“The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”
~ Chinese proverb
Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the psychologist and patient, as well as the particular issues you wish to address. There are many different methods we may use to deal with these issues.
Psychotherapy, unlike medical doctor visits, calls for very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during and in between our sessions.
Psychotherapy can have risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness.
Psychotherapy, on the other hand, has also been shown to have benefits for people who actively engage in it. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress and other symptoms. However, no guarantees can be made regarding the success of treatment.
First Session
Our first session will involve an evaluation of your needs. During this time, we can both decide if I am the best person to work with. We need to understand if we are right for each other. I want you to be comfortable and excited about working together. I want you to feel that we can move forward together with a working relationship that will lead you to achieve your goals.
By the end of our first session, I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work may involve, if you decide to continue therapy. You need to also consider how you feel about working together. In order for therapy to be most effective, we need to be able to create a comfortable, trusting therapy relationship.
Our work together will involve a commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be careful about the psychologist you select. If you have questions about my policies or procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise. If you continue to have concerns then I will be happy to help you set up a meeting with another mental health professional as a referral or for a second opinion.
Individual Therapy Appointments
If we decide to work together, we will usually schedule one 50-minute session per week at an agreed-upon time. However, session frequency is flexible, depending on your particular concerns and/or scheduling logistics.
Regular attendance in therapy is very important to your progress and goal attainment. Barring the rare emergency, let’s be sure that we meet as scheduled. I will be setting this time aside for you, so it is important that you be on time if you wish to make progress towards your goals. We each have a strong interest in having you achieve your goals, and the commitment to regular therapy is an important part of your overall commitment to your success.