What to expect when you see a counsellor
Therapy sessions are an investment in your time and money. I believe it’s important to have the opportunity to interview potential therapists before you make that investment. This is why I welcome you to reach out for a preliminary, 10 minute chat, before you decide to continue. This time gives you an opportunity to get a sense of my style and approach.
How to start the counselling process
You can let me know what’s prompted you to seek support and what you’re wanting to experience from therapy. You may also ask me any questions you have about how I work and what has been helpful, and not so helpful, for you in the past.
I assess if I have the appropriate skills to help your concern and will only move forward if I’m certain I’m equipped to support you.
After this session, if we decide to work together I will email you the following:
A client history and terms of service form and fees – to complete and send back before your first session. Life can be very busy, or you may be struggling with energy and motivation, so we can always complete this together in your first session
Location details for your session (in person or online). I’ll also send a calendar invite with these details.
Details to pay for the session (payment is due prior to session)
Our first session – What to Expect
If online - log in by clicking on the Zoom link provided in your email or calendar invitation. I will be waiting for you and welcome you from the virtual waiting room, to our virtual meeting space.
If in person, I’ll meet you in the waiting room at your appointment time
Briefly go through the form and attend to any additional questions which may have arisen since we met.
Confirm what you would like to get out of counselling and how you would know it has been beneficial.
Sessions are 50 minutes (a therapy hour)
My aim is to listen and attune to what you need, through being fully present with you and seeking to understand your experience. In this process a safe space is created for our therapeutic work. I promise to be accepting and not judge you in any way. My philosophy is we are all doing the best we have with what we have at the time. My work is to support you, through the various counselling interventions, to develop inner and outer resources to allow you to function more fully and in a way which aligns with your values.
Between Sessions
Additional work or practices between sessions is completely up to you. I will take your lead and there is no pressure to do anything between sessions. We will speak about what may be helpful to practice or experience between sessions, and whether this is realistic and achievable. While research has shown work outside the therapy hour is helpful in making changes there is also the reality of the times we live in. Making time for a therapy session is often enough for you to begin to see the changes you are wanting. There is healing and insights that arise in session and these continue to integrate after we finish talking, and begin to create changes in thoughts and behaviours. When we bring what has been unconscious (hovering below the surface and impacting how we live our lives) to the surface, through talk therapy, making what was “unknown” to be “known” change naturally occurs.
Following sessions
Sessions will continue in a way which suits your needs. We check in at the end of each session and what is needed, for you, next.
I’m here for you in whatever way you need, whenever you need. Many clients find the ongoing and long-term relationship of counselling with the same therapist to be beneficial. This may be regular weekly, fortnightly, or monthly sessions, or dipping in and out as life experiences happen. When you come back, I know your story, your strengths, the work you have done and how you benefit most from therapy. In this way, we seamlessly pick up where we left off, and continue the process with whatever needs attention.
If you’re ready to book in or want to have a 10 minute chat, get in touch.
Other related blogs:
What a Mental Health Counsellor does
Counselling on Zoom
What’s the difference - counsellor | psychotherapist | psychologist | coach