I HOPE SOMEONE ELSE ALSO ANSWERS, because I have only the one experience, BUT I did consult with 3 separate people. One was a longtime friend and former boss who has become a therapist. I did not confide in her about the rupture when it happened as girlfriends might do, but a few weeks later, when I was still struggling with it, I asked for her professional opinion, free, of course! I also asked my neighbor crush, as he is an MD and psychologically oriented and the smartest person in the world.

In all three consults, I felt more openness and honesty and digging and thinking on my feet was required of me than my average therapy session. I knew I had to just let my guard down and just spill if I was going to get anything out of these talks, as the rupture involved a private matter.

So for me, good experience, I was lucky to be able to talk about a devastating experience with 3 people I actually love and trust. But they all said, don't throw away a good thing over this incident.

Does that answer what a consult is like? It's whatever you need it to be? I got some different insights into my issue that made me say wow! but I basically got my premise validated.