About Therapy
How does therapy work?
If you have never received therapy before, you might be wondering what it is like to have therapy with me. Therapy, or called psychotherapy, is different from talking with friends. It is a talk focused on you, with directions, purpose, confidentiality and therapeutic effects. I will draw on a variety of therapeutic techniques to meet your specific needs. With sensitivity, respect and compassion, I will provide you with a structured framework, allow you to explore thoughts and emotions, and help you increase self-understanding, build healthy relationships, heal trauma wounds or overcome mental issues. My therapy usually consists of the following steps:
- Initial consultation
I invite you to contact me for a free 30-minute initial consultation via live Zoom video conferencing or phone call. During the consultation, you can give me an overview of what you would like to work on, and I will let you know if this is something I can help you with. If both of us feel it is a good match, we will go ahead and schedule the first live Zoom video therapy session; otherwise I can give you an appropriate referral. Sessions are typically scheduled weekly, and each session is 50 minutes.
- Assessment
In the first few sessions, I will work with you to examine your current struggles, review your past experiences, explore your future aspirations, and define specific therapy goals.
- Treatment
Based on the assessment, we will determine the best treatment for you, incorporating up-to-date research with the consideration of your unique characteristics and culture. The length of treatment varies depending on the type and severity of problem and your motivation to change. Psychological measurements may be done periodically to evaluate the progress.
- Termination
When you reach your therapy goals, the termination session will help you review what you have learned and plan for the possible obstacles in the future.