The First call (or email)
You should be so proud of yourself!
It is difficult to ask for help. Making the first phone call (or sending an email) is a brave act of courage. Therapy is a major investment, both emotionally and financially, so I will do my best to make you feel comfortable and at ease. During the initial phone call, I will gather information from you, ask you what type of help you are seeking, and we will make sure that we are a good fit to work together. We will then decide on a day and time to have our first session.
If you reach my voicemail, please leave a message. I will call you back within 48 hours to schedule an appointment. Email is also a great way to initiate services and I can often respond quicker via email.
The first session
The first session, and sometimes the second session, is spent exploring what brings you to therapy and how I can support you during the healing process. You will complete the initial paperwork, discuss your therapy goals, and clarify any questions or concerns you may have about therapy, me, or my practice. This first session also allows us the opportunity to get to know one another and determine whether working together is a good fit. During this initial phase, we will discuss a plan to move forward. Together, we will establish goals for your growth.
Through therapy, people are often able to gain a greater awareness of themselves and their feelings, and how experiences impact you as a person. The focus is to process feelings and emotions as you learn healthy ways to overcome challenging situations and circumstances.
What happens next?
The counseling process truly varies from person to person. Counseling can last a few months or it could be long-term and continue for years. This depends on your motivation, consistency, goals you hope to achieve, and the effort that you apply outside of our sessions together.
It is usually recommended that we begin with weekly sessions, lasting 50 minutes each. This will allow us to create an alliance and establish momentum toward your goals. It is helpful if you come to each session with something you would like to process or explore and we go from there. Sometimes it is hard to know what you want to talk about in therapy, and if so, I will help guide you. We will gradually shift to sessions less often as we continue to explore progress and goals.
Who will KNow?
Your sessions with me are confidential, and I do not discuss anything with anyone, unless you provide written consent to release information.
There are a few exceptions:
If I suspect abuse/neglect of a child or elder adult, or you tell me of abuse/neglect of a child or elder adult that has not been reported, I am mandated by law to report this information.
If you threaten serious bodily harm to another person, I am required to notify the police.
If you inform me of your intent to harm yourself, I will make every effort to work with you to ensure your safety. Sometimes, this may involve additional measures. Any decisions that need to be taken are done with your health, safety, and best interest in mind.