Services will begin with an intake assessment which gives me an opportunity to learn about your current situation, symptoms, history, and establish goals for therapy by asking a lot of questions. When working with a couple, their first session is together and is not an intake (more information available on that page). The number of intakes can vary for families depending on their exact circumstances and services needed. If your intake assessment is done in office, then you will bring your completed intake paperwork with you. I will obtain a copy of your driver’s license, insurance card, and a debit/credit card you wish to keep on file (optional unless private pay or payment plan). If your intake assessment is via telehealth then paperwork needs to be provided at least 24 hours in advance by email, mail, fax, or can be put in the locked drop box at the office.

The intake assessment is an hour long and can feel like a rushed appointment as there are more questions than people typically expect. Sometimes people can feel extra emotional the day of or even a few days after their intake if we’ve covered particularly challenging information. Rest assured, not all appointments are like this. Once the intake is complete, the appointments are more relaxed, at your speed, and focused on what you need help with.

You may wonder how often you will have appointments and for how long. The truth is that it can vary depending on how many things you are attempting to accomplish in therapy. Some issues may only require a few sessions for a client to get what they need. Others may find it helpful to commit to therapy for months. Although sometimes clients participate in therapy for years, they tend to take breaks from therapy and have their appointments more spread out. Generally, it is advised that clients attend weekly sessions when first starting therapy. Once some progress has been made, appointments can be less frequent and tend to be every other week or monthly. However, clients’ availability with scheduling is always taken into account.

At Marriage and Family Counseling of Northern Michigan, I am the owner, therapist, and only employee. This means that when you arrive to the office, it will be me greeting you. If you call, it is me answering the phone. I also complete the billing of insurance, and handle all clinical and administrative requests. So, if you should have questions about your insurance, please feel free to ask.

Regardless of what type of therapy service you’re needing, you can also expect that your privacy and information is taken seriously. I believe that all clients should be spoken with and treated with respect, dignity, and kindness. All clients at some point during their treatment can also anticipate receiving “homework.” This can include thinking about certain topics, reading books, completing handouts, or practicing exercises (such as a breathing technique or communication skill). Although the time spent during your sessions can be helpful and therapeutic, often what clients complete in between sessions can be just as necessary in order to accomplish their goals.

It is a common myth that therapy is listening to people’s problems and then telling them what they should do. There are some circumstances where I can give helpful guidance or suggestions (such as listening to your partner will likely be more productive than yelling at them), but the choice is still the client’s with what they will do. In many cases, therapy is a process of exploring and dissecting problems and helping clients look at their options for solutions where they can then make their own choices.

I also find it helpful to include psychoeducation. This means that I inform clients of what I believe their current diagnoses are (as appropriate), explain their symptoms, what they can expect, and give them an opportunity to ask questions about it. For example, explaining symptoms of ADHD to parents to assist them and work together on helping their child. Or, explain to a spouse how their partner’s past trauma can affect their current sex life. I do not believe that people should be defined by a diagnosis. However, understanding it can be a piece of the puzzle in order to move forward.