What to Expect
The First Visit -
In order to keep our rates lower than other providers, we do not have full time office staff, therefore when you call (770-271-9442) you will likely get our answering service. If you are a potential new client, please follow the phone prompts. If you are calling for a specific therapist, leave your message in their voice mail box.
Of course there’s the obligatory paperwork, but you can print the forms from our website and have them completed when you come in. We strive to set ourselves apart by seeing people on time. If we happen to be behind in our schedule we will step out of our session and let you know. This will mean we will also have to stop on time at 45 to 50 minutes. You can expect to be treated with warmth and respect. The first meeting will be focused on establishing a positive relationship and gathering information about the situations that bring you into our office. We believe the stress you are experiencing is significant and many times our clients have a lot at stake. We will not discount your perceptions, but will value them as expert opinions. Each person will have the opportunity to share their thoughts about the situation and its causes. There will be no judgments made or any problems minimized. We will be taking notes while you talk; it‘s just good clinical care. There is nothing magical about what or when we write. We see a lot of people and reviewing these notes prior to our next meeting helps us stay current. If we have time toward the end of
this first session, we will ask you to outline specific goals you want us to assist you in achieving. We see you as in charge and we are hired help, in the same way you would hire a competent builder to make home improvements. If necessary, we will start the second session with any left-over questions and goal identification. Your goals are flexible and may change as we progress.
Of course there’s the obligatory paperwork, but you can print the forms from our website and have them completed when you come in. We strive to set ourselves apart by seeing people on time. If we happen to be behind in our schedule we will step out of our session and let you know. This will mean we will also have to stop on time at 45 to 50 minutes. You can expect to be treated with warmth and respect. The first meeting will be focused on establishing a positive relationship and gathering information about the situations that bring you into our office. We believe the stress you are experiencing is significant and many times our clients have a lot at stake. We will not discount your perceptions, but will value them as expert opinions. Each person will have the opportunity to share their thoughts about the situation and its causes. There will be no judgments made or any problems minimized. We will be taking notes while you talk; it‘s just good clinical care. There is nothing magical about what or when we write. We see a lot of people and reviewing these notes prior to our next meeting helps us stay current. If we have time toward the end of
this first session, we will ask you to outline specific goals you want us to assist you in achieving. We see you as in charge and we are hired help, in the same way you would hire a competent builder to make home improvements. If necessary, we will start the second session with any left-over questions and goal identification. Your goals are flexible and may change as we progress.
Future Visits -
Offering you quick resolution and solutions during the first meeting is premature. Our job will be to help you identify counter-productive patterns and offer support, education, and coaching that will assist in trading in old patterns, that are not working well for you, for patterns that will hopefully bring the relief
you’re looking for. However, counseling will not always be an easy process,
difficult changes may be necessary, and at times may produce discomfort. We have no particular magic if you do not work hard during and between our meetings. Many counselors focus on problems and negatives. We will utilize a strengths perspective and will frequently begin each meeting with “what’s better since our last meeting?”, and then help you identify the “how” you made it better so that you can repeat the formula. Please come prepared for each meeting. Goal attainment will progress much more efficiently when you arrive with agenda and topics in mind. We strive to cover a lot of ground in our solution focused approach and some of it might be forgotten after you leave. We take notes, so feel free to arrive with your own written concerns and take your own notes for review later.
