Assessment
Our first session we will discuss the concerns that have brought you to counseling. I will ask that you fill out some basic paperwork prior to meeting. At your first appointment, I will take a thorough history of your mental health, general health, family, social supports, cultural considerations, legal issues, etc. A diagnosis is often needed to bill insurance, so during this session we will also determine what diagnosis best fits.
Counseling
Counseling may be completely new to you or something that you have engaged in throughout your life. Every therapist is different, and it is important that we have a good fit. I welcome feedback and encourage you to share any concerns that you have. Our sessions will focus on finding dysfunctional patterns in your life, and together we will develop ways to overcome or manage these problems in a manner that works best for you.
Transitioning Out
The length of counseling is different for everyone, depending on your presenting problem, personality, and willingness to engage in therapy. When you are feeling better and decide that you no longer need counseling, we will prepare for therapy termination by reviewing your progress, what you would like to remember going forward, and how you can prevent relapse. Stopping regularly scheduled sessions and coming in occasionally for a "tune-up" is also an option.