It is normal to feel some anxiety about the initial appointment. Due to issues of confidentiality and privacy, it is hard to have an accurate picture of what to expect when coming to see a professional counselor. It can sometimes be helpful to picture the details, so I will provide some information about what your initial experience might look like. Whether you are coming in for counseling, consultation, or assessment, you will likely have been asked to complete some forms before the session and to bring them with you.

When you arrive at 5511 West Marshall Street, you will see ample free parking and can park wherever you like. Just come in through the front door into the foyer. When you walk in, continue straight into the sanctuary, take a seat and I will greet you shortly. In case you forgot your forms, I will have them available on a clipboard in my office.

I begin by going over some parameters related to confidentiality and asking you some questions related to what led you to seek counseling in the first place. I will then ask you questions about a variety of areas in your life, with the goal being to develop a clearer picture of your personality and social profile. This allows us to start making connections between seemingly unrelated aspects of your life, and also to begin recognizing your strengths, challenges and other factors that can become a part of the treatment process.

There will be time at the end of the initial session for us to collaboratively decide on a plan of action. We will also review any questions you may have about policies or the counseling process itself. At the end of the initial session, the next appointment will be scheduled.

One of the most important factors in a successful counseling relationship is for you to feel comfortable with me. A first session can naturally feel uncomfortable at times, but the idea that you would become more relaxed with me needs to be forming. Also, it is important that I have the background and skills to meet your needs (this will be discussed during the initial appointment). If it is determined that your needs would actually be better served by another provider, then I will help you by providing a list of referrals and/or explaining how you can get connected to someone who could better meet your needs. Not everyone will feel comfortable with me; that is a very personal choice. I understand if you would like to go with another provider and will aid you in that process.

Each of our backgrounds and life experiences shape the way that we view ourselves, the world, and others. I value understanding your experiences and enjoy working with clients who have different backgrounds from mine. It is important to me to understand your background and life experiences.

It is my view that exploring diversity, whether it is related to gender, age, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, etc., and understanding individual experiences is an integral part of forming an authentic counseling relationship. If there are times when you do not feel like your experience or identity is being understood, then I would encourage you to bring this up in our session so that we can explore your concerns further.

In general, most clients are scheduled for a 45 minute session once per week. However, the frequency of counseling sessions depends on individual needs. There may be times when it is important to meet more than once per week, and alternatively, there might be times when you may desire to space the sessions farther apart. So, depending on your personal needs, as well as any financial considerations, the frequency of sessions can be individually tailored. This is something that we will discuss at the end of the initial session and it will also be periodically discussed again throughout our time working together.

No, I do not accept insurance.

No. I am not legally qualified to prescribe medication, but I can always refer you to clinicians who can if that need arises.

In the early stages of counseling, we will discuss what your hopes and goals are. We will also discuss what it would look like to reach these goals so that we will have additional information for how to measure your progress. I normally do six, 45-minute sessions, unless we determine that additional sessions are needed. These goals may change throughout counseling; things that were once important may become less important or new goals may be added. Regardless, we will be having conversations on a regular basis about how things are going and the progress that is being made.

As you begin reaching your initial goals we will start to discuss a plan for the end of the counseling relationship. Sometimes it is helpful to begin spacing the sessions out further towards the end. For example, if we were meeting once per week, we might decide to decrease sessions down to every other week, and then once per month. A part of the closure process is recognizing all of the progress that you have made, discussing how that has happened and equipping you to maintain those gains. The same attributes that helped you to achieve your goals in counseling will help you to continue growing and making progress even after the counseling relationship concludes.

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