What can I expect?
What can I expect?
Therapy is a relationship that works well largely in part because of the clearly defined boundaries and responsibilities held by each person. This frame helps to create the safety to take risks and the support to facilitate and create change. Psychotherapy has both benefits and risks. Some risks can include experiencing uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness and helplessness. Psychotherapy often requires discussing unpleasant aspects of your life at a pace that is comfortable for each individual. In time this can lead to benefits for individuals who undertake it. Therapy can lead to a reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in interpersonal relationships, greater personal awareness and insight, increased skills for managing stress, and resolutions to specific problems. There are however no guarantees about the outcome. Psychotherapy does require active effort on your part. In order to be most successful, you will have to work on things that we discuss outside of sessions. This could include reading handouts, journaling or logging certain information, working on skills we’ve discussed in session, following up with other health professionals, and many others.
During your first session (named an Intake Assessment) an initial evaluation is conducted. This evaluation consists of paperwork filled out by you prior to the session, paperwork completed during the session and information gathered during the session. We will also discuss during your first visit if you would like to continue services and if this therapeutic relationship will be beneficial to you. If the decision is made to continue services your therapist will discuss the frequency of session, what you can expect at subsequent sessions, treatment plan goals, treatment approaches that may be used to help you attain those identified goals and any other questions you may have. If you find the counseling process is not for you or you do not feel your therapist is the right fit for you, please let your therapist know. We are here to help you and do not want to interfere with your progress. We would be happy to make an appropriate referral based on our decision at that time.
We hope you are able to take the first steps in getting the help and care that you need and be on your way to a happier and healthier individual!