Your time is important. Not only do you not want to waste your time, you want enough time necessary to accomplish your goals. I believe in allowing ample time for each counseling visit. I do not restrain these visits to the typical length of a counseling session, which varies from 45 to 60 minutes. I have found that in most cases, the client is beginning to let go of pressure and open up to deeper levels of self just at that typical counseling ending time.
Continuing for another hour or more often enables us to accomplish amazing breakthroughs, healing, relief and/or renewed hope of sorts one might not expect in the very first visit.
Continuing for another hour or more often enables us to accomplish amazing breakthroughs, healing, relief and/or renewed hope of sorts one might not expect in the very first visit.
FAQ about the Integrated Counseling Program
Can I actually talk that long?Once the client feels listened to with genuine empathy and acceptance, they will start talking and sharing and often be surprised themselves to discover how much they have to share. Where in our culture can a person go and have someone else give him or her their full caring attention for 2-3 hours?
Aren't such long sessions exhausting?
The answer is no. The more the client is allowed to share his or her authentic issues - and extended sessions tend to go deeper into them - the more energizing the session will be for both client and counselor. Both the client and counseling know when the session is coming to a natural end. There always seems to be energy enough to go on until a resolution, some relief or renewed hope has been found.
Isn't it more expensive to have longer sessions like this?
I believe this way of doing counseling is cost-effective. More time is spent in the beginning, yes, and it is more money up front. But clients tend to have major break-throughs and achieve positive results more quickly, making it unnecessary to prolong counseling with many more sessions over many months. By taking our time, we save time.
Aren't such long sessions exhausting?
The answer is no. The more the client is allowed to share his or her authentic issues - and extended sessions tend to go deeper into them - the more energizing the session will be for both client and counselor. Both the client and counseling know when the session is coming to a natural end. There always seems to be energy enough to go on until a resolution, some relief or renewed hope has been found.
Isn't it more expensive to have longer sessions like this?
I believe this way of doing counseling is cost-effective. More time is spent in the beginning, yes, and it is more money up front. But clients tend to have major break-throughs and achieve positive results more quickly, making it unnecessary to prolong counseling with many more sessions over many months. By taking our time, we save time.
