What to Expect
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What to Expect in Therapy
Asking for help can seem overwhelming, and making that first appointment can be difficult. While therapy may feel scary or anxiety-producing at first, those feelings are normal — and often an important part of the self-discovery process.
Schedule your first appointment by:
- Calling (773) 799-8966 to speak with our receptionist and schedule a consultation
- Emailing info@astutecounseling.com for more information
- What leads you to seek therapy at this time?
- What symptoms are you currently experiencing?
- How are they affecting your daily life, work, or relationships?
- What have you tried so far to feel better?
- What do you hope to accomplish in therapy?
- Review our payment and insurance information
- Complete and submit all required forms through the Patient Portal
- Prepare any relevant medical paperwork (medication lists, past treatment history)
- Review intake forms and confidentiality practices
- Discuss your history, concerns, and symptoms
- Explore your expectations and goals
- Discuss treatment philosophy and approaches
- Identify strategies for future sessions
As therapy continues, we encourage you to:
- Keep regularly scheduled appointments
- Provide at least 24 hours notice for cancellations
- Ask questions
- Be honest about how you’re feeling
- Complete recommended homework or exercises
Step 1 – Making Your First Appointment
First, congratulate yourself on making the decision to start psychotherapy. Schedule your first appointment by:
- Calling (773) 799-8966 to speak with our receptionist and schedule a consultation.
- E-mailing Info@AstuteCounseling.com for more information regarding services.
Step 2-Before Your First Appointment
- In advance of our first session, I ask that you come prepared to answer such questions as: What leads you to seek therapy at this point in time?
- What symptoms are you currently experiencing?
- How are they affecting your daily life? Your work? Your relationships?
- What have you done to try to feel better?
- What do you hope to accomplish with therapy? What are your goals and your expectations?
Before we meet for the first time, please also:
- Review our payment and insurance information
- Complete and submit all required forms. If you have any questions or are unable to complete the forms in advance, please contact me to arrange for an earlier
appointment time. - Copy any related medical paperwork, such as a list of all medications currently being taken and information on past mental health treatment.
Step 3 – At Your First Appointment
Our first session together will primarily be an information-gathering opportunity lasting 60-75 minutes. During this session, we will:
- Review your completed intake forms, confidentiality practices and associated paperwork.
- Discuss your history, concerns and symptoms. This involves talking about the current problem and when/where it started.
- Understand your expectations of therapy and what you hope to achieve.
- Discuss my treatment practices and philosophy and how they can help you achieve your goals.
- Discuss strategies for future sessions, including homework and goal-setting.
At this time, I may arrive at a tentative diagnosis; however, please understand that diagnoses may change over the course of therapy.
Step 4 – Progressing Through Counseling
Subsequent appointments last 50 minutes, and we will use our time to focus on goals, treatment planning and therapeutic techniques to manage symptoms.
As we continue the therapeutic process, I ask that you:
- Keep your regularly scheduled appointments to ensure consistency. If you need to cancel an appointment, I require a minimum of 24 hours notice.
- Ask questions during the process
- Be honest with me about how you are feeling.
- Complete any homework that I assign you.
There is no predetermined length of therapy. Each client is different; therefore, each therapeutic relationship is, too. The length of time we work together is client-driven and will depend on factors like diagnoses, cost, commitment, and involvement.