About Individual Therapy
Beginning therapy takes courage. Many call only after making several efforts on their own and reading many self-help books.
If you are ready because you’re at the same crossroads in a relationship, have a history of trauma, have abused substances, or are hurting from anxiety or depression, I will discuss with you the therapeutic options available and offer you hope and a solution.
Meaghan’s Therapeutic Process
All therapists work a little differently depending on their training, their type of licensure, and their own life experiences. I am a solution-focused therapist. I use a structured approach that is psychoeducational, psychodynamic, practical and compassionate. My goal is to provide effective interventions while facilitating long-term change. For clients who are able to commit to counseling two or three times a week, it is very effective for intensive work and accountability.
What To Expect
Session 1
Your first session will be between 90-120 minutes, depending on your need. A comprehensive deep dive is recommended for your first session. It will save time by completing the basic intake outline in the new client paperwork. Complete as much as you can on your own, if you feel overwhelmed from any trauma details, don’t worry, we will go through it together. The first thing we will do together is go over limits of confidentiality, legalities of therapy, insurance, payment, and professional releases.
Your first session will be all the details of what is bringing you to therapy and what you need and hope to be different in your life.
Session 2
During your second session, I will spend time going through the intake form you and any additional information added from your first session so I can get a firm understanding of your symptoms. If indicated, I will do a depression and an anxiety inventory to get a baseline on your overall well-being specific to depression and anxiety. I will discuss a diagnosis which is necessary for you if I am going to submit forms to your insurance company. The remainder of the session we will prioritize your issues and discuss your goals. I will provide suggestions for which treatment topics and approaches I think are the right direction. If we decide that EMDR will be your primary treatment process, this is where we will begin to build your Target Sequence Plan.
Session 3
Between the second and third sessions, I will offer you work for in-between sessions to further impact progress and build on psychoeducation, self-insight and accountability for growth. If you’re not ready to do additional work at this time, it’s ok and I understand the resistance, however, the more you are willing to do outside of our time together the faster you will feel better and see progress.
Session 4
At this point therapy goals should be taking shape and you are beginning to use new tools and beginning to enact change in your life. New areas of needed growth are addressed as we build on your treatment goals of positive change. You will be using strategies from your treatment plan in your life. We will address any areas of concern and growth that took place during your week.
Please be assured that I will be regularly checking in with you on your symptoms, therapy goals and how you feel therapy is working for you.