The planned course of therapy is tailored to the specific client and based around the approach and specialty of the therapist. The aim of therapy sessions and the therapeutic tools employed are often adjusted as new issues or obstacles are uncovered during sessions, which create a unique and personalized structure of therapy for each client. If you have recently begun considering therapy as a way to improve your life, you may be wondering what to expect from therapy. For a general idea of what therapy may look like for you, here are 3 therapy sessions you may encounter:
- Initial introduction: For your first appointment, the therapist will ask you to describe what has brought you to therapy, what you are expecting to achieve from your sessions, your current relationships with loved ones and friends, what you do for work, and how often you can attend sessions. Additionally, the therapist will provide detailed information both verbally and in writing about his/her education, background, therapeutic approach, specialties, any authored publications, rates for sessions, accepted methods of payment and whether insurance is accepted.
- Second session: Typically, the therapist will begin by answering any questions you may have about the therapeutic process. Then, you will be asked to delve deeper into your reasons for seeking therapy. You may also be asked questions based on the comments you made during your initial meeting, such as about your life and relationships. Before the session ends, the therapist may attempt to create a draft for a treatment plan to give you an idea of what you can expect from therapy and inform you of any responsibilities you may have outside of therapy, such as engaging in breathing exercises, writing in a diary or completing homework assignments.
- Future sessions: The structure of future sessions is Iargely based on your progress, whether you are implementing coping tools in your life, whether you are adjusting your responses to your environment, your overall satisfaction with therapy and whether new issues or problems have redirected the focus of sessions.
At Hope and Healing for Life in St. Paul, MN, Benjamin Wolf, MSW, LICSW, works with clients who are dealing with a wide array of issues, such as trauma, couples counseling, adolescent issues, drug abuse, and eating disorders. If you would like to improve your life and relationships, you can utilize therapy as an avenue to attaining your personal goals by meaningfully participating in therapy on a regular basis. Email or call Hope and Healing for Life today at 612-643-1920 to learn how therapy can help you.
