Question 1

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

An 55 minute counselling session with Rachel, for one person, is $100. Check out the services page for more information about other types of sessions available.

Question 2

Does therapy work?

Accepted Answer

The effectiveness of therapy is based on a few important factors: the client's readiness and beliefs about therapy the quality of the therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist the goals of the client and the therapist the model/theory of therapy used by the therapist For many people therapy is effective; helping them to heal from the past, find clarity for the present and find solutions for the future.

Question 3

Is therapy right for me?

Accepted Answer

It might be... Is there a problem that you are struggling to find an answer for? Are you wrestling with your emotions or thoughts? Is there a relationship that isn't what you'd like it to be? Do you want a change in your life? Is something holding you back from reaching your potential? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'd probably benefit from talking it through with a trained therapist.

Question 4

What happens in counselling?

Accepted Answer

Generally in counselling Rachel will work through these stages: Lay out the framework - paint me a picture of your life How do you spend your time? Who are the people involved? What's your history? What are your (met and unmet) needs/desires/goals? What's the problem/struggle that brought you here? Exploring the problem - deeper, more nuanced understanding Does it involve other people? Is it an internal wrestling/unsettling problem? Does it have to do with what you do or don't do? How do you experience the struggle? What feelings are associated with it? What thoughts? What history? What beliefs? Movement - where do we go from here? After laying out the framework and exploring the problem, does a way forward naturally open up? What would it look like if the struggle/problem was solved? What would one step closer to that solution look like? We uncovered some deeper beliefs behind the thoughts and emotions, are there any that you don't want to take with you into the future?  Are there new ways of expressing or doing that you want to experiment with? Are there things that you want to learn more about? Can I help you understand more about what has helped others in your situation? Who is going to support you and be involved in this journey? What resistance will you face as you try to make changes? How can we strengthen and support you so that you can overcome the resistance?

Question 5

How many sessions do I need?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you want to achieve in therapy, but you aren't locked into a lifetime of sessions! In general three sessions are a good starting point - this gives you enough time to explore what's going on, to work out whether you fit well with the therapist, and to begin to explore/experiment with your options going forward. Re-evaluating every 3-5 sessions means defining the goals of your therapy, identifying whether progress is being made and what obstacles are in the way, and planning for the conclusion of therapy or for future sessions. Attending your final session is important as it helps you to clarify what you learnt about yourself, the tools/skills you gained, and how you will take that into the future.