What is Psychotherapy, and What Can You Expect When You Make an Appointment?
Psychotherapy is a process that that helps people find ways to deal more effectively with feelings, behaviors, relationships, and life issues. Talking about these things is a personal experience that's different for each person and therapist, and the process increases a person's awareness about the source of their problems.
Treatment approaches vary among clinicians, and it is important that you find a therapist who has expertise in the issues for which you are seeking treatment. It is also very important to find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and connect well.
At All Things New Counseling Services, LLC (ATN), you will experience a personal touch, as Kristin does not treat you like a "sick patient." Kristin believes in a partner approach, seeing YOU as the expert on your own life. Kristin comes along side you to help you find direction, gain insights, sort out feelings, clarify thinking, and make changes or adjustments in your life.
When you contact ATN, odds are, you will speak to Kristin directly. If Kristin in is a session or if it's after her business hours, you may receive her voicemail. Please leave a message. She will personally return your call. Kristin will assist you with any questions you have about counseling and making the initial appointment, including any insurance questions you may have, and when you are ready, she will help you get scheduled for an appointment.
When you show up for your first appointment, Kristin may be in a session. There will be a clipboard outside her office door with required intake information for you to fill out. This includes the typical demographic and health history information as well as information about your insurance if you would like claims filed. Please make yourself comfortable in the lobby while you fill out this information, and Kristin will greet you in the lobby when she is ready for your appointment.
In the counseling room, Kristin will not be looking at you from behind a desk. It will feel a lot like chatting with a trusted friend in your living room. Kristin will verbally explain more about the counseling process, ask you for some description of what brings you to counseling, and gather history and background information pertinent to the concerns you bring in. This is called the assessment process, and usually takes about three visits to complete. During this time, Kristin will mainly be listening and asking specific questions to ensure good understanding of the context and dynamics of the concerns you bring in. Assessment sessions are each 50-60 minutes long. After the assessment period, the treatment process begins. During the treatment phase, sessions are each 45-50 minutes long. By this time, Kristin will have talked with you about the recommended frequency of any follow up sessions (usually weekly is recommended at first), and she will try to estimate the length of the treatment process and discuss this with you. During the treatment phase of the counseling process, Kristin will offer feedback and work with you to identify different ways to think about or different ways to approach the concerns you have. She may send you home with "assignments," or things to try before you return for your next appointment. Kristin will review progress with you throughout the process. Eventually, the frequency of sessions will be reduced (for example, weekly visits become every other week and then perhaps every three to four weeks). The intent to is monitor and support the changes you've worked on, giving you increased time to build these changes into your life in between counseling "check-ins" until you reach the point that you feel you no longer need follow-up.
ATN offers a variety of services for a variety of needs including individual counseling for children, teens, and adults, pre-marital counseling, marriage counseling.
Examples of Issues ATN Can Help You With
Adjustment to Life Transitions
Mood Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Grief and Loss
Anger Management
Personal Growth/Enrichment
Pre-Marital Counseling / Relationship Conflict
Couple's Communication
Child and Adolescent Issues
Behavioral Problems
Foster & Adoption Issues
Family Dynamics
Parenting Skills
Trauma
Sexual Abuse
Physical Abuse
Self-Esteem Issues