Therapy is entirely focused on you – on what brings you in. So, before our initial appointment, we’ll take care of the preliminaries.
First, we’ll have a 15 minute phone consultation where we’ll briefly discuss what you’re looking for and what I can offer. Here, we will schedule an appointment for our initial intake session.
Second, I’ll e-mail you documents informing you of your rights as a client, consent to treatment, and payment information prior to our initial session.
Then, we’ll have an initial intake session – a get-to-know-each-other session where you can ask me questions about therapy, and I will ask you for additional information about your background and your specific needs.
Most importantly, we’ll make up our minds regarding our goodness of fit (i.e., do we think it’s a good idea to work with each other).
Therapy is entirely focused on you – on what brings you in. So, before our initial appointment, we’ll take care of the preliminaries.
First, we’ll have a 15 minute phone consultation where we’ll briefly discuss what you’re looking for and what I can offer. Here, we will schedule an appointment for our initial intake session.
Second, I’ll e-mail you documents informing you of your rights as a client, consent to treatment, and payment information prior to our initial session.
Then, we’ll have an initial intake session – a get-to-know-each-other session where you can ask me questions about therapy, and I will ask you for additional information about your background and your specific needs.
Most importantly, we’ll make up our minds regarding our goodness of fit (i.e., do we think it’s a good idea to work with each other).
Our strong therapeutic alliance will be a key element in positive outcomes. Let’s build a solid foundation.
Important Factors
• Do you think you will be comfortable enough to be open about what you’re experiencing?
• Do you feel I can help you?
• Do the logistics work for you? (i.e. availability, teletherapy services, fees, etc.)
Our first meeting is essentially the meeting of two strangers. You will be making a general determination of whether I’m trustworthy, have the necessary expertise, and will take the time and effort to understand both the problem and the context in which you and the problem are situated.
We’ll spend the next 2-3 sessions setting your therapy goals and developing a plan to achieve them. Similarly, we’ll be building the strong level of trust we need so you feel safe and comfortable in sharing your story with me.
Like any relationship, ours will also take time to grow.
You want someone that is encouraging but gently challenges you. It should feel different from talking to a friend. I highly value being open, honest, and genuine with you from the beginning. (Warning: I might let a curse word or two slip here and there when I get excited!)
Early in the process (if appropriate), we’ll incorporate skills to help you learn how to feel more grounded and better aware of your emotions.
We’ll also spend some time talking about ways to regulate those emotions when they feel too intense to handle. These sessions will include skill building, practicing, and reporting feedback as appropriate.
Like any relationship, ours will also take time to grow.
You want someone that is encouraging but gently challenges you. It should feel different from talking to a friend. I highly value being open, honest, and genuine with you from the beginning. (Warning: I might let a curse word or two slip here and there when I get excited!)
Early in the process (if appropriate), we’ll incorporate skills to help you learn how to feel more grounded and better aware of your emotions.
We’ll also spend some time talking about ways to regulate those emotions when they feel too intense to handle. These sessions will include skill building, practicing, and reporting feedback as appropriate.
Steady as we go…
After session 5 or 6, we’ll go through how things are going for you and determine whether we need to make any changes.
Therapy is tailored to your specific goals and needs. We’ll spend plenty of time reflecting on the areas of your life you would like to improve, observing thoughts and emotions that influence how you respond to situations, things that are going well in your life, and how you see yourself in the future.
We may delve into past events, especially if you feel “stuck” or if you need to process painful or traumatic life events so you can move forward with your best self.
Our priority will always be enhancing your life to be its most meaningful and fulfilling.