|
What happens at
a first appointment?
A first appointment is 60 instead of 50 minutes. Before your first appointment,
I will send you some forms to fill out.
During our first session, you will have a chance to ask more questions, and I will
ask you some questions about your interest in therapy. If after this
session, we both feel that I can be of help to you, we will set up an
ongoing appointment time.
How often do we meet and for how much time?
Successful therapy depends on consistent meetings. For both individual
and couple therapy clients, once a week sessions are minimally needed
to accrue lasting benefit from our work together. I also see some people
twice a week. Parent guidance is scheduled differently, on an as needed
basis. Sessions are scheduled for 50 minutes.
I’m not sure about therapy. What if I need something
else?
I am often moved by the profound changes that people can make during
the process of psychotherapy. But therapy is not a solution for all
difficulties, and if you are new to it, it can feel like a leap into
the unknown. As your therapist, it is my job to be thinking with
you about your progress in therapy. If during the course of therapy
you have questions about its continued value for you, this is something
we would discuss. If either of us feels that another kind of assistance
or additional help is warranted, I will make referrals and support you
in thinking through what you need.
How long will I be in therapy?
Every therapy process is different and takes a different amount of time
depending what it is you come in to work on. Your own readiness and
how we work together impacts the length of the process. People who are
in therapy can choose to leave at any time and usually discuss ending
when they feel they are ready for it. While I mostly do longer term
therapy, I can also help individuals with short term problem solving
through their EAP or self-referral.
What about medication?
Psychotherapy without medication is often extremely effective and desirable.
But there are times when medication might be necessary. Also, some people
enter into therapy because their prescribing doctors refer them. Research
is clear that when medication is needed, psychotherapy is usually necessary
as well. As a licensed mental health counselor I am not a prescriber,
but I can be a resource for you in thinking over your options or working
with your doctor to help monitor your progress if you are using medication.
I can refer to prescribers if needed.
Further Questions
If you have additional questions that this website doesn’t answer for
you, please leave a message on my confidential voice mail or send me
an email message about
good times to call you. Please let me know if it is okay
to leave a voice message if I don’t reach you. My phone is 425-785-9362 and
my email is
dmowat@debramowat.com.
|