What To Expect In Therapy
How do you choose a therapist? And what actually happens in a session? How do you get started? Read on, you'll find out:
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How We Get Started: You check my schedule to see if I have a timeslot that works for you. If so, you click the button below to schedule a free 20 minute video meeting. I'm easy to talk to, hard to surprise, and I really enjoy first meetings, so we'll likely have a great time :) If it looks like aren't the best fit, I'll provide you the name of a few therapists who might be. If we are, I put you on my schedule and we start sessions. Usually weekly--sometimes more, sometimes less.
Then I send you forms via an online portal called Simple Practice. You'll fill them out online: some of them are about privacy practices, information about my policies etc.. Some of them are intake forms where you can tell me more about you, and what you need.
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Then, when it's time for your session, you'll access the video platform in Simple Practice for our telehealth sessions. Video sessions are kinda nice because you don't have to drive anywhere, find an office, sit in a waiting room, browse outdated magazines...just log on and say hello.
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Me and my telehealth office look like this!
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How To Choose A Therapist
It's hard to know if a therapist is good or not. You haven't spent your life watching therapists and assessing their strong and weak points, like you have, say, school teachers or coworkers. So, I'll tell you what I look for when I look for a therapist. I look for a someone who:
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1) Seems to understand my needs and background
2) Likes me
3) Has a plan to help me get better
4) Seems like a professional (not a friend, not a consultant--a warm, affirming expert that can help you heal the way you want to).
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What Happens In Therapy
We'll spend a few sessions figuring out what's troubling you and how I can help. Then we'll create a plan for how you might get better.
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I like to work on a few goals at a time: one or two practical ones (usually increasing habits that make you feel better or heal), and one or two psychological ones (addressing past hurts, improving current relationships, dealing with mental health symptoms, coming to new understandings that help you).
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How Therapy Ends
It's nice to know how any relationship is supposed to end. When it comes to therapy, we might end when:
1) You're feeling better, and what you came to work on is resolved :)
2) You're not feeling better: if this is the case, let's talk about it early and often till we fine-tune therapy to your needs. If we can't figure out a way to do that, let's call it a day, and I'll give you referrals to other therapists who might be a better fit.
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After therapy ends, it can usually begin again--if you need my support again, get back in touch, and we'll re-start!
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