What to Expect

Your First Session

Your first session gives us a chance to address all your concerns and develop a plan to get you where you want to be. Your first session includes four main objectives: Gain an understanding of where you are now and what you want to address.

1. Gain an understanding of where you are now and what you want to address.
2. Set specific goals for where you want to be when your therapy is complete.
3. Feedback where I give you my understanding of what is going on and how we can work together to reach your goals.
4. Recommendations for ongoing work, all questions answered, and paperwork completed.

My Approach to Therapy

You are the traveler, and I am the guide. My approach to therapy stems from my belief that your goals serve as the North Star that guides our work. Success in therapy means taking you from where you are now to where you want to be. I take great pride in being part of that process.

What You Will Learn in Therapy

Therapy affords countless benefits to those who attend. Learning how to view yourself in a healthy way while living a more relational life leads to happier individuals and stronger relationships. Learning the value of setting boundaries can unlock your ability to remain connected with others yet be protected at the same time.

Challenging and changing old beliefs and learning how to communicate thoughts, feelings, and needs will also be a benefit of therapy. Learning to support others, finding true equality in relationships, and learning to repair the relationship bond after conflict leads to immense personal and relational growth.

Therapy provides you with the chance to become connected with yourself and those around you. You will learn the tools to develop the emotional and physical intimacy you have always dreamed of.

How Many Sessions Does Therapy Take?

The length of time needed in therapy depends on your specific goals. My intent is not to keep you in therapy longer than needed. Once you have shifted your mindset, learned and practiced new skills, and have achieved the desired outcome you came for, your therapy will be complete.

This process may last a matter of a few weeks or may take longer. I use a directive/time-limited approach with my clients. My goal is to help you as quickly as possible and to get you back on track to living the life you envision.

In most cases, you will need to expect to attend a minimum of 10-12 sessions to achieve maximum benefit and to make significant progress towards your goals.

How Often Will I Need to Attend?

I will make recommendations on an ongoing basis as to how often you will need to attend. I believe that therapy is done best when a full commitment is made and urge my clients early in the therapy process to attend more frequently (usually weekly).

Once significant progress has been made, the sessions can be spaced out to either a bi-weekly or possibly monthly basis.

For more information on working with me, please call Douglas Counseling at (503) 388-6611 and set up an initial phone consultation.