what to expect

We’ve found it helpful to give you an outline of what you can expect during your therapy sessions. It is important to remember that this can look different for each individual depending on the situation, such as crisis situations, evaluation-only appointments, or therapy for young children. However, most of our counseling sessions follow this format.

Once you call and make an initial appointment, we will give you instructions on how to fill out paperwork. We try to make it simple - click this link to create an account on our client portal, where you can e-sign forms. We ask that you do this before your first appointment so that we can jump right into the initial assessment. You will also be provided instructions on how to log onto your first therapy session, which is also through the same portal. We use a secure HIPAA compliant platform for all sessions.

Our first therapy session will focus on the reasons you have decided to begin therapy. There is no need to detail the history of your life unless that feels important for you to do. You can share what feels most important to share that day. Your therapist will ask questions about your experiences, past and present, as well as your outlook on the future. Your therapist will complete an intake assessment by asking questions throughout the course of the initial session. This helps them get a feel for your experience, safety, supports, resources, and struggles.

If we don't finish the intake assessment during the first session, we will continue it at the second session. The information we get in the intake assessment lays the groundwork for our work together in therapy.  Knowing your values, your strengths, and your aspirations helps us to create an individualized treatment plan to best meet your needs. At the second session, we will spend time developing this treatment plan together so that you and your therapist are on the same page about what we are working towards. This treatment plan will include general goals and specific actions to help achieve those goals, as well as what a successful outcome would look like for you. Treatment plans can, and likely will, change throughout your time in therapy, so consider this a working document. 

The next sessions will begin to feel more like typical therapy sessions. By this time, you will likely have finalized the formal aspects of therapy, and can really start to dive into the work. Your therapist will have begun incorporating their therapeutic modalities, and you should have some sense as to what to expect from your therapist. That being said, the therapeutic alliance that you are building with your therapist should begin to take shape at this point. Your therapist will periodically check in with you to see how you feel the progress on goals has been. Our therapists welcome honest feedback, and strive to create a therapeutic environment where you feel comfortable to say if what we are doing isn't helping. Our clinicians have been trained on multiple therapeutic modalities and understand that one size does not fit all when it comes to therapeutic approaches.

Therapy isn't a lifetime commitment. Eventually, the day will come when you have met your treatment plan goals and feel an increased sense of resilience to navigate potential stressors on your own. Believe it or not, termination starts at the beginning of therapy when you and your therapist discuss what a successful therapeutic outcome looks like for you. Generally, the goal is to equip you with all the tools you need to lead a healthy life without therapy. The end of therapy can be a truly positive experience by creating an opportunity for closure as well as a time to celebrate how far you have come. Our goal is to make termination a healthy, valuable, and successful process. In the event that you must terminate early or abruptly, we encourage you to see your therapist for a final session if possible. We want to highlight your growth and strengths, as well as create a plan to handle future problems.