Arriving at my
office.
- Please allow
enough driving time to arrive at or before the time
of your appointment. You may wait in the reception
room if you arrive early.
- The
entry to my office is off of the alley behind
S. Elmwood Ave (across from the Munson Medical
Center visitor parking lot). You may park anywhere
on the concrete apron off the alley in front
of the large clay/brown color garage.
- Please enter the office reception room
without need to knock on the door (I will likely
be in the counseling office with another client).
- Find
a comfortable chair. Help yourself to magazines
that may interest you. The bathroom is located
in front of you.
- While you are waiting; if you are feeling
at all anxious or nervous - just remind yourself
to breathe; focus on your breath - allow your body
and mind to relax.
- NOTE - if you are a parent seeking counseling
for your child/children - the child/children normally
do not attend this initial session.
What to expect
in the first session.
Before you know it
I will be walking through the office door to greet
you and invite you into my office. The counseling
office is designed to look and feel somewhat like
a living room. You should find it to be a comfortable
space where you will feel at ease.
An appointment
"hour" is typically 50 minutes (a typical
therapy session is based on a fifty-minute clinical
hour rather than a sixty-minute clock hour) and
is normally scheduled on a weekly basis to begin
with. In the comfort and privacy of my counseling
office, I will focus on you and may ask you
a number of questions about yourself, your history
and your current problems. I will ask you to tell
me why you are here and what you hope to gain from
this experience. I understand that you may not be
sure. I will help you to clarify your wants and
needs. I will also discuss your insurance coverage
and/or payment arrangements with you. If I determine
that you would benefit from additional services,
this will be discussed with you and referral(s)
made at your request. I realize that you did not
schedule this appointment because you love to fill
out forms; however, as with any office visit, it
is not complete until the paperwork is done! Usually
the paperwork will only take a few minutes to complete.
EAP’s (Employee Assistance Program), insurance
companies, and other referral agencies may require
some additional paperwork. Remember to bring your
insurance card with you if applicable.
My goal in that
first session as in every session is to provide
an atmosphere that allows you to be comfortable
and to give you my complete attention and to help
you begin to feel better. When you walk out the
door you will look forward to your next visit.
What is expected
of you?
-
To
keep me informed of any concerns you may have about
counseling and the progress that you are making.
-
To
keep your appointments as scheduled and to let me
know when you must reschedule an appointment with
as much advance notice as reasonable.
-
To
be willing to be honest with me and yourself.
-
To
keep your commitment to any assignments or therapeutic
work between visits that we agree to.
-
To
let me know if you are having difficulty paying
your bill.
Contact
Questions?
Please contact
me for further
information.
Counseling - Therapy - Traverse City, Michigan
