Typically, individual therapy involves seeing the therapist once weekly for a 50 minute session, although other meeting schedules are not uncommon.
Individual counseling begins with a 60 minute initial consultation, in which the therapist gathers a wide variety of background information and learns about the current situation or circumstances that have brought you to therapy at this time in your life. This meeting provides a chance for you to get to know the therapist and make sure you “click” with this person.
In the first session, a treatment plan going forward is discussed, and a general meeting schedule is agreed upon. Although once weekly meetings are standard, other options are also common. For clients with limited time or resources, bi-weekly meetings may be more practical. Individuals going through a particularly intense life transition or stressful experience may choose to come in several times weekly at first.
Individual psychotherapy provides a safe space in which you can explore virtually any aspect of your life, including career, relationships, stress management, self-confidence, motivation, and countless other issues. Individual therapy is a space where you are encouraged to discover and express what you really think and feel, however bold, socially unacceptable or unconventional, without censuring yourself out of politeness or social expectations.
Diverse Team of Specialists
Dallas Whole Life consists of a team of specialists with a wide range of personal backgrounds, education and clinical expertise. Each of these therapists has particular strengths when working with certain issues, or clients of a particular age, gender, occupation, and so on. When you schedule your first appointment for individual counseling, our administrative staff will carefully match you with the most appropriate specialist during your available timeframe. In addition to traditional working hours, our therapists are also available evenings and weekends.
You are also welcome to request a specific therapist. Therapist bios are available on this site.
Solution-Focused Counseling and Coaching
Although individual therapy involves exploring feelings and beliefs, it is also about making a concrete plan for growth. Your past experiences influence your current thoughts and feelings about your present life circumstances. Dwelling in the past, however, is never the goal of therapy. The Russian philosopher, G.I. Gurdjieff said, “If you wish to get out of prison, the first thing you must do is realize that you are in prison.” You examine your limiting core beliefs and discouraging past experiences only so that you can overcome them. Individual counseling involves hard work. It requires the courage and willingness to take action steps toward your personal goals.
Dallas Whole Life encourages you to focus on clear goals, break them into manageable steps, and measure your progress toward those goals in a structured way. Your genuine dedication to the process of self-discovery, and energetic commitment toward positive action, are the best indicators for your success in individual therapy.
Read more about DWLC’s treatment philosophy and approach.