What to expect from your first counseling session
What to expect from your first counseling session in Hutto
Hutto is an amazing, growing city! Who doesn’t love hippos?
But even the stress of being a part of such a fast growing community can take it’s toll! Not to mention the stress of everyday life and the baggage we carry.
I want to take away as much stress as possible about counseling and help you know what to expect. These are some questions you might be wondering about:
What will happen after you decide to schedule?
When you decide to schedule, I will then send you an email link to complete the intake paperwork. That includes my practice policies and how I protect your private information. If you are using insurance, you will receive an additional email link from Headway. Headway is the company I use to process insurance. They require their own consent forms. You will need to complete both sets of paperwork. It may seem redundant but I can’t find a way around it!
What do you need to do to prepare for the first session?
Ask any questions - no dumb questions! Give yourself time before the session to decompress and relax as much as possible. Arriving early to your appointment is helpful. We have some amazingly comfortable couches - the kind that suck you in - in the waiting area!
What happens in the first session?
As a trauma therapist in Hutto, my sessions are all about you feeling safe and comfortable. Sometimes my clients just need to just get out their emotions and what’s happening right then. It’s not uncommon for some clients to come in and start crying right away. For others, it may take a session or two to feel comfortable really sharing anything. There are no rules about what we have to do! It’s your time and whatever you need and whatever benefits you the most is what we’ll focus on!
Will I have homework?
I typically don’t assign homework unless it’s an assessment that you choose to do at home. I may send helpful information to you but you are definitely not ever obligated to do anything between sessions. However, full disclaimer, reflecting on what we work on and continuing to be curious about those things will make the process go more smoothly and sometimes more quickly. Although, therapy is not a short term process. At least, the type of therapy I do.
When will I have my next session?
I like to see clients every week to start off with in order to build rapport and momentum. This is not a hard and fast rule but studies have shown the benefit of meeting weekly versus biweekly or monthly.
What if I don’t like what happened in the first session or I am not sure it is a good match?
Please speak up! Finding the right therapist is a very personal decision and it is so important that you connect with them and trust them! You will never hurt my feelings!
I hope this helps you find the right therapist in Hutto.
If you don’t walk out of our session with a little more hope, feeling a little more seen, a little relieved - we may not be the right fit. There are exceptions to this but but those are my main goals!
If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (512) 923-0027 for a free 15 minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person.
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