Communicate. Collaborate.
Open communication and collaboration pave the way to a more peaceful life.
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You’re feeling overwhelmed meeting the needs of your child during an intense outburst of anger. The feelings of inadequacy and exhaustion are starting to take hold as each parenting skill you try to implement falls flat on its face. You keep asking yourself “what am I doing wrong,” “why aren’t they listening or following directions,” or “how can I help my child be the person they are capable of becoming?” Parenting is a huge undertaking for anybody, but now you don’t have to take the journey on your own.
Therapy can be a fulfilling, supportive process that can help us acknowledge and move past things that no longer serve our lives. It can help families curate a transformative plan that helps everyone involved reach their goals – children and adults alike. I offer my services to help families regain a sense of control and peace without missing the fun.
My goal as a therapist is to walk this path alongside you in order to help you reach your ultimate destination. When a family is united there are no obstacles that can’t be overcome. Contact me today for a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit. I look forward to hearing from you.
The First Session: What to expect
So you’ve decided that you want to have your first session of therapy? Congratulations! That is an important step towards self-improvement. However, anxiety and uncertainty around not knowing what a first therapy session will look like can hold many people back. I hope that this brief explanation will dispel any myths or fears you might have about the process and detail what the first sessions will look like with me at Olive Branch.
First, take a deep breath. The uneasiness and worry you might be feeling about starting therapy is common. When you arrive at your first full session with me, whether that be virtually or in person, we’ll begin our introductory session. During our time together, we will review the preliminary intake documentation together, including my practice policies, session fees, cancellation policies, confidentiality agreements, and other important details. These documents are provided in advance to be reviewed before our first session together.
Following this, we will begin the diagnostic evaluation portion of our session, which simply means that we are going to talk about what has made you seek counseling, what symptoms (if any) you are feeling, and what your main goals will be while attending therapy. The first session will be the most information-heavy of all therapy sessions, and will likely include discussing your childhood, family, work, and relationship history as I learn more about you and your life. Come prepared to talk!
Upon completion of the evaluation, we will likely work together to identify a set of goals that you want to target during your time in therapy. Your goals should specify clearly and concisely what you want to achieve. While this can feel daunting, we will work together to navigate what is most important at the moment. I encourage my clients to choose three concrete goals to start with before adding more. You want to tackle the most pressing issues head-on, and once those are completed you can always add more in the future.
The first therapy session is also the time to ask any questions you may have about what to expect from therapy or anything about me. My goal is to build a strong relationship with you during our time together, so if there is something you need clarity on or simply something you wish to know more about me, ask!
By this point, we will have spent our first hour together! As long as you feel that the session was helpful and that you felt a positive connection, we will normally schedule your next appointment. That said, it is important to not feel like you are stuck with me if I am the first (or even second) therapist you have seen. No therapist can be the perfect fit for every client. Let the experience and our initial interaction advise you on whether you wish to continue with my services or seek other services. Regardless of the outcome, you’ve taken an important step in seeking help and now you can continue your journey to a better you!
If you’d like to speak with me about setting up an appointment, please contact me. I look forward to meeting you!