Initial Appointment
A good therapeutic relationship is built on a foundation of trust and there being a good fit between the therapist and the client. The initial appointment is the starting place for determining that "goodness of fit" between the client and therapist. If after the first appointment it is determined that I would not be the best person to work with therapeutically, I will provide you with referrals to other therapists that may have the experience and expertise that you need to work through the issues that you are facing.
If it is agreed upon by both of us that we could build that therapeutic alliance, a clinical assessment will be completed that will include obtaining a thorough history, current stressors and symptoms, and your goals of therapy. A treatment plan will be completed that will include your goals of therapy and objectives of how we will work on those goals including the therapeutic modality that will be utilized. As therapy progresses, we will continue to review those goals, discuss the progress that has been made (or the lack of) and create new goals as needed.