If you have never been to a therapist, or if you have and did not care for the experience, it can be a little intimidating. I understand and will do all I can to make it as pleasant for you as possible.
Picking up the phone and making the call can be the most difficult part. Often, people tell me they wonder if there is something "wrong" with them or have they "failed" if they need or want professional help. Just as you go to a doctor when you are ill, you can benefit from the help of a professional therapist. You cannot know everything there is to know. A skilled therapist can help you work through things.
Before an Appointment is Made
Before you call it can be helpful to take some time to think about, or even write down, what you want to know before you begin. What are the most important things to you about your new therapist? Where is his office located? When is the therapist available for appointments? How soon can I expect to feel better? How will I know when I am "done" and how it will end? What do I want and/or expect out of therapy? Some of these questions may be important to you. You might think of others. It is reasonable for you to expect a therapist to spend 10 to 15 minutes with you on the phone before you schedule your first appointment. This is an opportunity for you to get to know them just a little and decide if you want to invest your time with that particular therapist.
The First Session
When you first come in there will be some paperwork. Some therapists will only have you sign a form saying you wish to be "treated." Others have close to 100 pages of questions. I have 3 to 6 pages of questions about you and your family (names and such), why you want to be seen, and possibly information about history of use of alcohol or drugs or other major issues that people are sometimes reluctant to talk about at first or do not consider "problems." I may also have you fill out some self tests that indicate possible problems with mood or relationships that can then be used to track progress.
After the paperwork generally you will have the opportunity to talk about yourself, why you are coming to therapy, and what benefit you would like to get from it. At some point we set goals together. These goals guide the therapy in the direction you want to go.
What Next
What happens next depends on what you want, how prepared you are to "get started" and on the goals you set. Gains in therapy are made as you more fully trust your therapist and begin to try out the things that are suggested in session. Different tools and techniques are used as individually suited to the situation. I see the quickest gains when clients come to each session with something in mind to work on. I see even greater gains when they leave each session committed to doing something different and/or with some insight that changes the way they think, feel, or act. Now, you are well on your way to feeling better. The more work done between sessions the more progress made and the faster you will move toward who and what you want to be.
The End
While there simply must be a termination, in other words an end to weekly sessions, I will continue to be available for "tune ups" to help you if you should need it. Very often termination occurs naturally as you begin to feel like there is nothing more you need from therapy right now. I will help you to consider when the time is right to stop if you do not bring it up first. Sometimes people are tempted to simply stop coming. This often leaves the seed for future problems or may be the symptom of a problem not addressed in therapy. It is best for termination to be in collaboration with your therapist.
As always, it is best to talk openly with your therapist about everything, especially things you are uncomfortable saying. I will do my best to understand whay your needs are. However, I will sometimes miss the mark. This is when it is vital for you speak up, write a note, or otherwise let me know where I went wrong. When this happens growth occurs in leaps and bounds. I will do all I can to provide a safe place to practice important relationship skills. These include asking me for what you need, confronting me, and setting boundaries. Then you can use the same skills with friends, family, loved ones, children, co-workers, and others.
That is what you can expect in counseling. Feel free to call Me at (916) 316-0595 with any questions about therapy in general, specifics about my work, or to schedule an appointment. I will respond to your call personally. You can also e-mail me at David@BridgesCounselingCenter.com.
