Genre5ModelsRiaz

__**Therapy Session Models**__

1.

**What Will Probably Happen**      You were probably informed about financial arrangements when you made the appointment. When you arrive, you will be asked for any financial documentation that was requested, such as insurance cards, who is responsible for payments, etc. There will be some paperwork to fill out. Your first session with the therapist will be different from future visits. The initial visit is a period for you and your therapist to get to know each other and get an idea where to proceed. Future visits will be more therapeutic in nature. Keep in mind that psychotherapy is a long-term process so don't expect any instant solutions to your problems the first day. Therapy is about equipping you with life-long solutions rather than a quick fix. During the first session, you will be asked about what brings you to therapy. You will be asked what you feel is wrong in your life, any symptoms you are experiencing and your history. History-taking may cover such things as your childhood, education, relationships (family, romantic, friends), your current living situation and your career. You may discuss the length of your treatment, the methods to be employed and patient confidentiality as well. When the therapist finishes, you may be asked if you have any questions. **Important Questions for You to Ask**      According to the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists, the following are the top ten questions you will want to ask during your first visit. Use this as a check list of what goals you should achieve during the session. Many of these will probably be covered without your asking; but, if not, don't be afraid to ask.
 * What is your academic background and what has your training been to prepare you to practice as a therapist?
 * What specialized training and/or experience have you had in working with the issue I am dealing with?
 * What professional associations do you belong to?
 * What are your fees? How will my insurance claim be handled? (preferably fees and potential insurance coverage should be discussed on the phone prior to making the first appointment)
 * What type of therapy do you do? (mostly talking, role-playing, visualizing, hypnosis, artwork, "body -work")
 * What are your office protocols? ( booking appointments, payment for missed appointments, emergencies, building access after hours, etc.)
 * I would like a brief explanation as to what I can expect to happen in my sessions.
 * How long will each session last?
 * How many sessions will it take to resolve my issue?
 * How will my confidentiality be assured?

2.  **What to Expect in Your First Counseling Session** By STEVE BRESSERT, PH.D.     Are you about to go to a counselor for the first time? Whatever your reason for seeking help, you will be more at ease and get better results if you know what to expect. In your first session, the therapist typically will ask certain questions about you and your life. This information helps him make an initial assessment of your situation. Questions he might ask include: The therapist will use this information to better understand your problem. And, while he may make a diagnosis at the end of your first visit, it’s more likely that a diagnosis will take a few more sessions. Therapy is a team effort. If you don’t take an active part in the session, you won’t find the counseling experience valuable. Here are some things you can do to make your first session as successful as possible. Be sure to go to your first session with realistic expectations. Therapy is not a quick fix for your problem, rather it is a process. With some effort on your part and a strong relationship with your therapist, it can be a successful tool toward resolving problems.
 * Why you sought** **therapy****.** A particular issue probably led you to seek counseling. The therapist has to understand your surface problem(s) before he can get to the deeper issues.
 * Your personal history and current situation.** The therapist will ask you a series of questions about your life. For example, because family situations play an important role in who you are, he’ll ask about yourfamily history and your current family situation.
 * Your current symptoms.** Other than knowing the reason you sought therapy, the therapist will attempt to find out if you’re suffering from other symptoms of your problem. For example, your problem might be causing difficulty at work.
 * Don’t just sit there**
 * Be open.** Therapists are trained to ask the right questions, but they’re not mind readers. The therapist can do his job more effectively if you answer the questions openly and honestly.
 * Be prepared.** Before you get to the session, know how to describe “what’s wrong,” and to describe your feelings about your problem. One way to prepare is to write down the reasons you’re seeking help. Make a list and then read it out loud. Hearing yourself say it a few times will help you describe things more clearly to the therapist.
 * Ask questions.** The more you understand the counseling experience or how counseling works, the more comfortable you’ll be. Ask questions about the therapy process, and ask the therapist to repeat anything you don’t understand.
 * Be open and honest about your feelings.** A lot will be going through your head in this first session. Listen to your own reactions and feelings, and share them with the therapist. You’ll both learn from these insights.

3. We recognise that seeking psychological therapy can be unnerving, particularly when clients are unsure of what to expect in a typical therapy session. In the first therapy session, the psychologist aims to gain a thorough understanding of both the client’s presenting problems and any relevant personal history that may be contributing to these difficulties. Having an accurate understanding of these problems allows the psychologist to provide the most effective treatment. Assessment will involve the therapist asking a range of questions within the interview, and may also include the completion of relevant questionnaires. Importantly, the first therapy session provides an opportunity for the client to express what they would like to achieve by coming along to therapy. Treatment can then be directed to supporting the client to achieve these goals. The therapist will answer any questions the client may have about therapy, and will explain what treatment options are suitable for their particular concerns. There are a number of consent forms to be read and completed in the first session to insure that the client has been made aware of what treatment involves, our privacy policy and confidentiality. Generally, individual therapy sessions last between 50 to 60 minutes. Sometimes sessions may be longer to accommodate for special treatment requirements, testing, or group sessions (your therapist will advise you if additional time is required). The problems and issues discussed in therapy are confidential. Only the therapist and a small consultant team of supervising psychologists will know the names of clients. Except in special circumstances directed by law, no information will be released without written consent from the client. To see our full privacy policy, click here. Subsequent therapy sessions will focus on treatment, but may also involve further assessment if required. The first concern, after assessment is complete, is to outline a treatment plan that focuses on goals for treatment. Your therapist will fully explain what is involved in therapy before implementing the program, and will answer any questions you may have. The particular type of therapeutic approach will determine what is the content of treatment sessions. However, talking through difficulties, practicing skills, and being set tasks to complete at home will often be involved. At the UQ Psychology Clinic, it is important to us that we ensure the service we provide is making a difference, and that our clients are satisfied with the treatment they are receiving. Therefore, we ask clients to complete a questionnaire (called the ‘OQ45’) at the beginning of every therapy session. The OQ45 is an outcome questionnaire in which the client indicates their current level of psychological functioning. The therapist tracks this information over time to determine whether the client is making the progress expected from therapy. If it appears that the client’s functioning is not improving, therapists may modify their treatment approach to gain better outcomes.

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