WHAT IS INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING?

Individual counselling or psychotherapy is a one-on-one discussion between the psychotherapist and the client, who is the person seeking treatment. The two form an alliance, therapeutic relationship that enables trust and personal growth.

Individual counselling is an opportunity to receive support and experience growth during challenging times in life. Individual counselling can help you deal with many personal issues in life such as anger, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, marriage and relationship challenges, parenting problems, school difficulties, career changes, etc.

Individual counselling is a process through which you can work one-on-one in a safe, caring, and confidential environment. Counselling will allow you to explore your feelings, beliefs, and behaviours, work through challenges, identify aspects of your life that you would like to change, better understand yourself, set personal goals, and work toward desired changes.

COMMON PROBLEMS FOR WHICH YOU NEED INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING

Depression

Anxiety disorder

Anger management

Issues at work place

School difficulties

Relationship issues

GOALS OF INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

In general, the goal of individual counselling is to talk through your issues, concerns and help you heal, grow, and move toward more productive, psychologically healthy lives. Counselling sessions are client-centred, and specific goals for therapy will be determined at the beginning of the therapeutic process.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

Research has shown that individual counseling results in fewer relapses of common conditions such as moderate depression and anxiety, and that the positive effects of good therapy extend well beyond treatment. In fact, many clients report improved conditions long after personal counseling has ended. In general, individual counseling is often more effective than psychotropic drugs alone. In addition, therapeutic modalities are evidence-based, meaning they have been subject to research studies and clinical observations, and they have been analyzed for effectiveness.

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING SESSION?

Individual counselling sessions typically last between 45 and 50 minutes. The frequency and duration of individual counseling will depend largely on your needs, treatment goals, and progress. Many concerns are readily resolved with short-term therapy, and other chronic or more complex concerns require long-term commitment before improvement is realized.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE FIRST COUNSELING APPOINTMENT?

This first appointment will usually be scheduled within a few days to a few weeks. The total time period required is approximately 60 minutes including filling the forms, the therapy session, and scheduling follow-up appointments, so be sure to keep this in mind when scheduling your appointment.

It is essential that you arrive promptly in order to allow sufficient time to complete the necessary forms. The forms include a demographic and clinical history form, treatment agreement, consent to treatment, and a notice of privacy practices. Information about your current concerns, relevant history and goals will be obtained.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS?

For subsequent sessions, we will meet for approximately 45 minutes, which will be scheduled according to a mutually agreed upon plan. We will work together to set goals for your counselling sessions. Establishing clear goals will provide direction as well as help you to monitor your progress. If you have any questions or concerns about the counselling process, don't hesitate to bring these up. The exact direction of your counselling experience will depend on the issues you bring into counselling, and the goals you set for your work together.

PRIVACY MATTERS

Confidentiality is a respected part of a personal counselor’s code of ethics. Psychotherapists and counsellors or psychologists understand that for people to feel comfortable talking about private and revealing information, they need to feel safe to talk about anything they'd like, without fear of that information leaving the room. Psychotherapist take your privacy very seriously.

• During your first session, I will give you information explaining privacy policies and how your personal information will be handled. This information will explain that in some cases, there are exceptions to the privacy rule, as described below.
• Counselors and Psychotherapists may disclose private information without consent in order to protect the patient from serious harm. For example, a client discusses plans to attempt suicide or harm another person.
• Counselors or Psychotherapists may release information if they receive a court order. That might happen if a person's mental health came into question during legal proceedings.

WILL INSURANCE COMPANIES SEE MY RECORDS?

Psychotherapists will only share certain information about your diagnosis and treatment with the health insurance company The health insurance company or program is also bound to keep that information confidential. However, if you choose to pay out of pocket for services, and you choose to not ask your insurance provider for reimbursement, your insurance may not be aware that you are seeing a psychotherapist or a counselor. Similarly, your psychotherapist may ask for your consent to share information, or discuss your care, with your other health care professionals to coordinate your care.

WILL MY EMPLOYER KNOW I SAW A PSYCHOTHERAPIST OR A PERSONAL COUNSELOR IF I USE MY COMPANY'S INSURANCE?

Employers don't receive information about the health services an employee receives, even if he or she uses company insurance. Some companies offer employee assistance programs (EAPs), which offer mental health services to employees. Usually, the company simply provides the service but doesn't receive information about how each employee uses it. However, if you have any questions about privacy and your organization's EAP, talk to a human resources representative for more details.

I'M UNDER 18. WILL THE COUNSELOR TELL MY PARENTS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT?

Often, a parent is involved when a minor receives psychotherapy services. Counselors want young people to feel comfortable sharing their feelings, and are careful to respect their privacy. Often, at the first psychotherapy session, the child, parent and psychotherapist will sit down together to agree on ground rules for privacy. That way both parents and children know exactly what types of information the psychotherapist might share with parents, and what he or she will keep private. For example, it is common for parents to agree to be informed only if their minor child is engaged in risky activities

WHAT INFORMATION CAN I SHARE ABOUT MY INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS?

Privacy is your right as a patient or client. If you choose to tell your friends or family that you're seeing an individual counselor, you are free to do so. How much information you decide to share is up to you. Psychotherapists and counselors are ethically bound to protect your privacy regardless of what information you choose to share with others. For example, psychotherapists typically won't connect with clients on social media sites, even if the client initiated the request. Sometimes, counselors find it helpful to discuss your concerns or behaviour with other people in your life. A psychotherapist may want to interview your spouse to better understand what's going on at home, for example. If a child is having trouble at school, the therapist may want to interview the child's teachers. But whether you involve others is completely up to you. Psychotherapists generally can't contact anyone else without your written consent.