Your first sessions will include gathering data about presenting issue, current symptoms, severity and impact on daily life; personal and possibly family history, previous attempts made at fixing the issue(s) and level of success achieved, previous therapy experience. Goal development will be addressed together.

I take a collaborative approach to therapy.  You are the expert on you and your situation.  I know therapy. Together we can make a difference.  If we can include family members and other supports or service providers, the number of experts is multiplied and progress is amplified.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

You may want to bring a pen and notebook or journal to jot down “aha moments” or suggested homework assignments.  It sometimes helps to note events between sessions to remember what happened and what you want to focus on in-session

WHY SHOULD I DO COUPLES OR FAMILY THERAPY? 

I often see individuals come individually with an interactive issue.  I remember a mentor of mine once saying: If you do couples counseling with and individual, you will just help them get a divorce.  Over the years, I’ve seen it to be true. When there is a relational issue, couple or family, working with an individual increases the divide that’s already present.  It is more useful for people to work, grow and develop together.  If each person makes a small step towards the other(s), they are all that much closer to resolution.  If an individual is left to bridge that gap alone, it appears too deep and wide sometimes.