What are therapy sessions like?
My therapeutic style is not pushy or rigid; instead, I tend to prioritize the client’s capacity in a certain moment and encourage an open conversation about what clients are willing and able to discuss.
This, coupled with a direct therapeutic style, means that we will move at your pace. You are the driver of the bus; however, once we build trust and safety in the therapeutic relationship, I will begin to gently challenge you in your maladaptive thoughts and encourage change where needed.
Structure of therapy sessions:
1. Free 15-minute phone consultation
Here we will discuss what brings you into therapy, your experience with therapy in the past, what worked and didn’t work, and the logistics. You will have an opportunity to ask me any questions (e.g., cost, payment options, scheduling, therapeutic style, technical questions, etc.). We will use this time to determine if we are a good fit, and I will try my best to answer your questions and eliminate any nerves about starting therapy.
2. Intake session (aka: “First session) {60+ minutes}
Here we will discuss expectations, diagnostic assessment, and carry out what I like to call the “housekeeping” of therapy sessions, such as going over cancellation policies and informed consent. Typical Topics covered in this session include (depending on client comfort level): demographics/identity, family dynamics & history, significant relationships, faith/religious/spirituality, history, duration, and intensity of symptoms, medical history if relevant, therapeutic goals and preferences, safety assessment if relevant. Since the intake session is the most extensive information-collecting portion of the therapy, it is possible that it may take us 2 or 3 intake sessions, depending on the amount of information to be collected. I prioritize a thorough examination of your life, and believe that it requires careful attention.
3. Ongoing Sessions {53 minutes}
I value a collaborative environment in therapy, and encourage feedback at every step. Ongoing sessions will be structured in a way that works for you. Once a treatment plan is created, we will discuss what format of therapy may work best for you, e.g., frequency of appointments, more skills and emotional regulation-based, more in-depth trauma-focused, more homework, less homework, etc. The goal is for you to feel better, and for us to use our time effectively.