Rockingham Counselling Services

Research shows that a strong therapeutic relationship with your psychologist significantly influences the effectiveness of your sessions. In fact, the quality of this relationship can be as crucial, if not more so, than the specific treatment methods used.

A positive therapeutic relationship involves:

• Collaborating with your therapist to set and achieve your treatment goals.
• Providing regular feedback on your experience with the sessions.
• Experiencing genuine warmth and empathy from your therapist.

Finding the right therapist is crucial for a positive experience. Since therapists have different styles and personalities, exploring a few options can help you find the best fit for your needs.

Although counsellors, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists all work in therapeutic settings and share some similarities, there are key differences between them.

Counsellors focus on addressing a wide range of emotional difficulties and provide structured support.

Clinical psychologists specialize in diagnosing and treating psychological disorders like clinical depression and anxiety.

Psychiatrists operate within a medical framework, diagnosing and treating psychological disorders and often prescribing and managing medications.

Before your first session, take a moment to write down any questions or important topics you want to cover. This initial meeting is a great time to set your goals, as it can be helpful to shift from focusing solely on the problem to defining objectives.

In the first session, the therapist will ask questions to gain a clear understanding of your background, current issues, and goals. This helps them customize their approach to best meet your needs.

The therapist will also give you an estimate of how many sessions you might need. While some clients achieve their goals or find relief in just a few sessions, others may benefit from a longer period of therapy.

You can demonstrate that you’re actively listening by acknowledging their concerns. Share your own experiences with counselling, or those of others you know, to highlight its benefits. You can also pass along relevant information or research from this website and mention that there are therapists who might be able to assist them. Offer to have them contact Energetics Institute directly or suggest that you can arrange a call on their behalf.