Do I need help?
An initial counselling session offers a confidential opportunity to safely explore any issue you are dealing with.
You probably are curious about: What is your style of counselling? What kind of assistance do I need? How long will it take? What frequency of sessions is most appropriate for me? How much will it cost? Can I actually be helped? Which style of assistance would be best for me?
The first session or two with a counsellor can address these questions along with providing a preliminary assessment of the nature of your problems and the manner in which they can be addressed within therapy. I will send you a detailed pre-counselling questionnaire to assist you with this.
I make no assumptions about what form of assistance may be of greatest practical benefit to a person. I often start with 2 weekly sessions then back off to fortnightly or even monthly. The number of sessions and frequency of sessions depends on you: what you are experiencing and you learning ot integrating style. Some people need a burst of intense assistance and then a break from counselling; others thrive on regular spaced sessions (eg fortnightly or monthly). Still others derive great personal and existential benefit from therapy that continues on and off, as needed over several years.
In relationship counselling, there is no one-size fits all approach that offers optimal benefit. Every relationship is unique. Some couples only need 4 or 5 session ‘relationship tune-ups’, other couples require a painstaking and thorough ‘relationship re-build’ that address long-standing ingrained trust and communication roadblocks. I always conduct initial ‘readiness for couples therapy’ assessment sessions prior to committing to provide ongoing couples therapy. This entails seeing each individual once or twice and the couple at least two times. The ‘3 of us’ then make a decision as to whether we are a good fit and whether there is readiness from all parties to commit to a therapeutic relationship. After the initial ‘intake phase’ a person decides ‘fighting for’ or ‘growing within’ the relationship is not for them. This saves time, money and the disappointment of confusing expectations. Sometimes I will recommend individual counselling elsewhere may be more beneficial for each party.
To ensure old patterns of unconscious and sabotaging thoughts and behaviours do not revert to pre-counselling ‘default settings’, some form of longer term follow-up is essential. I encourage everyone to visit 2-6 months following cessation of regular counselling, to ‘check-in’ where they are at. Here they can share honestly what issues seem to be persisting or re-appearing and reflect on gains made and integration roadblocks subsequent to the counselling process.
For example, with couples, after initial crisis style intervention has been effective, the frequency of sessions can be backed off to offer monitoring and review of new commitments. Not all couples counselling achieves the goals one or other partner may have had. Some relationships are in acute crisis when they first present in counselling and either separate after initial intake sessions reveal persisting ‘deal breaker’ issues. Or I may decide that all parties best interests are not served by the continuation of counselling and may refer on or refer on for individual counselling assistance instead.
Typically, if you are asking, “Do I need help?”, then you probably would benefit from a counselling session devoted to this topic! You can always be assisted in refining or extending skills and perspectives, to assist you. At the very least, you could find it re-assuring to be affirmed, through counselling support, that you are doing absolutely the best you can, given your circumstances! At best you could find a ally, mentor and coach, with specialised training and highly developed skills that enable a productive working relationship that supports you making changes within your life and yourself.
For an initial consultation or ring or text 0412911136 (WhatsApp)or email: kieranriordan@gmail.com
