Starting Therapy
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming; but the more you know about what to expect, the easier it can be. If you are thinking about taking the first step to start therapy, congratulations! and let me be the first to say, you are very brave for venturing on this journey. It takes courage to seek assistance.
In this article, we will cover a general overview of what therapy can look like in addition to specifics about getting started with a therapist at Pathways To Connection.
What is therapy like?
Therapy can be a transformative experience that varies widely from individual to individual. People come to therapy with different needs, goals and ideas about what they want out of therapy; but in general, therapy is about exploring thoughts, emotions and behaviors in a safe space for the purpose of engaging in personal growth. Some people require very solution focused goal setting that is behavior or task oriented, while some people may want to delve into their personal history in an effort to understand how it is affecting their present. In any situation, the goal of your therapist is to be a safe person for you during your exploration of self, others and the world.
What happens in a first session?
In your first session you can expect to accomplish a variety of tasks which include:
Answers to any questions you have about intake paperwork
Review of some or all of the practice policies
Review of what you can expect from sessions with your therapist
Providing a history of you to your therapist
Your therapist will interact with you in an open, honest way in an effort to start building a therapeutic relationship. Sometimes it may feel like you are being asked to present very personal information; and you are! Your ability to be open and honest will help your therapist find the best interventions for you. However, if there are things you aren’t comfortable talking about in a first session, it is completely ok to choose not to or to even answer that you aren’t ready to discuss a certain topic. Relationship building takes time and trust and your therapist understands this!
How do I get set up for therapy at Pathways To Connection?
Pathways To Connection provides primarily telehealth therapy. What this means is that your sessions will occur over a HIPAA compliant video system or over the phone. There are many ways to schedule your first session including:
Call 928-792-1357. You will either reach our scheduler or you will be prompted to leave a voicemail and she will call you back.
Email our scheduler directly here. She will respond to you directly.
Click the “Make Appointment” link above. You will be brought to our secure scheduling platform where you can choose your therapist, provided they have availability, and schedule yourself.
All options require that you provide us some basic information, information about your availability and information about what you are looking for in a therapist. Once you are set up, you will get an email with a link to our secure electronic health record where you will complete intake paperwork. It is important that this is complete before your first session with your therapist.
How do I start the first session?
You will receive text and email notifications about your initial appointment. These notifications will contain a link to join the telehealth session. You will need a computer, smart phone or tablet and a good internet connection for your session. If you are having technical difficulties, don’t worry! Your therapist will give you a call if you aren’t present in the first 5-10 minutes.
If you are considering therapy and have any questions at all, please feel to reach out to us at Pathways To Connection! We look forward to being part of your journey.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Melissa Drinkman, DBH, LCSW