Accessing Therapy with Changing Tides Therapy
Beginning therapy can feel like a big step, whether you're seeking support for yourself, as a couple, or for someone in your family. It’s natural to have questions about what to expect from the process, especially if you’re unsure about what steps to take, how the sessions unfold, or what the overall experience will be like.
As a therapist, my goal is to make sure you feel comfortable, respected, and supported at every stage of your journey. Here’s a step-by-step guide to what you can expect when accessing therapy services, from the initial connection call to your ongoing sessions.
Step 1: Connection Call
Before your first appointment, we’ll have an introductory phone call or virtual meeting, often called a "connection call." This is a low-pressure opportunity for you to ask any questions you have, share a little about why you’re seeking therapy, and get a feel for how we might work together.
For Individuals: We’ll discuss your reasons for seeking therapy, what you hope to achieve, and any questions you may have.
For Couples/Families: Both partners join this call to talk about your relationship dynamics and goals for therapy.
Step 2: Intake and Consent Forms
Before we begin your intake session, you'll need to complete some essential forms. These are an important part of the process and help us ensure that your therapy experience is clear, transparent, and aligned with legal and ethical standards.
Intake Forms: Gather personal and mental health history to guide our work together.
Consent Forms: Outline confidentiality, payment policies, and expectations for therapy.
Step 3: First Session
Your first full session will be the intake session. This is where we dive deeper into your background, the reasons you're seeking therapy, and what you hope to achieve in treatment.
For Individuals:
In an individual intake session, we’ll take time to discuss your personal history, current struggles, and goals for therapy. Expect to share information about your family dynamics, work-life balance, mental health history, and anything else that feels relevant. The focus will be on you and your unique experiences.
For Couples/Family:
For couples/family counselling, the intake sessions will happen individually for each individual, though the first call was together. In these individual intake sessions, each person will have space to discuss their own history, current feelings, and experiences related to the relationship and the issues they are facing. This approach allows us to better understand both peoples' perspectives on the relationship and any underlying factors that may be contributing to the issues you’re facing as a couple.
While these intake sessions are individual, the goal is still to focus on the relationship. You’ll both have the opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings openly in a neutral, safe environment. After these initial individual sessions, we’ll reconvene together as a group to continue working toward resolution and growth.
Step 4: Ongoing Sessions
Therapy is an ongoing process, and each session builds upon the last. After the intake, we’ll begin exploring the issues that are most pressing for you or your relationship. These sessions will vary depending on your goals, but the general structure will look like this:
Exploration of Core Issues: We’ll unpack deeper emotions, experiences, and thought patterns. This may include talking about childhood experiences, past trauma, relationship patterns, or personal challenges.
Skill-Building and Coping Strategies: Over time, we’ll work on tools and techniques to help you better manage your emotions, communication, and behaviours. These might include mindfulness exercises, communication strategies, or cognitive-behavioural techniques.
Progress and Reflection: As you progress in therapy, we’ll frequently check in on your goals and revisit the treatment plan to ensure that you’re moving toward what you want. Progress in therapy is not always linear, and it’s important to be patient with yourself along the way.
