Sessions with children
Before I meet your child:
For the first session, I like to meet with parents/guardians only. That way we can discuss limits of confidentiality, insurance, billing, and cancellation policies. After the initial paperwork is completed, parents have the opportunity to discuss symptoms and concerns that they have about their child. In this first session, I will be asking clarifying questions and trying to get as much information as possible. I also want to get a sense of the goals that you have for treatment and set up a recurring meeting time. Before you leave, I will answer any questions that parents might have about myself or the treatment process. I will often give a brief overview of cognitive-behavioral therapy and outline some initial interventions that we can look forward to.
First session with your child (ages 0-12):
My first session with children of this age are very laid back. I want to offer time and space for them to feel comfortable in their new environment and explore the office. If they are uncomfortable, parents are more than welcome to join in this first session! Oftentimes, we end up playing games, coloring, or doing icebreaker activities in order to build rapport and get more comfortable. I want your child to walk away from the session feeling like they had fun!
First session with teens (ages 13-17):
My first session with teens is often very similar to my first session with parents. I will introduce myself and welcome them into the office space. After discussing limits of confidentiality, I will begin to ask them what their thoughts are about being in therapy, what their symptoms are, and what their goals are. I also want to know what their likes and dislikes are. I will often end the session with icebreaker games or just chat about common interests that we may have. I also want to leave space for the teen to ask me any questions that they may have!
Sessions with adults:
My first session with adults is similar to when I meet with parents. I will introduce myself and begin explaining paperwork, insurance, billing, confidentiality, and cancellation policies. After that, I want to know more about what brings you into therapy! I will ask questions about symptoms, concerns, living situation, employment/school status, family relations, and safety concerns. Finally, I will want to discuss what your goals are for treatment and how we can reach those goals. The first couple sessions may feel like you don’t have enough time or you're not able to get through everything… and that is okay! Therapy is a process and getting to know each other may take some time! I want you to walk away from the first session feeling more informed about the therapeutic process and feeling more comfortable being yourself in this space.
Written By,
Jordan Adamson, LPC
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