What Will My Counseling Be Like?
Once I begin counseling, what will it be like? What will be emphasized at New Ground? What will we do in our sessions? Although we are a collection of individual specialists (with different emphases), these descriptions are uniquely true of our therapy:
CONFIDENTIAL + CARING
Confidential: One of the most beautiful things about counseling is that it is the safest place in the world. Everything you say share is protected in a space where it can stay.
Caring: Counselors begin with a posture of unwavering positivity toward the client. They are on your side, from start to finish.
TRUSTED + PROFESSIONAL
Trusted: We’ve been sitting with clients for 10 years, who now represent countless beautiful stories of care & healing. Read some of these testimonials here!
Professional: All of our counselors are experienced & licensed, holding Masters Degrees in various forms of Counseling. Each therapist serves with 1) high quality clinical care and 2) genuine love for God & people, no matter who they are or what they are facing. See our counselors & their profiles here.
ADDRESSING MIND, BODY, + SOUL
Receive care that addresses your whole person—including your brain, your body, and your spirit.
Mind: Our field is constantly transforming as we learn more about the brain, human development, and trauma. Our mind also is the source of our thoughts, messages, and emotions — all of which are important. Counseling therefore, treats the mind.
Body: More than ever, we are convinced that care of the body is essential to mental health. Our emotions, relationships, memories, and traumas are all embodied; they involve and take residence within our physical humanity.
Soul: We believe that all persons are physical & spiritual, created with beauty and dignity by God, who reveals his design, his love, and his help for our souls in the Scriptures (& the person of Jesus). **Clients decide how involved (or uninvolved) spirituality will be in their counseling.
WHAT WILL WE DO IN OUR SESSIONS?
The decision to begin counseling is often a step of incredible courage to begin facing places of frustration, pain, or confusion. But once we’ve started, what course will therapy take? What will we focus on in our sessions? What’s the plan?
Intake Session
In the first session, we will go over the paperwork, discuss the counseling process, and begin to hear more of your story. If you are nervous or feel like you don’t have anything to say, don’t worry (!), your counselor will lead the time together and seek to make your experience as comfortable as possible as you begin the relationship.
Sessions 2 through 3
During the next few sessions, we will focus on identifying the specific places of pain or problem areas in your life as well as continuing to explore where these stem from in your story. We will also begin to put words to your desired future, whether that’s greater self-confidence, feeling more connected to your loved ones, growing spiritually, or being able to better manage worry and sadness. From this, we will begin to create a “plan of action” where we discuss the focus & steps towards your desired future, including how therapy can help. This plan is a collaborative work we make together!
Sessions 4 to Completion
The sessions that follow will be spent working together to process and take steps towards your desired future. We may revisit the initial goals set in counseling, changing them or adding new ones as needed. Completion of counseling is decided by you, when you have either reached your initial goal or feel ready to continue the work outside of counseling. The amount of sessions varies from person to person, family to family.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I do therapy?
Most persons do counseling weekly or bi-weekly (every-other week). We recommend clients enter counseling to do a focused-work on an area of their life, instead of coming occasionally or infrequently. When clients have chosen to see us 1x/month (or less often), it can be difficult to make progress or see growth. When this occurs, it sometimes feels that counseling is a time of “catching up” (because so much life has happened since we saw you last), instead of a focused work toward your goals.
Can I just try out counseling (for just a session or two)?
Absolutely! Counseling is at-will. You can start or stop whenever you see fit!
What if I don’t want to continue or it doesn’t feel like a good fit?
“Fit” is an important part of counseling. One counselor may fit you well. Another, equally wonderful therapist might fit you poorly. Because of this, you are free at anytime to stop counseling or try another therapist!
How can I get started?
Are you ready to start therapy? Click here to get started.