An electrode catheter (14) and a method for assessing electrode-tissue contact and coupling are disclosed. An exemplary electrode catheter (14) comprises an electrode (20) adapted to apply electrical energy. A measurement circuit (42) is adapted to measure impedance between the electrode (20) and ground as the electrode approaches a target tissue (24). A processor (50) determines a contact and coupling condition for the target tissue (24) based at least in part on reactance of the impedance measured by the measurement circuit (42). In another exemplary embodiment, the electrode catheter (14) determines the contact and coupling condition based at least in part on a phase angle of the impedance.