People come to therapy for many different reasons. Some come for help with issues that have been present for many years and that they are now ready to face. Some issues are more recent, such as the death of a loved one or a troubled relationship. Therapy should be a safe place to explore these issues, and your therapist should be a professional source of support, compassion, and encouragement. But it is important to recognize that psychotherapy has no guarantees, and there are both benefits and risks. While I will do all I can to ensure that you experience positive results, therapy can sometimes have negative, disappointing, and unsatisfying outcomes. Sometimes it is a mixture of the two. During the course of therapy, it is not uncommon to experience a worsening of symptoms, some emotional discomfort or, at times, a sense of feeling stuck. My hope is that these are all things that we can discuss if they occur and work collaboratively to understand the cause. From there, we can decide together how to best respond in order to achieve your desired outcomes for therapy. This may mean changing our approach, pushing ahead to get past stuck points, or possibly even considering a change of therapist to make sure that you get the best possible help for your situation.
In our first few sessions, it will be important for us to get to know one another in order to determine whether I am a good fit for you. Additionally, I will be gathering information in order to formulate an initial evaluation of your situation, concerns, needs, and goals. After this evaluation, I will share my impressions of how we might work together to achieve your goals. It will be important for you to consider this plan for treatment, as well as your level of comfort with me in order for us to decide if I am the best option to work alongside you in the therapy process. Therapy is a large commitment of time, emotional energy, and resources, and it is important that you choose your therapist carefully and thoughtfully.
If we come to a mutual decision to enter into a therapy relationship, it is typical to set up weekly 50-55 minute sessions. We can discuss other options if needed. The duration of treatment is quite variable, depending on your presenting concern, the treatment plan, insurance limitations, and other factors. At various points in the course of therapy, we will review the treatment plan, evaluate our progress, and determine whether your goals are still the same or have changed. Depending on your circumstances, I may suggest that you seek a medical or psychiatric evaluation to ensure that we are considering all aspects of your care. It will always be your right to refuse treatment at any time or to request a change in treatment, though I hope we will be able to discuss this and come to a mutual decision about your care. If we are unable to come to a resolution that satisfies you, I may be able to provide a referral to another mental health professional that better suits your needs.