Consultations

Beginning psychotherapy is a big step and a serious undertaking. It is important to determine a ‘good enough’ fit.

A consultation is an initial set of sessions, typically two to three appointments, for this purpose. If workable, these appointments are made as close together as possible, preferably on consecutive days, for continuity and exposure to the possibilities of the experience.

Even if a consultation indicates that I will not be able to provide the help you seek or need, it can help both to clarify what that is and to set you on a path towards addressing it. If I can provide help for the kind of concerns you have, a sense of “fit” is still important; “therapeutic alliance” is a powerful predictor of successful treatment. At the same time, there is no perfect match, and is common to experience a wide range of feelings in reaction to taking this brave step.

If our consultation suggests that a different provider and/or treatment would be better suited to your needs, I will do my best to provide a referral.