Clients ask us all kinds of questions before entering into treatment together. We welcome these questions. It’s best for to discuss any concerns you have before we start.
How do I know if I should begin psychotherapy?
If you are asking yourself this question, it is good indication that you are ready to make a change or at the least willing to consider making an improvement in some area of your life. I also encourage you to ask yourself the following questions: Am I unhappy with myself and how I am living my life and do I want to make changes? Am I struggling with my relationships? Is my family life stressful? Am I feeling overwhelmed by school or work? Am I anxious? Do I feel depressed? Am I concerned about my marriage or children? Am I grappling with health problems? Am I going through a significant transition in my life? Do I have unresolved issues from my past that still upset me? Do the problem feel too big to tackle by yourself? If you answered yes to some of these questions, I encourage you to contact me for an appointment. Therapy may help you resolve problems and make changes.
Why do I need a therapist? Why can’t I just talk to a friend or a family member?
A friend or family member is not professionally trained to help you grow, heal and change. It's likely that your friends and family have been giving you their best advice for some time now, and if it were sufficient, you probably wouldn't be reading this. But here is why your friend's advice is different from a therapist. Your friends want to maintain your friendship so they will probably tell you what you want to hear. Also, they will give advice that is based on their life’s experience. A trained therapist is interested in helping you find your own answers by helping you connect with what is true and right for you.
Is therapy confidential?
Your privacy is important to us and confidentiality is paramount for a positive therapeutic relationship. I will not share information about you with anyone without your written consent unless I am required to by law. I must report suspected child or elder abuse, serious threats to oneself and serious threats to others.
What happens in the first session?
Show up in the first session with the intention to be as open and honest about yourself as you can be. The first session is like a first date. I will want to learn about what is bringing you to therapy at this time in your life and hopefully you will be interested in filling me in. The likelihood is that there is much you will want to tell me and I’ll be listening carefully and giving you my full attention. You will likely be asking yourself questions like - How does it feel to be in the room with her? Do I like her and feel safe with her? Does she seem like she will be able to help me? Can I let my guard down with her and be myself?
By the end of the first session we will each have a sense of each other and will have talked some about the possibility of working together. Hard research has shown that the success of therapy is determined more by the quality of the relationship, than the theoretical orientation of the therapist. If the fit doesn't feel good to you, then you owe it to yourself to keep looking. If I don't think I will be the most advantageous therapist to work with you for whatever reason, I will tell you and make a good referral to someone who I think will be able to help you. If we decide to work together then we will schedule a next appointment.
Do I have to come every week?
In order to get the most out of therapy once a week is certainly the best case scenario-especially at the beginning of treatment.
How long does individual therapy last? How long do I have to come?
That depends on the goals for treatment, which we establish up front when you come in, and we revisit throughout the course of our work together. We have several clients who who have been seeing for several years, once a week. I also have had many clients who come in to work on a specific situation or emotional turmoil in their life, and once they achieve a level of functioning, insight and/or clarity about it, we decide together that they can finish treatment. It depends.
Often people experience a sense that they are making progress more quickly than they had expected. There is also the realization that they are holding onto thoughts or feelings that need to be explored more thoroughly. This struggle of exploring interconnecting aspects of one's life story may proportionally increase time in therapy and personal growth.
Do you do sessions by phone or by skype?
We prefer to do sessions in person. However, there are times when a phone or Skype session is valid and necessary. If you don’t live in Singapore we could arrange working together by Skype. The fee is the same as a regular session.
If you have any other questions/concerns, feel free to Contact Us.