New to counseling? Here’s what to expect in session:

During our initial consultation, we’ll talk on the phone for about 15 minutes. In this time I’ll get to know you and your counseling needs. This is also your time to ask me any questions you may have to see if I will be the right fit for you or your teen. Finding the right counselor can be a challenge and I am committed to helping you find the right fit for your counseling needs.

Initial Consultation

Session time is all about you! You may wish to have focused sessions over a specific topic that builds week by week, or discuss the previous week and what that looks like or means to you. You may need a more structured approach where I step in more to navigate the session. Counseling is about meeting your goals - I am simply here to help facilitate. Sessions are about the work you put into them, and I am here to help establish a safe environment where you can explore the messiness and joy that life brings.

Sessions

Before session, make a list of questions you have or topics you want to cover. Consider listening to calming music or wearing comfy clothes if you’re feeling nervous. Remember that counseling is focused on you - there is no judgment in the counseling room!

After session, you may find it helpful to write down any insight you gathered and set aside some time for self-care.

Preparing for session -

How do I find the right counselor?

Important considerations when looking for a counselor:

  1. It may take a couple of sessions to know how well you will work with a new counselor.

  2. Counseling is for you - if a counselor isn’t the right fit, it’s important to let them know so they can help you find someone more suitable to your needs.

  3. Speak up! Do you need more guidance during session or would you rather do the leading? Let your counselor know so they are able to better accommodate your needs in session.

Questions to ask:

  1. Do you have experience working with clients with similar concerns?

  2. Do you specialize in an area?

  3. What training have you been through?

  4. How do you conduct sessions?

  5. For teens and their families: what does family involvement in session look like?

Privacy & Confidentiality in Counseling

Your privacy is one of the most important things to me.

Here’s how I help to ensure it in session:

I only conduct my sessions in places where I can guarantee your confidentiality. For in-person sessions, that’s inside the Therapy Space suite which is designed for counseling sessions. For telehealth sessions, I ensure that I am always in a private, confidential space where no one else is able to hear our conversation. This includes me utilizing headphones or a sound machine. I only use a secure website that is HIPAA-compliant to conduct telehealth sessions and store client information.

Here’s how I help to ensure it outside of session:

I will never discuss your personal information with anyone outside of my supervisor. Both myself and my supervisor are bound to HIPAA (federal law that protects patient information). Supervision sessions are kept confidential and are focused on my growth as a counselor so I am better able to help my clients. Because our relationship is strictly professional, I will not add you on any social media site. If I happen to see you outside of the counseling room, I won’t approach you or talk to you unless you approach me first. This is to ensure I keep your confidentiality safe, especially if you are with other people.

Limits to Confidentiality

There are a few reasons why a counselor may need to break confidentiality and all of them are to protect the client or other people.

  1. The client is posing an imminent risk to themselves or others. In this instance, a counselor may contact local authorities to ensure the client is safe or transported to a place where they can be kept safe.

  2. The counselor suspects abuse may be occurring. Counselors are mandatory reporters which means they have a duty to report abuse.

  3. A counselor receives a specific court order or subpoena.

Some other frequently asked questions about counseling:

The words are typically used interchangeably to describe talk therapy. “Therapy” may be used as a way to describe different approaches or modalities (methods that different counselors may be trained in to better help clients).

Counseling or therapy - what’s the difference?

That answer is up to you - some people are in counseling for a long time because they see the benefit in having a set aside space to explore different things. For others, counseling may be more focused on a specific event and is less involved. After meeting with you, I will assess what my clinical opinion is, but this is something that will always be an ongoing conversation.

How long will I be in counseling?

What does “better” mean or look like to you? For some clients, they may feel some sort of better after the first session, for others, it may be weeks or months. In counseling, you may be opening up and talking about things you haven’t looked at for a while, and this may cause some uncomfortable emotions to come to the surface. As we explore these experiences and emotions together, you’ll learn coping skills that will help you discover what your feelings are telling you. These coping skills along with growth in session are often what leads some clients to feel better.

How long until I’m better?