Can Help Others In Crisis Experience Stability
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Updated: 01/10/2020, 10:00
What Is Therapy?
All counsellors at Choices4Growth work within the Ethical Framework of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
What happens in therapy;
Talking Therapy can take many different forms, depending on your needs, the type of therapy you have and where or how that therapy is delivered.
Your therapy;
You will usually have a number of planned regular sessions lasting for around 50 minutes. How often you see your therapist, and how many sessions you have, will depend on your individual circumstances. What you talk about will vary depending on the problem you want help with and the type of therapy you are getting. It could include...
Your childhood
Your emotions
Your relationships
Your thoughts
Your behaviour
Situations or events you find difficult
Your first session;
Every therapist has their own way of beginning therapy. They may start by talking about what will happen in you therapy or they may begin straight away by asking you what is troubling you. Either way is fine, but there are a few things your first session must cover;
Introductions
Your therapist should spend a few minutes introducing themselves. If you're not sure whether to call them by their first name or to be more formal, just do what you feel most comfortable with. If you feel the therapist is too informal in the way they address you, you should say so.
Assessment
Your therapist may start by taking a history of the troubles you are experiencing. They might ask you to complete some forms, or go through information they have received about you, such as a letter from your GP. They may just ask you to 'tell your story'. Whatever format the assessment takes, you should feel you have the opportunity to tell the therapist about the issues that are troubling you.
Confidentiality and Note-Taking
Your therapist should explain how they will protect your confidentiality and privacy. They will also tell you of any situations when they may be required to disclose information about you. Therapists will usually take notes of the sessions in some way for their own professional use. They should tell you how they will do this.
During the first session, or at any time during your therapy, you can ask your therapist anything you want to know about their qualifications and experience. You can also ask them about your therapy and question anything you don't understand. Your therapist should encourage you to do this. Your therapist should discuss with you the number and frequency of sessions you will have and how any fees will be paid.
