Get to gno-me professionally and how I operate— here's what to expect if we collaborate!
The therapeutic relationship really is a unique one! More specifically, the therapist-client relationship is a singular one, meaning that as a professional and industry standard, those are the only roles we will hold one for the other. I completely want to normalize that this relationship has a different one-way dynamic. If it feels weird, odd, or uncomfortable at first, that is perfectly okay! I mean, I am asking you to trust me in a very big way!
First off, feel assured knowing that apart from some legal exceptions which will be discussed with you prior to the start of our first session, our sessions are confidential. This is the defining professional and industry standard for mental health therapists.
Our therapy sessions will take place over a secure virtual platform. This medium allows for increased accessibility and minimal intrusion into daily life; be sure to offer yourself a space as safe, private, and distraction-free as possible for your time. At the start of each of our virtual sessions, I will need to know the address you are located at as part of a thorough assessment; due to licensing requirements, I can only meet with clients who are currently present within California. Having practiced as both an in-person and a virtual therapist, I have noticed that the therapeutic relationship is able to remain consistent through both mediums. However, if your concerns fall outside of the scope of virtual therapy, and you would best be served by an in-person therapist, I would let you know this as early as possible; assessing for fit for virtual therapy is a professional and industry standard.
During our first session, our time is structured a little bit differently— specifically, to start, I spend some time asking any follow-up questions I may have about what brings you to therapy, your identity, background, experiences, and the future vision you have for yourself. This information is relevant and I may call upon it in our subsequent sessions, as applicable. The vision you have for yourself lets me know your perceived area(s) of growth and it’s also great information to bring up as we have met for some time, to remind you of where you began! Thank you for taking the time to complete your informational forms prior to our first session so that I can read up on everything you shared beforehand!
So, although after our first session I’ll have a general idea of where you would like to be, it is not a strict outline for our future sessions; additional sessions with me may begin anywhere! I may initiate the conversation by reminding you of what we spoke about last time, if you would like to pick up there, or I may invite you to “Fill me in!” on any ongoing challenge. I may ask you how you’ve been, or if anything has been weighing on your heart or on your mind lately. It is perfectly okay to even bring in a whole agenda or list of what you would like to discuss! If there are tie-ins or applications, I will sprinkle them in for you. All session time and topics of conversation are relevant. You may want to discuss something recent or something from the past— all is fine and well, it is your time, and I trust that you know what is best for you.
If you are not sure where to begin, no worries, I am able to ask additional guiding questions until we get to an area of conversation. This is perfectly okay too.
Therapy sessions are your time to talk and share what you are experiencing. As such, it is completely normal to not ask me how I am or how my weekend was! It is also completely normal to not know many details about my personal life, my opinions, or my experiences— this is to allow as much space, time, and comfort for you as possible. For ethical reasons, limited self-disclosure is also a professional and industry standard. Of course, I am generally able to share with you should you have an inquiry about me personally, if the information would be helpful for you and our relationship. However, it would not be to the extent that you would hear me interject with, “The same thing happened to me! And here’s how I resolved it...” This is in order to refrain from advice-giving and to keep the conversation, validation, and attention on you! In fact, as you are sharing, I will do my best not to interrupt you, unless I have a pressing question in that moment. I would like for you to get to where you are going, verbally. Afterwards, I am able to offer questions, reassurance, and/or commentary; our sessions are as conversational as is benefitting at the time.
Towards the end of our sessions, I may ask you, "How was today's session for you?" Regardless of whether I ask or not, if you have any feedback or suggestions about how I can best support you during our sessions, please offer these, as I am open to receiving them. Along this same thread, you know what else is okay? It is completely okay if you determine we are not a good fit and decide not to continue additional sessions with me. This too is a professional and industry standard, and I completely understand! I definitely want you to find the best approach for you. On my part, I would let you know as early as possible if I think that you would best be served by any additional supports or alternate providers, and offer you referrals, if necessary, as another professional and industry standard is that, generally speaking, people only work with one therapist at a time.
You will determine our timeline in order to empower you and enable you to feel prepared to proceed independently in your growth. Don’t worry, deciding when to conclude therapy can be a collaborative decision. My hope is that by our conclusion, you will feel equipped, empowered, rooted in self-trust, and ready! Just as our time together is for you, so too will our ending be.
Keep being artthentically you!
Yesenia
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