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Catergory:
Counseling
Your
First Therapy Session
OCTOBER 22, 2009 - Posted by JustinS
It has been
my experience that new clients are often unsure what to expect
in the first counseling session. At times, they feel doubt about
what to say or do. There can be nervousness or anxiety about
opening up to someone you’re meeting for the first time,
especially when you find that you are sharing difficulties you
may not have discussed with anyone else.
The first
session is an opportunity for both the therapist and the client
to get a sense of each other and whether they can work well
together. Research indicates that the therapeutic fit between
client and therapist is a crucial element to the change process.
As the client,
you will want to see how comfortable you feel in the presence
of the therapist you are working with. You are not expected
to trust the therapist completely from the beginning, but you
should be able to have a sense of him or her as someone you
could trust over time. The counselor tries to get an overall
sense of the new client in the first session – what difficulties
they’re dealing with currently, what has occurred in their
past, how they view themselves, and perhaps some background
about their childhood and subsequent relationships. The first
session is often an assessment on many levels. The therapist
assesses what your needs are and then gleans a sense of your
therapeutic needs and how the therapist can help guide and support
you in session.
It’s
also ok to ask questions of the therapist. What is their background
and training? What is their style of working? What types of
clients do they work with? These types of questions will give
you a better sense of the therapist’s perspective and experience.
It is imperative that you have a sense that the therapist understands
and can work with you to help you make the changes you want
in your life. It can be a relief to rid yourself of the things
you’ve been bearing on your own.
Again, some
trepidation or angst prior to your first session is normal.
Don’t let the anxiety about meeting with a therapist keep
you from the peace you are seeking.
Copyright: No part of this article in section or full may be
reproduced without permission from the author Justin Stum, MS
LMFT. The one and only exception is for educational purposes
and only if the contact information below for the author is
fully cited here in article.
Tags: assessment, counseling, st
george, utah
Confidentiality
- How It Works in Therapy
JUNE 5, 2009 - Posted by JustinS
Often clients ask, "Are the things I talk about in counseling
kept confidential? The answer is "yes." As the patient
you have the right to have absolute privacy and confidentiality
in counseling with me. This means that without your explicit
consent in writing, I am prevented by law from discussing information
you share during your sessions with anyone else. Your being
aware of how confidentiality and the nature of client-therapist
relationship can help you trust and feel safe knowing that anything
you share will remain private and confidential.
Are there
any times you do disclose information I share in session to
anyone? As a clinician and licensed mental health professional,
I am obligated to inform the proper persons and/or authorities
if, in my judgment, I determine a patient may harm themself
or their children. Strict confidentiality is maintained except
in cases where their is disclosure of child abuse or neglect
and if one has intentions of harming themselves or others. Please
feel free to discuss with me any concerns you have regarding
the confidentiality. I'd be more than willing to discuss them
with you.
I make every
effort possible to not only maintain privacy but safeguard confidentiality.
As a therapist in a small community, that of Southern Utah,
it is imperative that you have safe therapeutic space within
which you can engage in counseling without fear of running into
those you know or being in a waiting room uncomfortable. I make
every effort possible to stagger sessions so that clients are
comfortable, safe, and in a trusting environment.
Copyright:
No part of this article in section or full may be reproduced
without permission from the author Justin Stum, MS LMFT. The
one and only exception is for educational purposes and only
if the contact information below for the author is fully cited
here in article.
Justin
Stum, MS LMFT, 321 Mall Drive Suite I-101, St. George Utah 84790
435-986-1777, http://www.pathwaystherapy.net
Tags: confidenitality,
privacy, counseling
