What to expect during your first session

Individual Therapy

You arrive at my office, when you first walk in there’s a waiting area where you are welcomed to have a seat. I will come to greet you and we will step into my office. We have paperwork to complete, I will review everything with you and make sure you understand and feel comfortable with all of the information. The paperwork includes confidentiality, informed consent and HIPAA notice of practices, very similar to the kind of stuff you fill out at a doctor’s office. Then we begin by discussing what brought you in. I will also ask questions about various aspects of your life, answer any questions you may have and we will get to know each other.

Child Therapy - Caregiver

Prior to the first session, during your telephone consultation I will talk with the parent/caregiver about the reason they are interested in therapy for their child. If I feel that I can be of help, I will schedule an initial appointment.

Caregiver & minor will arrive at my office, when you first walk in there’s a waiting area, I will come to greet you and we will step into my office. We meet all of us together to introduce ourselves. With everyone present I will outline privacy and what therapy information would be shared with the caregiver. We have paperwork to complete, I will review everything with you and make sure you understand and feel comfortable with all of the information. The paperwork includes confidentiality, informed consent and HIPAA notice of practices, very similar to the kind of stuff you fill out at a doctor’s office. Then I will meet with the child individually while parent/caregiver hangs out in the waiting room.

Child Therapy - Child

I practice play therapy with children under age of 12. That means my office has many therapeutic toys including a sand tray, house, and people figurines, which children play with. The child chooses the toys and items that they will interact with while I observe their play themes. Sometimes children will ask me to join in play and I will get right in there with them. I also have art supplies that provide another medium for children to express.

For those talkative individuals from age 8 and up I tell them about the forms of therapy: talk therapy, art therapy, therapeutic writing & play therapy, and allow them to choose their path. Most often teenagers utilize a combination of mediums.

Teen Therapy

Prior to the first session, during your telephone consultation I will talk with the parent/caregiver about the reason they are interested in therapy for their child. If I feel that I can be of help, I will schedule an initial appointment.

Caregivers & minor will arrive at my office, when you first walk in there’s a waiting area, I will come to greet you and we will step into my office. We meet all of us together to introduce ourselves. With everyone present I will outline privacy and what therapy information would be shared with the caregiver. I take extra time to make sure that the teenager and caregivers understand what information the teen shares in therapy will or won’t be shared. We have paperwork to complete, I will review everything with you and make sure you understand and feel comfortable with all of the information. The paperwork includes confidentiality, informed consent and HIPAA notice of practices, very similar to the kind of stuff you fill out at a doctor’s office. Then I will meet with your teenager individually while parent/caregiver hangs out in the waiting room.

Family Therapy

The family will arrive at my office, when you all first walk in there’s a waiting area, I will come to greet you and we will step into my office. We have paperwork to complete, I will review everything with you and make sure you understand and feel comfortable with all of the information. The paperwork includes confidentiality, informed consent and HIPAA notice of practices, very similar to the kind of stuff you fill out at a doctor’s office. We begin by discussing what brought the family in. I will also ask questions about various aspects of your life, answer any questions you may have and we will get to know each other.

Couples Therapy

The couple arrives together and will only be seen together throughout therapy. The couple will arrive at my office, you open the door & walk into the waiting area where there’s plenty of seating, I will come to greet you and we will step into my office. We have paperwork to complete, I will review everything with you both and make sure you understand and feel comfortable with all of the information. The paperwork includes confidentiality, informed consent, and HIPAA notice of practices, very similar to the kind of stuff you fill out at a doctor’s office. We usually begin by discussing what brought you guys in. I will also ask questions about various aspects of your life, answer any questions you may have and we will get to know each other.