If you're like me and you google image search any new place you're about to go to, you're probably the type of person who wants to know a little bit about what you're getting into when beginning counseling. This post is for you! (Check out Part 1 of What To Expect here). As we get going in therapy, here are some things you can continue to expect:
Your own space and time. I can't count the number of times a client has said to me, "Sorry, I don't know why I'm talking about this, this is probably not interesting to you." Trust me, if it's on your mind and and matters to you, I want to hear it. We all have random stuff floating around in our heads sometimes, and I'd rather you be authentically you than come to therapy with a script. You don't need to cater to or impress me with a comprehensive analysis on what you're going through. Many of us are heading into therapy sessions during work hours or after a particularly bad night and our thoughts are scattered. You be you, come as you are.
Honesty and gentle challenges. I am compassionate and empathetic, and I am interested in getting to the truth because that's where change starts happening. If you're looking for a therapist who will say what they think you want to hear just to get you on the schedule again, I'm not the right fit for you. Sometimes therapy is hard because we face the dark underbelly of what brought us to where we're needing help. It's scary! But I will walk with you through that and we can face your stuff together.
Healthy boundaries. A lot of us don't know what a healthy boundary looks like. That's probably a whole blog post of its own, but I will model healthy boundaries for you in our therapist/client relationship. That means starting and ending on time, keeping confidentiality, and limiting the interaction we have to sessions (Here's looking at you, Ted Lasso). This isn't about you being a nuisance to me. It's about protecting the space of therapy for you.
Openness about your progress. There is so much variance on how long a person should be in therapy. It could be a quick few months, or it could take years. I value the investment of time, energy, and money that you're putting into this, so I will not let therapy drag on needlessly. I know that it can be intimidating and awkward for clients to ask their therapist "how it's going" out of fear that the therapist will feel rejected or offended. It's funny how we caretake and overthink, even about our therapists! To eliminate that, know that I will check in with you periodically to assess how you're feeling about your progress, to adjust your goals, and hopefully to celebrate you being ready to graduate therapy!
I hope that gives you an idea of what it will be like to be in session with me! If you're interested in starting therapy, either for yourself or for couples counseling, contact me here.
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