What happens during the first phone call?
Deciding whether psychotherapy can be helpful to you or your family member can be confusing and challenging. This is especially true if you have never seen a psychologist before. A consultation may help you decide whether psychotherapy can be helpful or not.
We offer a free 10-15 minute phone consultation to gain a preliminary understanding of your situation and concerns. We realize that this phone call may be an anxiety-provoking experience. We will try our best to make you feel comfortable and ask you questions regarding your situation. This short phone call will focus on your specific concerns, relevant history and interest in psychotherapy. If both you and the psychologist feel comfortable with moving forward, the initial appointment will be scheduled.
The therapist/client “fit” is very important and may be an indicator of treatment outcomes. Therefore, when choosing a psychologist, do not be afraid to ask appropriate questions to determine whether you feel comfortable working with that psychologist. You may want to consider consulting with another psychologist, even if you have seen a psychologist or counselor and did not feel that psychotherapy was helpful in the past.
What happens during the first appointment?
During the first appointment, a comprehensive intake/evaluation will be conducted. This includes a thorough developmental history to better understand your situation. You will also be asked questions regarding your family history, past and current relationships, medical history, and past psychiatric history. This may take 1-2 sessions. During this time, you can assess how comfortable you feel with your psychologist, and you can both decide whether she is the best person to help you meet your treatment goals.
What should I expect during the therapy process?
Psychotherapy is involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders. With psychotherapy the individual, couple and family may enhance their quality of life and improve their well-being. Research indicates that therapy is more successful if the client is interested in making improvements and is open to change. During the early stages of therapy the psychologist will work with you to better understand your difficulties. These sessions allow you and your psychologist to build a therapeutic relationship so that you feel more comfortable discussing and exploring sensitive issues.
As therapy progresses, the individual may be asked to describe their past and current experiences on a variety of issues. Many times an individual may be asked difficult questions that they may not have thought about or may have avoided for quite some time. Because this process may be difficult and anxiety provoking, your psychologist will work with you so that you feel safe and supported.
The types of techniques that are utilized in treatment depend on the orientation of your psychologist and what the psychologist deems appropriate for the client at the time. Our theoretical approach is integrative, and we tailor treatment goals according to the client’s individual needs. We draw from cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, psychodynamic, and family system perspectives. Many times, we teach clients various coping techniques such as breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, thought stopping, imagery and cognitive restructuring to help manage anxiety and other feelings that the individual may be experiencing. We may also utilize social skills training and conduct role-plays to model and practice appropriate communication skills. During treatment, we will also explore the meaningful relationships in your life and its impact on the different areas of your life.
When working with younger children play therapy may be used to initiate conversations and to allow children to naturally interact with the psychologist. Many times, a psychologist may use play therapy to model and reinforce appropriate behaviors and interactions.
It is important to note that any type of change takes time. Often, before a situation can improve it is not uncommon for individuals to report some distress or even an increase in symptoms. This is because many times a disruption in one’s routine can, at first, be stressful. However, over time most individuals are able to move towards positive change. Although this process appears difficult and requires effort, the results can be life changing and can ultimately improve your and your family’s quality of life.
How often and how long are sessions?
Sessions are typically scheduled on a weekly basis. However, depending on your situation, sessions can be scheduled more or less frequently. Each session lasts 45 minutes. We will work with you during the first few sessions to explore and develop appropriate and realistic treatment goals and schedule sessions accordingly.
Do I need to be on medication?
No. If you begin psychotherapy, you do not have to take medication. There are many circumstances in which medication may not be warranted or recommended. However, there are some diagnoses where medication may be beneficial. We will work with you to explore different treatment options with you. If we believe that medication may be helpful in your situation, we will spend time to thoroughly discuss this option with you. If you are in agreement, we will refer you to a psychiatrist for a medication consultation. During this consultation visit the psychiatrist will conduct a thorough history and will discuss whether medication is or is not recommended. The psychiatrist will also discuss the pros and cons of medications including any potential side effects. After that visit, it is up to you to decide whether you would like to begin a trial of medication. We can work with you to explore your concerns and help you make that decision. If you choose to decide to begin a trial of medication, we will work together with your psychiatrist to coordinate treatment.
Will anyone know that I am in therapy?
All information discussed during sessions and even the knowledge that you are in treatment are kept confidential. This means that information that you share with your psychologist is not communicated to family members, friends, employers, school officials or other medical providers without your permission. If you would like us to communicate with anyone, you will first be asked to sign a release of information. There are some rare exceptions to confidentiality, as mandated by law. For example, if there are concerns regarding the safety and/or abuse of children, elderly or disabled persons, a psychologist is mandated to inform appropriate agencies. In addition, if an individual appears to be a safety threat to themselves or others, a psychologist may have to breach confidentiality to ensure the safety of the client and/or others.
How long will I need to be in therapy?
The length of your treatment depends on the issues that you would like to address. At the end of our first appointment, a suggested length for your therapy will be discussed. Some difficulties can be addressed in short-term counseling. However, there are some diagnoses that may require long-term treatment. It is worth noting that some clients may report feeling better after a few sessions due to symptom reduction. However, additional sessions may be helpful to explore and address underlying issues and difficulties.