what to expect
meeting and commencing
People regularly find that their first session provides enormous relief, and you leave feeling in a better place than when you arrived.
In the initial session, I will explain the concepts of Counselling and Psychotherapy to you, and together we will explore the motivation behind your visit, taking time to get to know each other. As each person's experience is unique, this will vary between each person and may range from a simple discussion, to simple tests that will give us some guidance as to where to begin. While you may experience trepidation before your first session, the common experience is positive. The environment is calm and respectful, and you will not be put under any pressure, or encouraged to reveal what you are not ready to reveal. We will begin to establish a rapport that creates the environment for exploration, and for change. This will, on occasion, take more than one session, and assessment is revisited periodically to assist in efficient therapeutic outcomes. The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia offers some excellent tips on what to expect here.
There are no obligations following your first session and you are free to book in more sessions at that time.
You can also book online for a free 15-minute telephone consultation. This may help you to make your decision, and get you an initial sense of your fit with the therapist.
People regularly find that their first session provides enormous relief, and you leave feeling in a better place than when you arrived.
In the initial session, I will explain the concepts of Counselling and Psychotherapy to you, and together we will explore the motivation behind your visit, taking time to get to know each other. As each person's experience is unique, this will vary between each person and may range from a simple discussion, to simple tests that will give us some guidance as to where to begin. While you may experience trepidation before your first session, the common experience is positive. The environment is calm and respectful, and you will not be put under any pressure, or encouraged to reveal what you are not ready to reveal. We will begin to establish a rapport that creates the environment for exploration, and for change. This will, on occasion, take more than one session, and assessment is revisited periodically to assist in efficient therapeutic outcomes. The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia offers some excellent tips on what to expect here.
There are no obligations following your first session and you are free to book in more sessions at that time.
You can also book online for a free 15-minute telephone consultation. This may help you to make your decision, and get you an initial sense of your fit with the therapist.
confidentiality
You will be in a safe environment, free from judgement. Any information you provide is held in strictest confidence.
The first thing we will do together is get some minimal information in order to be able to contact you. You will only be asked for your name, telephone number and e-mail address. I strictly adhere to PACFA guidelines on confidentiality: "Counsellors treat with confidence any personal information about clients, whether obtained directly or by inference. This applies to all verbal, written, recorded or computer stored material pertaining to the therapeutic context. All records, whether in written or any other form, need to be protected with the strictest of confidence." You may provide as much information (emergency or family contacts if you like) or as little. Anything you further discuss with me remains completely confidential, unless there is risk of harm to you or to others. If your sessions are discussed as part of my on-going Clinical Supervision (A requirement for all accredited Counsellors and Psychotherapists) then pseudonyms will be used, and every effort will be made to ensure you are unable to be identified. Confidentiality is of paramount importance to the therapeutic result.
You will be in a safe environment, free from judgement. Any information you provide is held in strictest confidence.
The first thing we will do together is get some minimal information in order to be able to contact you. You will only be asked for your name, telephone number and e-mail address. I strictly adhere to PACFA guidelines on confidentiality: "Counsellors treat with confidence any personal information about clients, whether obtained directly or by inference. This applies to all verbal, written, recorded or computer stored material pertaining to the therapeutic context. All records, whether in written or any other form, need to be protected with the strictest of confidence." You may provide as much information (emergency or family contacts if you like) or as little. Anything you further discuss with me remains completely confidential, unless there is risk of harm to you or to others. If your sessions are discussed as part of my on-going Clinical Supervision (A requirement for all accredited Counsellors and Psychotherapists) then pseudonyms will be used, and every effort will be made to ensure you are unable to be identified. Confidentiality is of paramount importance to the therapeutic result.
If you feel you may benefit from Counselling, please contact me here or book a 15-minute free telephone consultation here.
We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
- Anaïs Nin
- Anaïs Nin