Your First Session

During the first session, you will find out how therapy can help you and how long it will take to resolve the issues that are troubling you. It is an opportunity to share information about your personal history and current situation and to gather information about the therapist’s qualifications and practice orientation. Information regarding what to expect from the therapy process will be provided, including the anticipated benefits of therapy as well as the limits of its ability to help. Also information about the investment required in terms of time, effort, and cost will be addressed. Other information provided includes identifying possible alternatives to psychotherapy and discussing your rights and responsibilities as a client.

Generally, what you say in therapy sessions will be kept confidential. However, there are circumstances under which exceptions do exist. The following is not a complete list of exceptions to confidentiality but it does contain a few of the more common ones:

• You are a threat to harm yourself or someone else
  
• Child abuse or neglect is suspected
  
• Your treatment records are requested by subpoena
  
• To collect payment for services rendered

There is no time limit put on psychotherapy. Some clients experience benefits in a short period of time (six months or less), and others continue treatment for some years. The average patient remains in therapy for about two years. Staying in therapy longer is neither a sign of excessive dependence nor severity of illness. It takes a lifetime to develop the attitudes and character traits that contribute to emotional stress, and generally, although not always, time is required for change. Therapy often transforms into personal development after a period of time and the therapist becomes a coach as well as therapist, helping the client build life skills.