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 right 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 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.
Counselor - Therapist - Traverse City, Michigan
