What to Expect from Mental Health Counseling, Psychotherapy, and Anxiety Therapy in Charlotte, NC
You’ve decided to start working with an anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC. As you’re searching for your new therapist, you may even be a bit uncertain about what to expect from mental health counseling, psychotherapy, or anxiety therapy. Charlotte, NC may be known for the banking and tech industries, but you may not have realized the number of therapists, psychologists, and mental health counselors in Charlotte, NC as well.
Whether this will be your first time working with an anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC or a return to therapy, it’s normal to have a few questions about the process. I’d like to help you along your journey. In this blog, I will answer a few questions about what to expect from mental health counseling, psychotherapy, and anxiety therapy in Charlotte, NC.
What to expect from your first consultation with an anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC
I am an anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC. I offer all potential clients a free 15-minute consultation via phone. During this phone consultation, we will determine if we are the best fit to work together to achieve your mental health goals. I will ask you to share a bit about what brings you to therapy at this time. I’ll also answer any questions you have about the practice, my areas of specialty, or the way that I work best with clients.
If we decide we’re a great fit, we will schedule your first appointment. If we decide we’re not a great fit, I’ll be happy to share a few referrals with you. It’s important to me that people get the help they need even if that means that the help doesn’t come from me.
What to expect in the first session with an anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC
Your first session with an anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC will be a little different from your subsequent sessions. I complete a comprehensive clinical assessment during my first session with a new client. That’s just jargon that means we will have a more in-depth discussion about your present concerns as well as your past experiences. This session is about 50 minutes long, so this gives us time to talk in more detail than we did during your 15-minute phone consultation call. We will also define your goals for anxiety therapy during this session.
I take a collaborative approach with clients. This means I will partner with you to ensure we are on track and you are getting what you need from our work together. I welcome feedback and make adjustments as needed.
What it’s like to work with me, an anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC
A few of the words clients have used to describe working with me are safe, understood, and empowered. Many of the people who decide to work with me are Black women. They’ve described feeling a level of comfort when working with me, also a Black woman and an anxiety therapist. Those who have been in therapy before, often say they did not experience this type of comfort with their previous therapist who was not a Black therapist. Clients have told me they don’t have to be “on” during their sessions. They can just be. There’s no need for clients to spend valuable session time explaining parts of the culture because I already “get it”. Clients often describe feeling calm, light, at peace, confident, and self-assured as a result of our work together.
How long does someone work with an anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC
The length of time working with an anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC will vary based on each individual’s needs. The work of therapy is not a “quick fix”. However, it is one of the most transformational experiences you will have.
I know people don’t like the response “it depends” 😆, but it genuinely does. I’ve worked with clients anywhere from 4 months to several years. In the beginning, you should be prepared to commit to at least 12 weeks of weekly 50-minute sessions once a week. I also offer extended sessions that are longer than 50 minutes. Extended sessions are beneficial for clients who would like to spend a condensed period of time focusing on their therapeutic goals.
I periodically do “check-in” sessions with clients. During these sessions, I ask clients to reflect on their progress to date, what’s working, what’s not working, and how they would know when they’re ready to graduate therapy. I’ve found that clients enjoy these check-ins because it helps them to see more clearly how far they’ve come since we started working together. These conversations are also an opportunity for us to revisit your identified therapy goals. Sometimes we decide to keep working toward our current goals. Sometimes clients decide they’ve completed their goals and would like to add a new one.
Anxiety therapy in Charlotte, NC
I hope this blog helps you find the right anxiety therapist in Charlotte, NC. Visit my website to learn more about me and how I can help.
I also invite you to click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with me. I’d be happy to hear about your particular areas of concern and discuss how I can help.
