Welcome
Good for you for being HERE in this moment! Where is HERE you ask? On my website, of course! Just kidding…
Here = Considering Therapy/Therapists
“Many a busy Black superwoman has died without ever having truly lived.”
-Dr. Smith
Whether you are HERE for yourself or someone you care about, I bet your future self is thanking you! Trying therapy can be scary for some people, but understanding the process can make it a little less scary. Here’s what you can expect!
Once you leave “HERE” by choosing a therapist (tip: free consultation calls may help you choose) and successfully scheduling a session with them, you can expect a version of the stages described below.
Assessment Interview
The initial assessment often takes place during the first 1-2 sessions.
Therapist role:
Begin to join (connect) with the client while gathering pertinent information about the client’s background and current concerns.
Client role:
Be as honest as possible when sharing information about your background and concerns that have brought you to therapy. Determine if the commitment is worth the investment!
Collaborative goal:
Therapist and client determine together whether there are signs of a good fit (e.g., comfortable client, appropriate therapist expertise) for moving forward to stage 2. If so, yay!
2.Treatment Planning
Treatment planning (therapeutic goal setting) also takes place during the early sessions (1-3).
Therapist role:
To use information from the assessment interview to identify “the problem(s)” and or diagnosis if required. Continue joining.
Client role:
Continue to be honest about your own information as well as your thoughts, feelings and concerns about the interaction thus far.
Collaborative goal:
Client and therapist work together (with varying degrees of input based on needs and desires of the client) to establish appropriate goals and objectives to guide the “The Work.” Determine if the commitment is still worth the investment!
3."The Work"
The working stage varies in time based on myriad factors (e.g., frequency of sessions, nature of the “problem,” health of the therapeutic relationship, people involved in therapy).
Therapist role:
Use their expertise and unique personality and style to help client(s) progress toward the goals in the treatment plan.
Client role:
Give yourself permission to allow the therapist to use their skills and clinical judgment to help you move toward your goals. This will require openness to a range of experiences and emotions (e.g., challenge, excitement, frustration, hope, etc.). Determine if the commitment is still worth the investment!
Collaborative goal:
Communicate honestly about any concerns, discomfort or new information that may require a shift in the approach or goals needed to get client to their desired place.
4.Termination
Therapy is intended to equip clients with experiences and tools to move them toward increasingly better mental and interpersonal health. If at any point the relationship between client and therapist is no longer producing this outcome (e.g., client has met goals, client requires an expertise outside of the scope of practice of the current therapist, client moves away, etc.), termination is appropriate. Sometimes, when possible, termination sessions are used to wrap up therapeutic work, celebrate progress and/or address any concerns with the client’s next steps.
Therapist role:
Help client identify next steps and provide any necessary resources to help the client continue caring for self, on their own or with a new clinical professional.
Client role:
Take assessment of the progress made, be proud of the work you have done and continue to be honest about the needs you have at the time of termination.