What to Expect
Approachable and connected counseling from the first step
Are you ready to begin Individual or Relationship counseling in Akron, but unsure what to expect?
You know you’re ready for a change but you’d like some clarity on how that may look. From first steps to big successes, we’re here to help you feel prepared for what’s to come.
Preparing for counseling feels a lot less daunting when you know just what it is you’re committing to. Most importantly, you’re committing to yourself. To do that effectively, we’ve highlighted some of the key points of your therapeutic journey.
Resilience Counseling holds trust as our bar for success and we’d like to earn yours.
Choosing a Relationship therapist is a personal decision
Your choice in therapist is yours to make and I’m honored you’re here. As you navigate the process of selecting the practice you want to do this important work with, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount and variety of information available to you and how to navigate it. Let’s talk about some of the things to prioritize in your ideal counseling experience:
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Much like any relationship, knowing you can show up authentically and be heard is a valuable part of compatibility. Your therapist should feel like someone you relate to authentically and feel safe being vulnerable with.
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In so many ways, counseling is a huge commitment. Consider the time, money, and emotional investment you’re bringing to the table and ensure you’re working with someone you feel will return on those things in ways that matter to you.
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How will your sessions look? If you’re looking for something in particular, like knowing you want direct tasks or a set time length for our work together, bring that to the forefront of selection.
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While every therapist can’t relate to every client, it’s important that you feel heard and respected in your counseling relationship. Prioritize feelings of inclusivity and acceptance in developing that.
Reaching Out
Asking for help is hard and you’re doing a brave thing, so feeling confident in how and when to contact a therapist is important. At Resilience Counseling, we prioritize accessibility from your very first outreach.
You can contact us by email, phone, or by filling out the form on this page.
Once we’ve established a desire to move forward, you will be provided with a link to our secure client portal, where you will complete the intake forms online prior to your first session.
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DO know that this decision is yours and there will be no consequences for choosing the best fit for what you need.
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DO come prepared with a willingness to get vulnerable and have hard conversations.
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DO show yourself kindness in what you do (and don’t) know. We don’t expect you to know how to approach this immediately.
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DON’T let a quest for perfection hold you back from seeking support when you need it.
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DON’T feel like you have to know exactly how you need support.
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DON’T worry about asking questions. They are an important part of growing.
Our first appointment
Whether it takes place face to face or online, the first appointment is an important and exciting part of the therapeutic process. It’s also a unique and much less invasive process than most imagine.
First sessions are called assessments and are often non-invasive looks at how we can best work together.
Over the course of about an hour, we will review the paperwork you completed before you arrived to confirm we’ve established the important details that protect you and ensure the sanctity and confidentiality of our sessions.
Once that’s done, we will lightly begin to explore the themes and thoughts that brought you to counseling so we can begin to establish an idea of what your next session may look like.
Much like early introductions in professional and personal relationships, helping relationships start with each of us understanding how we can best communicate with one another and your first appointment will be key in establishing that.
Next, We’ll Establish a routine
After the first appointment, we will move into the spaces where treatment begins. This will consist of appointments that take place either virtually or in person, and actively work toward untangling the things that keep you from becoming what you want and need in life.
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Our work will focus on you—your goals, needs, worries, fears, strengths, and vulnerability. Using the tools we’ve developed across a range of disciplines, we will tailor them to apply during our sessions.
These sessions will ask you to be open in big ways, and we are committed to showing up to receive that openness safely.
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The first meeting will occur as a couple. It’s beneficial to be able to establish your identity together as well as individuals.
Beyond that, you will have the opportunity to decide as a unit whether you’d like to be seen exclusively together or if it makes sense to meet once individually at the start of the therapeutic relationship before coming back together to chip away at the struggles you’re working to overcome.