What does therapy involve?
Therapy is a process where you will explore the circumstances contributing to your distress or unhappiness. It is effective because it occurs within the context of a respectful and caring relationship with the therapist, and in a space away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life. As insight, compassion, and a sense of responsibility for your own well-being develop, you will come to see more clearly how you can be effective in transforming your life. In other words you will learn to live in a way that supports (rather than hinders) your happiness and well-being.
The first session:
It is normal to feel uneasy when you come to your first session. I will do my utmost to put you at ease as I spend some time getting to know you and finding out about your current concerns. I will also enquire about your history and we will discuss your hopes and goals for therapy.
How long will I need to come for therapy?
The therapeutic process may be either short or longer-term. For some people, relief or resolution to their problem is achieved within weeks or months. Improvements are usually noticed along the way. Others will require longer-term therapy (eg.one year or more). This may be because of the severity of the problem, or the length of time they have been struggling with the problem. It can take considerable time to change lifelong patterns and work toward a lasting sense of well-being. As with short term therapy you can expect improvements along the way with longer-term therapy.
Sessions are generally weekly or fortnightly and can be less regular as therapy is drawing to a conclusion.
Confidentiality:
Information you disclose to me is confidential and will only be disclosed to additional parties with your consent (unless I have concerns for your safety or the safety of others).