The Therapy Process. Psychotherapy is a joint collaborative effort between Client and Therapist. Progress and success may vary depending upon the particular problems or issue being addressed, as well as many other factors. I am committed to supporting the development of inner and outer resources to meet your therapeutic goals. I will ask you to identify specific therapy goals, and I will monitor progress on those and talk with you periodically about your progress in therapy. Psychotherapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for very active effort on your part. In order for therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and in the time between them. Please discuss with me any concerns you have regarding your (or your child’s) progress in therapy.
The Therapy Process. It is the therapist’s intention to provide services that will assist you in reaching your goals. Your therapist will provide treatment recommendations based on the information you provide and the specifics of your situation. The client and the therapist are partners in the therapeutic process. You have a right to agree or disagree with your therapist’ recommendations. Periodically, your therapist will provide feedback to you regarding your progress and will encourage you to participate in this discussion. Your therapist will work with you to develop and update an effective treatment plan. Throughout the therapy process, you and your therapist will attempt to evaluate whether, and to what degree, therapy is beneficial to you. Your ongoing feedback and input is a vital part of the therapeutic process. Due to the varying nature and severity of problems and the needs of individual clients, your therapist cannot predict the length of your therapy nor guarantee a specific outcome or result. *Psychotherapy is a process in which the therapist and client discussing a range of issues involving past and present experiences, concerns, emotions, behaviors, and thought patterns with the goal of increasing positive and meaningful change. In response to the therapy process, the client may experience increased insight, improved self-awareness, a change in perception, meaningfulness, and relief. Please be aware that, at times, this process may feel uncomfortable, can be difficult and challenging, and may cause strong emotions related to issues being discussed.
The Therapy Process. Participating in psychotherapy can result in a number of benefits to you, including a better understanding of your personal goals and values, improved interpersonal relationships, and resolution of the specific concerns that led you to seek therapy. Working toward these benefits, however, can be slow, difficult and at times painful. While there are no guarantees, your active participation will contribute greatly to this process. The quality of the relationship between therapist and client is vital to the success of the therapy, so I welcome any input from you about how the process is going, new directions you want to take, or any questions or concerns you may have at any point. In my therapeutic work I use a number of techniques including, but not limited to, experiential, psychodynamic, psychoeducational, somatic, hypnotherapy, cognitive-behavioral, and expressive arts modalities.
The Therapy Process. I will explain the therapeutic process and my personal approach during our initial session and as is therapeutically helpful in subsequent sessions. In particular, it is helpful to understand that therapy is not advice giving. The therapist may be likened to a mirror who reflects back to the client themselves in their life. Through this, the client gains new awareness and is equipped with a range of perspectives and choices in their life. I am trained as a ‘Relational Integrative’ Therapist. A ‘relational’ approach means that we are working in this process together – I alongside you. Much of the power in therapy resides in the therapeutic relationship that will form between us. I will be listening and will also offer concepts and reflections. I will offer perspectives which may assist you with finding meaning on your journey through life. An ‘integrative’ approach means that I draw on several theoretical approaches (Humanistic, Psychodynamic and Compassion-Focussed), so between us we can find a way of working that meets your needs and aims. Let me know if you have previously had any therapy, and what was helpful and unhelpful for you. This can assist in developing the therapeutic relationship between us. I offer ‘open-ended’ counselling, which means that we can work together for as long as feels relevant and helpful. We will agree an initial process length during our first session. Usually this would involve a commitment of 6 further sessions. If after these 7 sessions, you wish to close your process, we would book one final session to complete an ‘ending’. The full process would be a total of 8 sessions. If you do not wish to close your process after 8 sessions, we can continue in an open- ended fashion and agree a closure when you are ready to do so. Depending on the length of our process together, we will agree a length of time for closing our work. Ideally, sessions would be weekly, but some clients prefer fortnightly. This is specific to each therapeutic relationship and can be discussed openly. If at any point you feel that you need to leave the process earlier than originally discussed, we would work with what you are feeling and arrange an ending process or session accordingly.
The Therapy Process. Initially, we will meet to evaluate the problems that bring you to therapy and I will give you some initial impressions of the kind of treatment that would be helpful to you. During the first few sessions, you should be thinking about whether you feel comfortable working with me. Because therapy may involve a substantial commitment of time, money, and energy, it is important that you feel comfortable with the therapist you choose. If you decide that you are not comfortable working with me, I would be happy to help you find another therapist. If you do decide to work with me, we will develop goals and a treatment plan together. If we decide that group therapy is appropriate, I will give you a separate group contract, which we will discuss. Once therapy is initiated, we will decide on a regular schedule of meetings; usually at least one session a week. You may discontinue therapy at any time, though I strongly encourage you to discuss it with me first. I can provide you with referrals to other therapists if that seems needed.
