Our first 1-2 sessions will be an assessment of your needs and history. The initial intake assessment for therapy is a standard 45-50 minute session. By the end of the intake process, I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow, if you decide to continue with therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions about whether you feel comfortable working with me.
Please be aware that an intake is not considered an agreement for treatment, but rather an assessment of fit for services. If it is ultimately determined that I am unable to offer the treatment recommended, or you have doubts about my procedures, relevant referrals will be provided.
Once we’ve gone through the intake process and decided together that I am the right fit for you and your needs, we will work together to develop your treatment plan. Change requires time and effort, and most of the work will happen outside of our once a week 50-minute sessions. You can expect to get homework between sessions and know we will continue to re-evaluate your goals and progress along the way. You can also expect that the frequency of our sessions will reduce over time as your needs change.
When treating relational problems in couples and families, all members are involved. The intake process will likely include meeting as a couple and as individuals, though all together we will develop shared goals in treatment. Starting off, we will meet weekly to develop the skills needed to communicate effectively. Without the necessary foundational skills to have the conversations and solve the problems faced, couple and family therapies have the potential for doing more harm than good. I understand that relational therapy can be intimidating, trust that I will work with everyone involved to ensure the space is safe and everyone has the opportunity to be vulnerable and express their wants and/or needs.
Providing consultation, training professionals, and implementing evidence based programs is an area of the mental health field that brings me much excitement and joy. From 2015 - 2022 I provided training and consultation on the model of Family Integrated Transitions (FIT) in the Northern Region of Norway through Multi-Systemic Services, LLC. While at the Emily Program in 2017, I worked with administration and staff to align the Seattle PHP/IOP programs with DBT practices and principles to improve outcomes for clients. If my background and areas of expertise are of interest to you, let’s find ways to collaborate!