I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?
Even thou you haven’t done this before., I’m glad you have taken the brave step to search for support. Asking for help when in need is a sign of strength, not weakness. When you ask for help, you are honest with yourself by acknowledging that something in your life doesn’t seem right and you what to make it right. It is a good thing because you can’t fix something if you don’t think it’s broken. By seeking out counseling, you choose not to be alone in your pain anymore and find a resolution for your difficulty.
Do you offer other trauma therapy besides EMDR?
Yes. My desire to support you is to find what works best in helping you heal. With this in mind, I have also invested time and training in studying other techniques. I use somatic work and Splankna ( muscle testing and prayer). These are referred to as “bottom-up” techniques that first engage the body in healing and then the mind.
How long is a session? How often do I need to come to counseling?
Each session is 50 minutes long. In some situations, like an EMDR session, it maybe 90 minutes.
I like to see my clients weekly for about the first 8 to 12 weeks. This general time frame is to get to know each other, build trust, and create momentum in the healing process. After that time frame, we reassess your needs for further counseling and how often you may need to attend.
How long will it take?
Everyone’s need for counseling is different, and the length of time is different as well. The timing verifies because we are all unique beings. And we are going to dig deep into your unique self to heal and gain understanding. Also, healing isn’t a linear process. It can even seem messy at times, with taking steps forward and backward. Our goal is always to learn through the process, no matter the time frame.
I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?
I have found those who get the most out of our sessions generally have these three things in common:
1) Are committed to the healing process–even if facing setbacks, they don’t give up!
2) Are consistent and prioritize counseling sessions
3) They do the work in and out of the session. They are willing, to be honest, to address their struggles and work through their pain. They also are intentional about completing homework assignments, reading books, journaling, or practicing strategies learned.