Well, you will be greeted warmly by myself within the waiting room and be led back to my office space. You may take a seat on the couch or at the table. I will begin assessing needs and concerns as well as begin the collaboration process on what you want to work on and end-goals. Starting therapy may be anxiety provoking and nerve-wracking to open up to a total stranger! I get it and I’ve been there myself. I hope to make it as comfortable as possible and we can explore ways to increase your sense of comfort, if needed. At times note that therapy may be difficult, but this is part of the healing process to overcome those avoided topics and details.
- Will I have to spill out all details on the first visit?
- Not unless you’d like to! You can set the pace. I may slow you down if you’re going too fast so I can be sure not to miss anything.
- Do I have to talk about my whole life?
- Again, not necessarily. I may ask about family, relationships, social support among other information. If you know exactly what you’d like to work on and you only want to address that, we can do that. Sometimes, however things may be correlated to past experiences to explain why you do what you do in the current moment. It may be worthwhile to reflect on your prior experiences.
- Will I be diagnosed right away or have a diagnosis follow me?
- No, as this is a perk of working with self-pay practices, you will not have an insurance company dictating how many sessions and if they are warranted. I may utilize a diagnosis to guide treatment, but this is not my main priority in working with people. I see people as they are, and not just based off of a label.
- What if there’s a problem or I don’t like how things are going?
- Please tell me!! I will not be hurt/offended. I want to make sure I’m helping you in the best way possible and this is a great skill to use in therapy so you can ask for your needs to be met in all other areas of your life. Remember, the therapy space is meant to be one of the safest places, emotionally, and if it’s not working, I don’t want to waste your time and money and have you start all over with someone new if I’m able to address the problem. Also sometimes the “fit” just might not be there and that’s okay! We sometimes don’t connect with our therapist, but it’s important for you to find someone you do connect with.
- What do you mean if it’s “working?”
- I like to be effective of course, but with therapy, this can be such an abstract concept. Growth can look very different for everyone. I like to think growth is a little bit of a change in perception, mood, choices and thought-processes. Healing is not linear, and a lot of times things get worse before they get better but I believe this is where change and strength is built. You may notice small (or large!) shifts in mood, sleep patterns, socialization, purpose, fulfillment, and overall wellness.
- How long will therapy take?
- It really depends on the person and issue you’re coming in for. Some it can be as little at 6 sessions, and others up to a year. I recommend weekly sessions in the beginning to build rapport and then once we see progress, can reduce to biweekly or monthly.
- What is your style?
- I am collaborative, gentle but will also state your contradictions and discrepancies within your choices and statements. I always say my clients are the master of their lives, I’m here to guide and implement new skills at times, but also pull from the strengths and qualities you already have within yourself.
I want to remind those new to therapy that therapists do not give advice. I will provide strategies and tools that are useful and warranted, but I do not problem solve for you because it’s ultimately your life! We can definitely collaborate on identifying solutions to your concern, but ultimately it’s up to you to decide what choices you make and what works for you. Definitely feel free to ask more questions upon the start of our work together if you have them.
Healthy Minds Therapy & Wellness 