Types of Counseling Services

It is absolutely normal for people to get a little nervous waiting to be called inside (most offices have some sort of waiting area) the office for their first appointment. I mean, you are about to sit down with a total stranger and talk about FEELINGS! AHHHH! Often this is a person’s first time in treatment. So, nerves are expected. 

I greet my new clients and offer water or coffee, show them where the bathroom key is, then bring them into the office. Clients can sit anywhere there is a comfortable seat, though most choose the sofa. Then we begin! The first session assesses what is going on in your world. I want to get to know you, and the best way to do that is for you to talk. I’ll offer prompts, such as “what brings you in?” or “So you shared with me…tell me more about that” to get you started. The goal is to get a good foundation of your current circumstances, a history leading to your experiences, and your goals for counseling.

We will schedule a follow-up appointment, usually one week after the initial. This time gives you opportunity to process some of the things we talked about, and security that we will meet again. After sessions, it is common to feel:

• Happy because you “got it off your chest”
• Tired, since sharing feelings can be exhausting
• Hopeful, as there is a solution in sight
• Disappointed, it may not have gone the way you expected
• Excited for the next appointment