Counselors are professionally-trained listeners, which means they are committed to giving you their undivided attention so that you feel fully heard. Additionally, counselors are able to apply their expert knowledge and guidance to help you get to the root of your problems, overcome emotional challenges, and make positive, long-lasting changes in your life.
What to Expect
Prior to your first session, you'll be asked to read and complete some paperwork. At the beginning of our counseling sessions, I will typically invite you to start with whatever you would like to discuss, ask, or share. It’s normal to feel a little awkward with the counseling process at first, but most people find that they begin to feel comfortable quickly and look forward to their sessions.
Every client is different and unique and I appreciate this. Some clients love “homework,” and if I haven’t given them anything specific that they might want to work on prior to our next session, they will ask before leaving, “So, what should I work on this week?” Other clients don’t like homework at all and simply want to let whatever work we’ve done in the counseling session sink in between sessions. Some clients come in and know exactly what they want to talk about and just need to be heard and considered by the counselor, while others have much less they feel they are compelled to say and look to the counselor to ask questions or suggest where to take the counseling session. Be yourself in counseling and know that good work can happen.
Frequency
Most of my clients have a counseling session with me once a week, at least initially. At a certain point, most know when they are ready to increase or decrease the frequency of their counseling sessions. The frequency of your counseling sessions is always up to you. However, my recommendation is that you begin counseling by seeing your counselor once a week.
.
.