What to Expect
It can be a hard to know how to connect with a new counselor and to even imagine what it would be like to start therapy. Speaking for myself, I can get pretty anxious not knowing what’s coming or how to approach a stranger to ask for help. I always find it helpful to have some idea ahead of time. It just calms my system a bit! So may this information do the same for you…
Email or Call?
Some people prefer to make contact by email. It can give you more time to consider what you want to say and how you want to say it – and some people find that helpful. If you choose to contact me by email, you can email me at kelleyday@beherenowcounseling.com or you can click on Contact in the menu above to go to my contact form. Because emails are not truly confidential, I suggest you keep your messages short and just about setting up a time to meet. Consider waiting to share anything very personal until we can speak on the phone or in person.
Some people prefer to make contact by phone. You can call after hours because it’s my business phone line (303-810-4299). If you get my confidential voice mail, you can just leave a message with your name, number, and a brief message. I will make every effort to return your call within 24 hours. If I get your voice mail, I will just say that it’s Kelley Day returning your call and my phone number. Some people prefer to keep the fact they are seeking counseling private, so I won’t leave a detailed message in case others have access to your messages (until we speak specifically about how you want that handled).
What to Say?
Always include your name and phone number (even if you know I have it), so I can get back to you as quickly as possible. You can say as much or as little as you choose. And since you are just checking me out, I’d suggest just letting me know you might be interested in meeting on the phone or in person to talk more, ask and answer questions, and to see if we’d be good working together. Feel free to wait to share details of any problems or issues you’re considering getting help with until we can speak directly.
It’s also helpful if you let me know days and times that work best for you. That will give me a head start on matching up your schedule with my availability.
When We Talk
If you decide you’d like to meet for an in-person initial consultation, I prefer that we touch base on the phone (if we haven’t already) just to say hi and to make sure you have what you need to come in. I will usually ask some basic questions, just to get an idea of what you are looking for and any specific questions or concerns you might have.
Initial Consultation
I invite you to an initial consultation at no charge as part of the decision-making process about whether we think we would work well together. We can do this in person or by phone. It’s a time for us to meet and get a feel for each other. You can share a little bit about what you would like to work on in counseling – whether it’s a problem you are having or an area in your life that you would like to focus on. I can share about how I work and in what ways I think I can be of help to you. Since this isn’t a therapy session, we won’t be getting into anything too deeply.
This decision to work together is one we both have a say in. It’s important for you to feel comfortable and confident with your choice of counselor. It’s always okay to decide I am not the right counselor for you. I am not going to be the right person for everyone. (See Finding the Right Therapist for more info.) It’s also important that I feel the same. For your best interest, if what you want to work on is outside of my ability or focus, I will help connect you with other resources, including other counselors that might be a better fit.
If we do decide to work together, we will schedule an appointment. I’ll also let you know about the forms you would need to read and bring with you when we have our first session, such as my Mandatory Disclosure Statement and an Intake Form.
The First Sessions
The focus of the first sessions is on gathering some basic information. This is called intake and it is a chance for me to get to know some about your history, your interests, your daily life, the people and things important to you, and to learn more about what you hope to get out of working together. We will also go over the paperwork together to be sure everything is clear and to answer any questions.
The first sessions also are about us getting to know each other and starting to develop a level of trust and comfort that will be the foundation of all of the work we do together. We’ll come to an agreement on what we will focus on in our work together and make a plan for how often we will meet.