F.A.Q's

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you’re at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy.

The answer depends a lot on you. Some people take a few weeks to warm up to the therapist and be able to talk about the issue that brought them to therapy to begin with, while others begin talking from the first session. By talking with your therapist openly and honestly you enable the process to move along more quickly. However, most people come to therapy after suffering for several years. It makes sense that behaviors that have been going on for a while are going to take some time to change.  However, you should leave the first appointment with some hope that things will begin to get better through therapy. At Light at the End, LLC therapy, we provide a written and individualized plan of care at the second session which describes the problem, goals for treatment and an approximation of how many sessions it will take to meet the goals.

Choosing a therapist can be daunting. It is most important to find someone you trust and are comfortable talking with about the things that are causing you distress. It is helpful to think about if you are more comfortable with a certain type of person (gender, religion, age, etc). Researching therapists to discover if they have experience or specialize in the issues you are seeking helps to ensure a more successful outcome.

Usually there is intake paperwork to complete in order to give the therapist general information about you. If you are not able to complete the paperwork before the session, it is recommended that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the appointment in order to have it completed prior to the time with the therapist. The first session is usually a time to get a good background and description of the problem you are wanting to work on. It is also a good opportunity for you to ask questions of the therapist about experience and discover if the counselor is right for you.