What Should I Expect?
Counselling is the heart of my practice.
On it’s own, or combined with supporting therapies, these deep-dive, 2 hour sessions can be exponentially more effective than standard, 45min/1hr sessions. Here’s why:
In my own healing journey, and over many years of practice, I've seen time and time again, that it takes 30-40 minutes for clients to shake off the day and really settle into a session.
It's almost always at the 45 minute to 1 hour mark that clients hit a groove, and the good stuff starts to happen, Rather than shut everything down just as you're having an 'aha' moment, or are about to experience a breakthrough, we remain engaged until your process reaches its natural conclusion - usually around the 2 hour mark.
This gives you the opportunity to experience the deep insights and profound resolutions that will afford you lasting healing and integration. It makes this work exceptionally effective, and usually means you'll require less frequent and fewer sessions, overall.
If this is your first session,
here’s an idea of how it will go:
When our session begins, I will welcome you in and invite you to settle into a comfortable spot. Most clients are at least a little nervous at first, and like you, don’t know what to expect. The first thing I’ll ask is if you have any questions for me, or anything specific you want to address during this session. Most first-time clients will have a few questions about how we will be proceeding. I’ll tell you a bit about my approach, and fill you in on any important details you need to know.
By the end of the Q&A, most clients have relaxed enough that we can move on to the actual session. We’ll start by reviewing your summary. This is usually enough to get a really good conversation going.
We’ll talk about what is important to you, what you’re challenged by, and what your goals are. We’ll try different approaches to shifting your energy and perspectives, depending on what you need most, in any given session. We’ll work together to discover possible approaches to implementing changes you identify as desirable, and you will go home with the task of exploring them. This may not all happen in one session, but it does all happen eventually, as we evolve in our process.
I’ll often recommend resources such as articles, books, videos, other experts, etc. for you to read, watch or investigate, and I will always ask you to reflect on what you’ve learned, so you can bring your insights to the next session. There may be other homework too, but that is specific to each particular session & the place you are in at the time.
You should always feel validated, accepted and supported. Keep in mind though, that this doesn’t mean I will always agree with you, or that I won’t call attention to problem areas. I will however, offer my evaluation or alternate view, without making you feel diminished in the process.
Counselling & Healing should be at least a little bit fun. It should also be interesting, thought-provoking, meaningful, insightful, challenging, and empowering. You may have the odd session that is particularly difficult, or upsetting, but for the most part, you should leave your sessions feeling like there are more possibilities ahead now, than there were when you arrived.
If I am seeing you for the first time, I suggest that you put together a brief overview of the challenges you are facing, as well as an overview of what you hope to accomplish in your session. This gives you an opportunity to organize your thoughts and articulate your experience. It also helps set the tone for the session, and gives both you and me a place to start.
One Last Thing…
There are as many approaches to Counselling & Healing as there are therapists in practice.
Find the person, and the approach that work for you. Even if you connect with me right away, you may find that as you progress, you eventually outgrow our relationship. If/when this happens, talk about it with me, and we’ll celebrate! You should definitely consider this a success.
On the other hand, if you don’t connect with me, or if my approach doesn’t resonate with you, keep looking until you find one that does. There is no harm in shopping around, and in the end, you’ll benefit far more from taking the time to find the right therapist, than from enduring a relationship with the wrong one.
Given the right tools, the right guidance, the right encouragement, the right amount of time, and the right opportunities for our particular understanding – each and every one of us is capable of lasting change, profound healing, inspired evolution and successful growth.