So you’re almost ready to make that call, send that email or discuss this process with your family or significant other.  But, you have a few more questions.  Read on to learn more:

BEFORE THE FIRST CALL OR EMAIL

• Once you’re ready to call/email there are some things you’ll want to have ready.
  
  • Your best call back number.
  • Whether you are asking to be seen in the Wethersfield or Prospect, CT location. 
  • Your availability to meet for sessions.  Once we agree on a time that will remain your time for session each week. This keeps it predictable and consistent for both our scheduling.
  • Your insurance carrier if you’re using insurance.
• Most days I’m working and unable to answer because I’m with another client. Don’t worry. Leave a message letting me know which office you’d like to be seen in, and leave your best call back number.
• Once I get your message, I’ll get back to you in 24 hours (usually same day) to discuss the best times to come to the office.
• Once the first appointment is scheduled, it’s pretty easy to follow through with the rest! The hardest part is getting my open appointment times to match up with your availability. This is the most common obstacle.  Sometimes we can figure it out, but sometimes schedules just don’t allow for it.

• For the first appointment you only need to bring your insurance card, method of payment, and identification (license or state ID)
  • During the first appointment we’ll meet and you’ll fill out some paperwork.
  • The sessions are 45 minutes.
  • I encourage people to show up 5 minutes early to all appointments to maximize our talking time.
  • We’ll spend as much time together as possible in our 45 minutes talking about what brings you in, the things that have happened in your life in the past as well as recent symptoms that may be bringing you in to therapy now.
• All appointments are standing weekly appointments so they are completely yours to use in any way you wish during our time together. 
• Together we’ll spend time talking about many things such as recent stress, physical symptoms, emotional symptoms, patterns of living, relationships, your emotional health, the past and anything else that may bring you to therapy.
• My approach is authentic and humanistic.  Together we decide what the goals are for your therapy and I’ll be honest about my observations and thoughts on what’s needed to encourage your healing.  

AFTER SESSION AND BEFORE THE NEXT ONE

• After a session people report a wide variety of feelings and emotions.  Most frequently people talk about how great they feel to be able to get things off their chest.  The sensations of relief from being able to express themselves without interruption and sit with some who really listens.  These powerful “purges” of emotion can also leave people feeling very drained, depleted or tired as well.  Sometimes headache or physical discomfort accompanies the release of longstanding emotional and psychologically suppressed material.  
• Between sessions is a time for integration and reflection, which are both natural processes that take place consciously and unconsciously.
• People begin to “notice” things in their life, observe interesting new qualities about themselves, ways of thinking or emotional responses.  
• Bringing those observations to the next session is a common spark that begins our exploration further and more deeply into the matters that brought you in.
• Over time, one development leads to the next and is fed back into the therapy.  The growths as well as the challenges are included in our sessions to foster further growth and new developments…and the process of uncovering and deepening progresses.