WHAT DOES THE THERAPIST EXPECT OF YOU?

This varies from therapist to therapist but usually you are expected to:

• Show up on time for appointments. Unlike other doctors that may keep you waiting for an appointment or that may accept you even if you show up late, a therapist has a specific hour set aside for you. If you are late, then you are missing time that was reserved for you. The therapist has no obligation to make the session run late because you showed up late. Most likely, the therapist will have another client waiting to start at the beginning of the next hour. The therapist should not take telephone calls or attend to any business other than yours during your therapy session.
  
• Cancel appointments you cannot make in advance so the therapist can reschedule (usually 24 to 48 hours). Often a therapist will charge full-fee for missed appointments that are not canceled 24 hours in advance. Insurance will not pay for any part of missed appointments.
  
• Share your perceptions and feelings as openly and honestly as you can. This involves taking the risk of sharing your deepest fears and concerns--this will help you to make progress quickly.
  
• Actively work on your issues with your therapist.
  
• Participate in changing that with which you are uncomfortable. Some people come into therapy with the attitude, "I'm here, now fix me." You are entering therapy because you are uncomfortable with some aspect of yourself. The therapist will not typically try to change you with greater effort than you are willing to expend.
  
• Complete any "homework" which was assigned. These ‘opportunities’ offer a chance to integrate what you have done in a session with life beyond therapy. Completing assignments can actually speed up your healing and growing.
  
• Think about and reflect on your therapy between sessions. Be ready to discuss things that might come up between sessions. You may even want to start keeping a journal of your experiences. You may also find that you have no thoughts or issues related to sessions that arise between sessions. This is okay too.
  
• Discuss with the therapist when you feel that you are finished with therapy BEFORE actually stopping. You have put a great deal of energy into your therapy and it will be important to bring closure to your therapy and to put a plan into place about continuing to use your new tools and skills.
  

If you follow these guidelines, you are not only living up to the expectations of therapy; you are also putting yourself in the best position to get the most out of the experience.