So, what are sessions actually like?

We must first face and understand what factors are contributing to your issue.

I might start by asking:

• What brings you to therapy now?
• Who is involved, and how long has it been happening? 
• What is your role? What is their(s)?
• What health impacts are you noticing in yourself? (i.e. sleep loss, anxiety, etc).
• In what ways does your work, relationships, family background, etc. impact your life in terms of this issue?
• What would possible solutions to your challenges look like, to you?

The above is just a tiny sample of example questions. But they capture the gist.

Once enough information has been established, and as we both feel certain we are moving in an appropriate direction, we will set a meaningful and true-to-you target goal, and devote session time to building your skills and insights around this. This goal or aim can change over time.

At this point, we've:

• Established at least one primary target psychological/emotional goal, such as improved sleep duration or quality, fewer tantrums, fewer arguments with partner, greater general sense of wellness, etc.
• Established a sense of mutual collaborative trust and clear communication: I'm honest, direct, respectful, and conscientious, and you can be authentic, transparent, comfortable with expressing yourself and being heard.

And we will leverage the brain's neuroplasticity (ability to form new brain connections) by developing new insights, identifying new strategies, switching and adopting new perspectives, integrating role play scenarios, and more.

During this time, I might also:

• Ask you how sessions have been so far; would you like any changes? Foresee any barriers? Have critique for my approach, and would like to change anything about our work together?
• Point out patterns, curiosities, and other points-of-interest in your stories, your expressions, values, beliefs, behaviors, etc. that maybe you've not noticed, and that might help you develop effective insight, awareness, or general intuitive acuity, in order to better meet your challenges.

When the main reasons for coming to therapy are becoming less and less impactful on your life, and thus they no longer fuel therapy sessions as much, we will re-calibrate. 

At these times...

• some clients end therapy, hold a "final session" acknowledging the work so far and that they can continue without therapy; but might return. 
• some clients remain in therapy, preferring instead to change goals. They repeat this cycle as they continue meeting goals
• some clients seek to continue therapy - but towards other therapists, modalities, approaches, etc. that they cannot pursue with me (i.e. EMDR, or Somatic Experiencing, which I am not certified in)
• some clients just stop showing up to therapy. That's fine. This is your therapy time and space. If you need to go, you need to go! I keep an open door.

You have the freedom (and encouragement) to:

• Ask me about my professional history, personal background, license credentialing, and any other facet of my life
• Find out about changing to another therapist
• Arrive to session with something written out or planned to talk about or work on
• Arrive to session with nothing in your mind to talk about, and to explore a spontaneous session
• Ask me to change or alter how I do therapy with you (and if I can adapt to your requests, I will! If not, I can try to find an other who can)