Question 1

What to expect in the first session?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of the first session is to get to know you and to find out if and how we can work together. It is perfectly normal to feel anxious, awkward, not to know what to say or to struggle to find your words; irrespectively if you have had psychotherapy before or not.

During the session, you will have plenty of time to ask any questions you might have about therapy, how I work, and what the process involves. In order to create a transparent and safe environment for you, the boundaries and the limits of the therapeutic relationship will be discussed, which represent our mutually agreed contract. This is an excellent opportunity for you to ask any concerns you might have about confidentiality.

You can expect questions about what brought you to therapy, who you are, and how does your life look like. This will also give us the opportunity to discuss your expectations, goals and fears regarding therapy. Ultimately, we will make a practical plan of what would be suitable for you in terms of therapy, considering your needs and your preferences. For example, depending on what you want from your sessions, we might choose to work in an open-ended format, or decide on a fixed amount of sessions with opportunities to review our progress.

I don't expect you to know right on the spot whether you feel that I am the right psychotherapist for you or not. There is no commitment expected from you. Therefore, you can take a couple of days to think about your experience and decide whether you want to continue or not.

Question 2

How many sessions do I need?

Accepted Answer

People grow, heal and change at a different pace. In reality, psychotherapy works better for some people than for others, and it is not possible to give a definitive answer regarding the duration and efficacy of therapy from the beginning. Also, I don’t require any commitment to a specific number of sessions or length of time for psychotherapy. The work will happen at your pace and in a way that it is meaningful and appropriate for you.

Question 3

How long are the sessions?

Accepted Answer

Standard sessions last 50 minutes. The length of the session can be adjusted depending on your needs and preferences.

Dr Iulian Chear
Existential Psychotherapy

FAQ