COUNSELING is a confidential process designed to help you address your concerns, come to a better understanding of yourself, and learn effective personal and interpersonal coping strategies. It involves a relationship between you and a trained therapist who has the desire and willingness to help you accomplish your individual goals. Counseling involves sharing sensitive, personal, and private information that may at times be distressing. During the course of counseling, there may be periods of increased anxiety or confusion. The outcome of counseling is often positive; however, the level of satisfaction for any individual is not predictable. Your therapist is available to support you throughout the counseling process.

 

FAQs:

Here are my responses to common questions that clients have asked to understand the process at 4swithin, better.

What techniques or tools do you use to provide counseling or therapy? What would be your approach to therapy?

The process of counseling begins with listening to the client. The tools/techniques are determined based on goals the client would want for themselves. Hence it is a very client centric approach. Academically, I am trained in Jungian Psychology, creative art therapy, cognitive behavior therapy and neuro- linguistic programming and I use a mixed methodology approach based on the client’s needs.

 

What can I expect out of our sessions? Will you be predominantly directing our sessions or guiding through based on the answers or prompts from me?

A Counselor listens, comprehends and paraphrases the content shared by the client. This process enables one to reflect on their situation and be aware of the choices they can make. I facilitate this process through questions that enable a conversation and work along with you to choose a direction/path.

 

How do you set up counselling goals? What would they be like? Is setting goals important in therapy?

After the first session (sometimes more, depending on the client), I will discuss possible goals with you. Each session also ends with a task or a writing prompt for the week till the next session. Yes, It is important to have goals, however, in a client-centric approach, the goals are set only when the client believes they are ready.

 

Do you work more on the present or do you also focus on the past? How important is it for me to talk about my past as well?

 Therapy could involve going to the past to address what is happening in the present. It is not a must and depends on the issues being addressed.

 

Is there a trial session?

No, However, you are welcome to call and clarify anything you want before you book an appointment.

 

Is there anything I can do help prepare myself better before each of our sessions? Like, some reading or homework?

Writing is an integral part of the process so it would be very useful if the client writes, around the prompts suggested by the counselor, every week.

 

How do I prepare myself to open up better during our sessions? Often times, I’d want to talk about something, but I may forget to do so.

Making a note of things you would like to talk about. You can let the counselor know if you find it difficult to open up and you will be ably supported by an activity that will ease the process.

 

This might be too early to ask, but how would I know we’re a good fit or if we work well together?

It is very important to feel comfortable with your counselor. Before the session, let your counselor know if you have any questions / doubts, clarifying may help you trust her better. Ask yourself how you feel after a few sessions. If at any point, you feel uncomfortable, please let your counselor know that you are uncomfortable. There is no measuring yard, so trust your feelings and make them known. This is your space and it’s important you feel safe and comfortable in it.

If you have further queries, we can discuss them, in our first session.