Here's what to expect!
At your initial appointment, the therapist will complete a full bio-psycho-social assessment. The therapist wants to get to know you and your history to get a complete picture of the best way to help and can even coordinate care with your other healthcare providers!
This assessment will ask you to report on many facets of your life such as your diet, sleep patterns, exercise, spiritual practices, health issues, family history of mental health issues, past treatment experiences as well as any mood issues you are currently experiencing. Your therapist will ask you what brings you to therapy and can tailor the sessions just for you.
Many clients benefit from psycho-education or prefer to process a challenging relationship in a neutral setting. Some people want to work on self-esteem, start new healthy habits, or change negative thinking patterns. We can work on communication skills, ways to combat depression and anxiety, or addressing addiction and trauma. Therapy goes at your pace. A good therapist will review your treatment goals and periodically re-examine the effectiveness and your progress.
The general rule of thumb for the frequency of the 45-55 minute long sessions is once per week in the beginning stages. Therapy requires a concentrated effort on a consistent basis to realize the fullest benefits from the therapeutic relationship. I’ve worked with clients who started therapy with me in order to address a particular issue or help them reach a more concrete goal. For those clients, a shorter time frame generally makes a lot of sense, as well as taking a more behaviorally focused approach to our time together. For others, therapy is more about an ongoing exploration of relational issues or deeper trauma that may require more ongoing support.
Clients find their own rhythm to the healing process and many factors such as diagnosis, time, goals, insurance, and
work have an impact. What I love about the therapeutic process is that it is a collaborative effort. Ultimately, the best model is the one that works for you. Your mental health matters and so do you!
Schedule an appointment today!
Therapy Matters
Debi Anson LMSW LCSW CAADC
616.268.2787