What to Expect in Sessions and the Therapeutic Process
1. First Contact
We usually start with a short phone call. This is a chance to ask questions and see if it seems like we are a good fit for working together.
2. First Session
In the first session, we will focus on completing some paperwork and sharing information including:
- Background information including what brings you/your child to therapy
- Goals and hopes for therapy
- How therapy works, client rights, and what to expect
- Informed consent; the benefits and risks of therapy
For children, this first session is typically attended by the parent or guardian without the child present.
3. Getting Comfortable & Building Trust
The next sessions focus on setting goals, building trust in our relationship, and helping people to feel comfortable with therapeutic art making and reflective processing. We will move at your/your child’s pace, beginning with what feels safe and grounding and gradually shifting into exploring more challenging emotions and experiences.
4. Initial Sessions with Parent Support (for Children)
To help children feel safe as they get to know me, the space, and the art materials and therapy methods, parents or caregivers usually attend the first 1-2 sessions. As I am not a family therapist, these early sessions usually focus on playful, exploratory art making to build trust, rapport, and a sense of safety. Once your child feels ready, they attend independently, and we move into confidential therapy sessions where they can explore emotions, express experiences and solve problems.
Parent/Caregiver Consultations
Parents and caregivers are an important part of a child’s therapeutic journey. To protect your child’s privacy and maintain trust in the therapeutic relationship, I do not share specific details of their sessions.
After approximately 5–6 sessions, and in collaboration with your child, we can schedule a brief parent/caregiver consultation. During this meeting, I’ll share general observations, overarching themes, and supportive strategies that can help reinforce therapeutic work at home.
5. Exploring Experiences (Therapeutic Processing)
People come to therapy for lots of reasons. When people feel ready, we will collaboratively explore the deeper themes that have brought you to therapy. Some of these include:
- Emotions and challenges
- Identity and personal patterns
- Experiences and stories important to you
- Responses to power in your life
- Hopes and actions for change
6. Closure
Therapy typically comes to a natural end when people feel ready. Final sessions may include reflecting upon the body of artwork, creating a piece to support the ongoing integration of change, or something else that is meaningful to you.
I encourage ongoing dialogue about how our work together is benefitting you and what you need to makes the changes you want in your life. If I am not able to support the changes you want to see in your life, I may suggest ending therapy together and referring you to a colleague who can help.