Individual counseling is expensive. Therapy can be expensive; however, neglecting your mental health can come with other costs. You may already be spending money on coping mechanisms such as excessive drinking, missing work, or shopping without even realizing it. Why not redirect those funds toward something that contributes to living your best life?
I can get through this on my own; I don’t need help. We often place our needs or our need for help at the bottom the pile, but the better we manage our own struggles, the more present and available we can be with those around us. There is no shame in seeking help from others, and it is important that we treat ourselves with the same compassion and support we would want for a close friend or family member. An experienced and empathic therapist can help you move toward growth, change, and healing in a more conscious, self-aware, and healthy manner.
How can talking change anything? Talking with someone who cares about your wellbeing is often therapeutic in and of itself. Talking with a skilled therapist will also provide you with concrete tools, skills, and strategies that you can integrate into your daily life to help you more effectively manage things like anxiety, relationships, anger, or loss.
Isn't counseling or therapy just for mentally ill people? Individual counseling is a valuable tool for discovering ways to grow, heal, and make positive change in your life. Here are three questions for you to contemplate: Are you able to love and be loved in the ways you desire? Are you able to dream or set goals and pursue your dreams and goals? Do you know your self-worth? Most problems that people bring to therapy are related to one or more of these questions.
What will the first session be like? I encourage you to be as open and honest about yourself as you can in our first meeting. I will want to learn about what is bringing you to therapy and there is, hopefully, much you will want to tell me. I will be listening carefully and giving you my full attention. Our initial interview is a time to ask the questions important to you and to get a sense of what it feels like to work with me. At the same time I am learning about you, something else will be going on that is very important. You will likely be asking yourself: How does it feel to be in the room with him? Do I like him? Do I feel safe with him? Does he seem like he will be able to help me? Can I let my guard down with him and be myself?
By the end of the first session, we will each have a sense of each other and will have talked some about the possibility of working together. Studies show that the fit between the client and the therapist is a very important predictor for a successful therapy. You are encouraged to take your time in choosing your therapist, and get the information you need to make your decision. If the fit does not feel good to you, then you owe it to yourself to keep looking. If I do not think I will be the most advantageous therapist to work with you, I will tell you and make a good referral to someone who I think will be able to help you. If we decide to work together then we will schedule a next appointment.
I do offer a free 30-minute consultation by phone or in person to discuss your goals for counseling. This is your time to share a little bit of your story and your reasons for seeking counseling so that we can determine whether I am the best therapist for your needs. If either of us decides that I may not be the best match, I will be happy to give referrals.