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| 10th Anniversary Counseling Tips |
December, 2018 |
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I can't believe it has been that long, but I celebrate my 10th anniversary of being in private practice in December. I have been in the industry for almost 20 years serving the public as a therapist and it has been my honor to do so. I am humbled by the fact that my clients let me in to their lives. They share their proudest moments as well as times when they are overwhelmed by their struggles. They allow themselves to be vulnerable so that, in the end, they grow in new ways and learn more about who they are and who they want to become.
Please read below some tips on being in counseling, or things to think about if you are considering counseling. Please pass along this information to anyone you feel may benefit from its content.
Maryellen Dabal, MA, LMFT
305 Miron Drive
Southlake, TX 76092
817-876-9958
Missed previous newsletters??
Go to www.dabalmft.com. Click on the newsletters link at the bottom of the home page. Enjoy.....
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Whether I see you for only a few sessions or for as long as a few years, please know that I have given you 100% of my attention during each and every session. There is no right amount of time to participate in counseling. It is actually music to my ears when someone is nearing the end of this journey with me and they come into the office and say, "I don't know what to talk about today. I think we might be done for now." When clients use the tools we discuss in session, out in the world they live in, they become more confident in themselves and their abilities and they move through the process more seamlessly.
If you are currently a client of mine or another therapist, or are thinking about counseling in some way, here are a few things to consider as you enter or continue the process.
- Know that even if I close your file due to inactivity, we can always reopen it at any time. I will keep your file stored.
- Prior to beginning therapy, read the therapist's website. If you have not read my website, please visit the site. There is valuable information on there about the clinician and how they run their practice. Look at their qualifications. Understand what type of therapy they do and what their expectations of you are. Learn if they take insurance and what fees are involved. While there are many of us in this field, we all practice just a little differently. That can be due to our life experiences, schooling, degree and of course the therapist's philosophy of healing. I am not the right fit for everyone. Everyone's issues are not necessarily ones that I can help with. That's why I have an extensive network of clinicians that can help with issues that I am not qualified to treat.
- Be sure that you feel at ease with the therapist. Talking about personal issues in not exactly "comfortable" but you want to feel you are connecting with that individual and that the therapist is respectful of you and your needs.
- When you are given "homework" or things to think about or do outside of session...Do Your Homework. It is given for a reason. I understand that life can get in the way for a week or so, but if this becomes a habit, you may not be connecting session work with your own world. It's great if you can communicate with your spouse while you are both in the therapist's office but if you don't practice and conquer the skills at home, which is where you live, you may not develop better communication where it counts...at home.
- Ask questions. A good therapist will invite you to have a dialogue and ponder things. That means your mind is beginning to think a little deeper and you are getting comfortable with the process. Open ended questions are especially helpful when learning about yourself.
- What happens if you feel stuck in the process? It can be common to hit a plateau. Discussing this issue and being honest about that alerts the therapist that something needs to change in the process. The therapist is most likely aware of this fact as well. Can you stay with the current therapist? Sure. Can that be an opportunity to change therapists if you feel you are not able to move forward with your current therapist? Absolutely.
- For most therapists that I am connected with, it is our goal to be sure our clients get the right assistance, whether that is with us or with someone else. We are not so competitive that we "fight" for clients. We take an ethical oath to do what is best for clients, whether that be our office or the office of a fellow clinician.
This just breaks the surface of what is involved in being a part of the therapy process. Know that I do what I do because of my passion to help others. I am not perfect but I can guarantee you that I will give you 110% of my attention while you are in session with me. I thank you again for your interest in my services and if there is anything I can do to help my current clients have a better experience, please let me know.
I thank my wonderful husband of 30 years and my two fantastic daughters for their support as I built my practice. I strive to make you proud of my accomplishments, as I am so proud of you as well. Until next year........
Happy Holidays everyone and have a safe and Happy New Year!!
Please "LIKE" my Facebook Page by clicking below:
https://www.facebook.com/Maryellen-Dabal-MA-LMFT-299454466770591/timeline/
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I welcome feedback regarding the newsletter or questions about my practice. I can be reached at
[email protected]
. I cannot, however, give advice through email. For more information on my practice please visit my website:
www.dabalmft.com
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I wish you well...
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