Denver Psychotherapy
Are you new to therapy? Welcome to Denver Psychotherapy
If you are new to psychotherapy, please read the following paragraphs to get an idea of what to expect.
Take the Mental Health Quiz to see if psychotherapy can help you.
Your first Denver psychotherapy session
Your first psychotherapy session is usually a time for me to gather information about you and your needs. Here, you can find some of the qualities of those I work with. I will ask you to fill out this form so that I can learn more about your current and past physical and emotional health.
The first session is also an opportunity for you to interview me to see if my approach is going to work for you. Make sure you understand:
- What type of psychotherapy will be used
- The goals of your treatment
- How confidentiality works
- The length of each session
- Cancellation policies
Don’t hesitate to ask questions anytime during your appointment. If you don’t feel comfortable with the first psychotherapist you see, try someone else. Having a good fit with your therapist is critical for psychotherapy to be effective.
*Feel free to download and fill out this form and bring it along to your first appointment. Read my Disclosure Statement to get more in depth information about the way I work.
During psychotherapy
For most types of psychotherapy, I will encourage you to talk about your thoughts and feelings and what’s troubling you. Don’t worry if you find it hard to open up about your feelings. I can help you gain more confidence and comfort as time goes on.
Because psychotherapy sometimes involves intense emotional discussions, you may find yourself crying, upset or even having an angry outburst during a session. Some people may feel physically exhausted after a session. I am there to help you cope with such feelings and emotions.
I may ask you to do “homework” — activities or practices that build on what you learn during your regular therapy sessions. Over time, discussing your concerns can help improve your mood, change the way you think and feel about yourself, and improve your ability to cope with problems.
Confidentiality
Except in very specific circumstances, sessions are confidential. However, I may break confidentiality if there is an immediate threat to safety or when required by state or federal law to report concerns to authorities. These situations include:
- Threatening to immediately or soon (imminently) harm yourself or commit suicide
- Threatening to immediately or soon (imminently) harm or take the life of another person
- Abusing a child or a vulnerable adult (someone older than age 18 who is hospitalized or made vulnerable by a disability)
- Being unable to safely care for yourself
Length of psychotherapy
The number of psychotherapy sessions you need — and how frequently you need to see me — depends on such factors as:
- Your particular mental illness or situation
- Severity of your symptoms
- How long you’ve had symptoms or have been dealing with your situation
- How quickly you make progress
- How much stress you’re experiencing
- How much your mental health concerns interfere with day-to-day life
- How much support you receive from family members and others
- Cost and insurance limitations
Still curious? More information is available at the Answers section, or you can Contact Me directly with any additional concerns.