What can I expect when starting at your practice?

There are a few phases that everyone goes through when starting at my practice.

The first part of the process is the intake that includes an introduction and evaluation component. The introduction, usually the first session, includes reviewing all the documentation and policies of my practice (aka informed consent) as well as learning more about your reasons for starting therapy and general hopes for change and goals. The evaluation component can last between 2-4 sessions and includes an in-depth discussion and evaluation of your needs by asking you about your presenting concern(s), your life history (e.g., medical, mental, family, relationship, employment, etc.), and mental health experiences and symptoms. I may also separately interview family members or other support people and request records to review as needed and with your permission. There is a feedback session at the end of the intake process that reviews all the information gathered to inform treatment recommendations.

Throughout the intake process, you should check in with yourself and form your own opinions about whether you feel comfortable working with me. If not, let me know and I will provide resources and referrals to other practitioners that may be better suited to help you. If you do feel comfortable working with me and I can offer the expertise to help you with what you’re looking for in therapy, we will review a set of goals and steps to achieve those goals. This is called a treatment plan.

The next part involves us working actively to make progress on your goals. In collaboration with you, I may use a variety of interventions and methods to help address some of your concerns. For psychotherapy to be effective, you will have to regularly attend your sessions and work on things we discuss during and outside our sessions. Adjustments to goals can be made at anytime throughout this phase. If something falls out of scope of my practice, I will let you know and collaboratively decide the next steps on how to address it.

The final part, aka termination phase, involves the summary of the work, learnings about yourself during this therapy process, and what lessons or other targets to work on in the future before ending our professional relationship at my practice.