Why should I consider counseling?

 

Many people are hesitant to take part in counseling, but often express relief and a sense of empowerment after their first session.  Counseling provides you with an opportunity to collaborate with a professional to problem-solve and live your best possible life.  Rather than an isolated effort to improve your life, you gain support and a fresh, unbiased perspective, which may result in generating new options and possibilities.  Counseling can be an efficient way to make positive changes in your life, instead of feeling “stuck” for a long period of time.  Rather than being a sign of weakness, seeking counseling is evidence of caring enough about yourself to make proactive changes in your life.   

 

What happens in the first session?

 

The first session is different from subsequent sessions.  This time is used to gather your personal history, your reasons for taking part in counseling and your goals.  I like to have a clear idea of what you would like to be different in your life.  Then we discuss ideas for making those changes.  If you have been in counseling before with a different therapist, I like to talk about what you considered to be helpful and not so helpful.  During this process, I begin to get an idea of what your personality is like.  This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions of me and get a sense of what it might be like for us to work together.    

 

What can I expect for a typical session?

 

In a typical session, a brief amount of time is spent reviewing the previous session.  The rest of the time is spent discussing what you have experienced since the last session and how that relates to your personality and behaviors.  As a general rule, what is most important to you will be given the most time.  As the therapeutic relationship develops, more insight will be gained about your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.  There is continuous assessment of the process of counseling and what has been helpful and what could be changed.  Adjustments are made regularly to make sure you are gaining from each session and moving toward your goals.    

 

How many sessions will it take to fix my problem?

 

The number of sessions needed to make significant changes varies from situation to situation.  On average, short-term therapy lasts from 6 to 12 sessions.  Some people meet for fewer sessions and some meet for more.  It really differs based on the individual and the issues he or she is seeking to improve.  Typically, when therapy has been successful, both the psychologist and the client mutually agree that it is time to bring counseling to a close.    

 

Why are sessions 50 minutes instead of an hour?

 

A typical therapeutic hour lasts 50 minutes.  The remainder of the hour is spent by the psychologist taking notes about the session and considering what the plan for the next session will be.  This time is valuable and benefits the client by helping to keep track of the course of counseling and the client’s progress toward his or her goals.

 

*If you have questions that are not addressed here, please call for a brief consultation that is free of charge.