How long will therapy last?
On average, Cognitive Therapy takes between 12 and 20 sessions, which includes the initial comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. However, the length of therapy varies with the final decision rests jointly with the client and the therapist. If a client is making progress and feels that it would be beneficial to stay in therapy beyond 20 sessions, this is easily arranged. Alternatively, if a client believes their issues have been addressed sufficiently in less than 12 sessions, they may decide to end therapy sooner than initially expected. Some of my clients attend for only 2 or 3 sessions, while a others have chosen to stay in therapy for 1 year, and or even longer. In my Practice, I am believe it is important to be flexible when deciding on the length of treatment.
Clients may choose to have booster sessions after regular therapy sessions have officially ended. E.g., a client may have had 16 weekly sessions, where upon he/she decides that therapy should end, however, even though his/her file has officially been closed, the client may arrange to meet with me for a follow up session. This can be a very economical and most effective way for the client to get the best long-term benefit from the therapy.
How long are the Therapy sessions and how often are they held?
Typically, individual or couples therapy session lasts approximately 1 hour. Additional time may be spent completing questionnaires that help with gathering additional information, such as depression and anxiety inventories, which will save therapeutic time at no extra cost to the client.
Most clients attend sessions once a week. These sessions can be held on the same day and time each week, or the session times may vary depending on the needs of both the client and therapist.
How do I make an appointment to schedule an interview for a PT evaluation?
I practically and actively approach that method. This helps the patients in not only self reflection, but also encourages self reliance outside my chamber. And, this is what seeds the root of self-confidence as well. I believe that the patient and the psychologist can work together to find a problem. The painful emotional beliefs and reservations that restrict the individuals from meeting their goals, or following their passion, can be overpowered when the person starts to accept the reality, and let go of the past
What happens during the first or intake evaluation session?
During the first session and a part of the second, together we will gather information to make an evaluation of your problem(s), based on your point of view. This will include looking at your early life history up to the present time. My job is to make sense of the information in such a way that will allow me to construct a formulation (or diagnosis) that translates into a treatment plan. This will take into consideration your environment, the influence of your early life history, how you perceive yourself and others, the world and your future.
Based on the formulation that we both agree makes sense, together we will be able to describe your issues in specific terms (problems) and accordingly, establish corresponding therapeutic goals.
What are homework assignments and why are they a part of Cognitive Therapy?
The most important, positive changes that you will make in your life will occur in your everyday experiences outside of your Therapist’s office. In order to help you make these “real life” changes, your Therapist will help you to design homework assignments. These assignments will show you how to take the ideas and skills learned in session, and apply them constructively and actively between sessions. This process will help you to learn valuable skills, and will enable you to become “your own” Therapist once your therapy is complete.
There are many types of homework assignments. Some simply involve adding to your knowledge about the issues that are most important to you, e.g. by reading an assigned article or book. Sometimes the homework involves improving your memory for the ideas discussed in session by taking notes or by listening to an audio tape of your therapy session.
Other assignments include learning to observe and measure your own thoughts, and actions – a skill called , “objective self monitoring” so you can improve your awareness of your strengths and weaknesses, without being judgemental of yourself.
Many of my clients have said they especially appreciate their assignments that are called, “behavioural experiments”, whereby they try a new approach to an old problem and document the results.
Homework is not mandatory, but it will help your progress in therapy if you give it a try. You will never be criticised for not completing the homework, or having difficulty doing so. It is my responsibility to create a learning environment for you in which you will feel free to explore and learn, and in which you will not have to worry about being judged.
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
This helps the patients in not only self reflection, but also encourages self reliance outside my chamber. And, this is what seeds the root of self-confidence as well. The painful emotional beliefs and reservations that restrict the individuals when the person starts to accept the reality, and let go of the past. I believe that the patient and the psychologist can work together to find a problem, and I practically and actively approach that metht
