ve navigated systems that were designed to see you fail and you’re still standing.

So the thought of making one more call—of having to explain your life to another “expert” who probably won’t get it—feels less like an opportunity and more like a risk. You don’t have time or energy to waste on someone who won’t respect your strength.

The lie you’ve been forced to believe is that asking for help is a sign of weakness. That’s bulls*hit.

This isn’t a call where you have to prove you’re “broken enough” for help. This is a call where you determine if I’m competent enough to be an asset to you. Your strength isn’t something to hide here; it’s your primary tool for this interview. You’re not here to be assessed. You’re here to assess me.

Your “Gut Feeling” is a Finely-Tuned Survival Skill

That gut feeling you get when you know someone is not being straight with you? That’s your neuroception at work. It’s a high-speed surveillance system that has been trained by a lifetime of experience to detect threats and insincerity. It’s not an overreaction; it’s a finely tuned survival skill. The “vibe” you’re checking for is the biological reality of safety.

This is why our entire process begins with a simple, no-pressure free therapy consultation. It’s a live, real-time test of that neurobiological compatibility. It’s your chance to vet an ally.

What the Fit Check IS (A Strategic Briefing)

A Human Conversation: I’ll start by asking something broad like, “So, what brought you here today?” The floor is then yours. No script.
A Space for Your Questions: The majority of the time is for you to interview me. Ask me the tough questions.
A No-BS Logistics Check: We’ll quickly cover the practical stuff like scheduling and cost. No surprises.
A Mutual Decision: At the end, we both decide if it’s a good fit. If it’s not, for any reason, I will provide you with referrals to other specialists.

What the Fit Check is NOT (Another Broken System)

It is NOT a therapy session. This is about connection, not clinical intervention.
It is NOT a clinical intake. I am not going to grill you with a long list of personal questions.
It is NOT a high-pressure sales call. I will never pressure you. Ever.
It is NOT a performance. Your only job is to be yourself.

Questions You Could Ask Me (Your Interview Script)

This is your interview. Steal these questions.

“What’s your actual, real-world experience working with someone dealing with burnout?”
“How do you handle it when a client disagrees with you?”
“I’ve been burned by the medical system before. How will I know this is different?”
“How do you make sure therapy is practical and not just a bunch of talk?”

Your mission is to trust that finely tuned gut feeling. You have nothing to lose and a whole lot of clarity to gain.

Go Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole

Our Guide to the Sliding Scale

Demystifying the most stressful part of starting therapy: the cost. Learn about our trust-based sliding scale and how we handle insurance.

You Are the Expert on Your Life

This entire process is built on a core belief: you are the expert. This manifesto explains the foundation of our entire collaborative approach.

If You're Looking for a Blank Slate

The Fit Check is a conversation with a real person. Learn why we believe being a human is more important than being a “professional” blank slate.

*The information here is meant to guide and inform, not replace the care of a qualified healthcare professional. If you have questions or concerns about a medical or mental-health condition, please reach out to a trusted provider. The examples shared are based on general personas—no personal health details are used. At Enlitens, your privacy is a top priority, and we fully comply with HIPAA regulations to keep your information safe and confidential.

This is a Conversation,
Not a Debate.

This is not a space for debate or unsolicited advice. It is a space for sharing stories. We read every submission, and we will periodically feature the most resonant and validating stories here with the author’s explicit permission. Submit your’s below!

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Take one second. That’s all I’m asking.

Do not try to “calm down.” Do not try to “fix it.” Do not listen to the voice screaming that you need to do something right now.

Just be here, with me, for one single breath.

My name is Liz. I’ve spent years working overnight in the ER, sitting with people on what was often the worst night of their entire lives. I have sat in the eye of the hurricane, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that the chaos you feel right now is not the truth.

It is a storm in your nervous system. And a storm is just a weather pattern. It is not you. It is not permanent. And you do not have to navigate it alone.

Right now, your brain’s alarm system is screaming. The logical part of your brain has been taken offline. That is a normal, brilliant, biological survival response. But you and I are going to bring it back online, together.

We are going to do one, simple, physical thing. This is not a bulls*hit mindfulness exercise. This is a direct, manual override for your nervous system.

Place your hand on your chest.

Can you feel that? The rise and fall. The rhythm. That is the anchor. That is the proof that you are here, in this moment, and you are alive.

Keep your hand there.

Now, we are going to make one choice. The storm is telling you there are a million overwhelming things you have to do. That is a lie. There are only three choices right now, and you only need to pick one.

If you or someone else is in immediate, physical danger and you need help on site, right now:

This is the button you push when you need the paramedics or the police to show up. This is the “bring the fire truck” button.

If you are having thoughts of suicide and you need to talk or text with a human, right now:

This is the national, 24/7 lifeline. It is free, it is confidential, and it is staffed by trained counselors who are ready to listen without judgment. This is the “I need a lifeline” button.

If you are in St. Louis, you are not in crisis but you are in deep distress and need to talk to someone local:

Behavioral Health Response (BHR) is our community’s lifeline. They provide free, confidential telephone counseling and can connect you with local resources. This is the “I need a local guide” button.