The first session is typically a time where you can ask questions about me, the counseling process, and take some time to explain why you are seeking counseling. The first session gives us a chance to talk about what counseling will look like given your reason(s) for seeking counseling and your personal information.
The first appointment is 50 minutes, but requires that you arrive about 25 minutes early to fill out an Intake Summary and read and sign the Disclosure Statement. The Intake Summary asks for information about your past and current life that is relevant to why you are seeking counseling. The Disclosure statement is essentially a contract, which explains your legal rights and gives you the opportunity, by signing, to agree upon the terms of counseling.
The first few sessions serve as an introduction into your life and into the counseling process. Issues such as abuse and trauma are initially very difficult to talk about and it is typically not beneficial to discuss such issues before first establishing a solid therapeutic and relational foundation. The following is a summary of my theoretical approach to counseling.
