What to Expect

The Initial Process for Starting Therapy

Dr. G’s initial process is similar for kids, tweens, and some teens.

For children, after an initial phone consultation, Dr. G meets with the parents. Then, in collaboration, you and Dr. G will decide on the next steps.

After that, the parents’ involvement depends on several factors. She often provides parent guidance sessions. Other times, she may suggest joint sessions with the parent and child, or just one parent and child, or just siblings. Each situation is different, so Dr. G will collaborate with the family to decide on the best session combination for the best outcome.

Older teens have more involvement in the intake process. Sometimes, Dr. G will meet with them after the initial consultation call with parents, before the parent intake, to see if it’s a good fit.

With young adults, Dr. G will have an initial phone consultation and then schedule the first session. The first three sessions can be considered part of the intake process where we see if it’s a good fit.

Therapy is about a relationship.

Using a client-centered approach, Dr. G will explore all the areas that may be contributing to the distress and discuss the evidence-based skills that can be successfully used.

Every situation is different. There is no set time on therapy. Dr. G uses her clients’ goals and successes as a guide to give them a sense as to when it’s time to end therapy and take the skills they’ve learned out into the world.