What IS counseling, exactly?
SO….What actually is counseling… and what does it look like?
HI, I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED.
Counseling in general is a collaborative approach that a counselor and client take together to create overall mental health through increased self-awareness, identification of effective and ineffective behaviors, and processing of emotions and how to manage them. Counseling usually consists of talk therapy, where the counselor sits across from you and talks conversationally for around an hour, while applying thoughtful and loving responses to support and challenge you. Counseling might include using expressive techniques such as drawing, sand tray, art, etc. as a way of expression. There are many different counseling modalities, for a variety of populations. To further gain clarity on the counseling process, let’s talk about what counseling is not.
It is NOT:
· Advice giving
· The counselor telling you how to change and what to change
· Only for people who are mentally ill
· Just for medication (I legally can’t prescribe meds anyway 😊)
· A quick fix
· Laying on a couch while I ask, “how do you feel about that?”
Now that I have bullet pointed those myths, I’ll give you a little blurb about what counseling with me might look like!
After you initially reach out via e-mail, call, on my website or social media, I will contact you and ask for a general statement about why you might be inquiring about services, and what you are looking for.
If I am a match for you based off of the vibes you get, personal needs that you have, etc., we will schedule an initial intake session. What is an intake? Once again, glad you asked.
An intake is a questionnaire that I will ask you to fill out that tells me a little bit about you. It will ask you about what you are feeling and for how long, some questions about your family history, work history, and about your current needs. You will either fill this out online or with me, and we will go through it together, and I may ask you to elaborate or clarify some things. This session usually ranges from 60 minutes to 120 minutes.
After the intake, based on your personal needs and goals that you might have, I will create a treatment plan, which essentially entails a game plan for how we move forward together. I will go through this with you so that it is a collaborative document. If a diagnosis is needed, I will also present this to you here, and explain why it exists. I, personally do not believe that keeping this from you is effective or transparent. Once we go through the treatment plan, regular sessions will start.
A session usually looks like 60-ish minutes of talking in my office, possibly over some shared coffee. I believe in the power of caffeination. I will ask about your week, and possibly the things that are currently causing suffering. If you’re worried… “what will I talk about?”, fear not. We, as counselors are trained to tactfully ask questions and gently come alongside you to guide the process. I will say; however, counseling can feel like hard work. Emotions may be stirred, hurts revisited, and patterns may be broken. Change can be exhausting, but the outcomes prove to be worthwhile. I have a flexible approach that honors confidentiality, while also providing freedom to honor your individuality. For example, I have experience in sessions that involve ‘walking and talking’, writing, creating different kinds of art, and access to sensory tools to incorporate your specific needs to make this process more comfortable, helpful, and maybe even enjoyable for you.
As the counseling process continues, we will review your goals regularly, and I will check to make sure I am meeting your specific needs as a therapist. If you’re finding at any point in time that I am not the right fit, that you need a different direction, etc., I will work with you to find the best possible counselor/approach for you. Your wellness and experience in counseling is my priority!
My goal is to demystify the counseling process for you, and allow you to get a glimpse of who I am as a person and therapist.
Lastly, I get asked this a lot, and maybe you’re wondering too…. Will I be psychoanalyzing everything you do and say? HA! Oh, no.. I wish, maybe! I am human, and I am simply listening with a trained ear. Your truth is my truth. You’ll likely find me in some blue jeans with a smile, coffee, and a heart that’s ready to listen.