It is very important to find a therapist with whom you 'click' and feel comfortable. To help you feel comfortable, your therapist should explain the process of therapy to you and address any questions that you may have about therapy. In addition, you should feel that your therapist is genuinely interested in understanding who you are, your life experiences, your thoughts and feelings, and your current difficulties. This is important as it will set a strong foundation for the work that you and your therapist will do together in therapy.
1. Getting familiar with the therapy process
It is common to feel a little bit nervous about the first session. After all, it can be difficult to share your problems with someone that you have only just met. It is my goal as a therapist to help you feel comfortable in the therapy space and to ensure that you feel safe, respected, and understood.
The therapy process will begin with you and I simply getting to know one another. In the first one to two sessions, we will explore what has brought you to therapy, as well as what you hope to achieve in therapy. These sessions will give me an opportunity to learn about you as a person, including your thoughts, feelings, and needs. Sometimes, our problems or our thoughts and feelings are not easily identifiable. If this resonates with you then don't worry - we will simply begin with discovering more of who you are and clarifying what you need from the therapy process, progressing at a speed that feels manageable for you.
It is important to remember that these introductory sessions will also offer you an opportunity to get to know more about me and how I work. You are most welcome to ask me any questions about my approach to therapy and the therapy process. I believe that it is very important for clients to be given a space to explore their thoughts and feelings about therapy with their therapist, and I encourage you to share any questions or concerns that you may have with me.
At the end of the first session, I will share my thoughts about what therapy can offer you based on what we have talked about in the session. Together, we will identify possible therapeutic goals, as well as discuss the therapeutic process that will be most suited to your needs. We will then work collaboratively to decide on the best way forward.
Subsequent sessions will then focus on working towards achieving these goals. This could include equipping you with new skills and coping strategies, helping you to find clarity in your life, and/ or processing difficult life experiences in the past and present that may be affecting your relationships, sense of self, and general life satisfaction.
2. How long is a session?
A session is typically 50 minutes in length.
3. How frequently do I need to attend sessions?
Therapy typically takes place once a week, although some clients attend sessions more frequently. The frequency of attendance generally depends on the client’s difficulties and on the type of therapeutic work that the client would like to engage in.
4. How many sessions will I need?
Therapy is usually either brief or long-term. Brief therapy is typically 12 to 16 sessions, while long-term therapy can last up to a year or longer. The number of goals to be achieved, as well as the nature of the issues that you would like to work on, usually influences the duration of therapy. Many people notice an improvement within the first few sessions.
Research studies on the efficacy of online therapy have shown that online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy for various mental health conditions. On a personal note, I have found online therapy to be a very effective means of conducting therapy. However, online therapy is not the same as in-person therapy, and it has certain advantages and disadvantages compared to in-person therapy.
Of course, a significant advantage of online therapy is that it can make therapy more convenient and accessible for clients who may not be able to access therapy otherwise. Many of my clients have found online therapy to be a convenient, effective, and rewarding experience. This does not mean that there aren't frustrations. However, I believe that the key lies in being able to talk with my clients (when it feels relevant) about their experience of working online, including moments of satisfaction, as well as moments of frustration that come about due to the online nature of the work.
At the same time, it must be said that online therapy is not for everyone. There are certain mental health conditions that are simply not suited to this way of working.
If you are interested in online therapy, you are welcome to chat with me about whether it could be a good idea for you, or if in-person therapy may be a better option. I look forward to helping you find the approach that is right for you.