What to expect in counseling

What to Expect in Counseling

Choosing to seek help can be a difficult decision, especially when you don’t know what to expect. But rest assured, from the moment you step into my office, you’ll likely be greeted by Buddy, the therapy dog, who will put you at ease with his friendly personality. While he loves to be petted, please don’t feed him, as he needs to save his appetite for dinner!

What to expect in Individual sessions

Compassion, understanding, and clarity

In your first individual counseling session, I will greet you and invite you into my office, which feels more like a living room than a traditional clinical setting. I believe in a casual and conversational approach rather than a stuffy one. We’ll begin by discussing confidentiality and any questions you may have. From there, we’ll talk about why you came to therapy and what you hope to accomplish.

Our sessions will progress naturally from there as we have an open conversation about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are causing concern. We’ll work together to understand and find solutions to the issues that brought you in. I take a collaborative approach, so it’s a conversation rather than me telling you what to do. It’s essential that you have time to tell me your story and concerns. While we may not have time to address everything in the first session, we will continue to work in the coming sessions.

What to expect in Couples sessions

Fair and unbiased

In couples counseling, my approach is balanced and unbiased—We will work from a collaborative place where each of you feels understood and respected. I encourage new communication techniques to effectively deal with conflicts head-on. I’ll be candid with you, and I ask the same in return, especially if you disagree with me.

I specialize in the Gottman Method of couples counseling, aimed at rediscovering connection, intimacy and love. In our initial session, I’ll outline confidentiality and begin with personalized questions that will help me understand your relationship better. We’ll dive into any sensitive topics causing friction. Individual sessions for each of you will be scheduled to delve deeper into your unique situations. Before our next joint session, I’ll send each of you an online assessment to complete.

Jonathan F. Anderson, LPC-s has worked in the helping profession since he started college in 1990. After completing his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas, Austin in 1994, he attended the highly-regarded University of Minnesota to earn his Master’s degree in 1997. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is recognized as a Board Approved Supervisor by the State of Texas Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Jonathan has completed Level 2 of the Gottman Method of Couples Counseling, and in 1998 received training from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation in Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management & Debriefing. To learn more about Jonathan’s practice, click here: Jonathan F. Anderson, LPC-s.