What to Expect from Individual Counseling

When you arrive for your appointment, you may be given some short forms to fill out.  If you have any forms that were given to you by your Initial Consultation (ICON) counselor you can keep those and give them to your counselor during the session.  Any other forms that the receptionist gives you complete them and give them back to the receptionist.  If you haven't completed any paperwork, all forms will be given to you at this time.

Visit our About Us page to learn more about our location, directions, hours, session limits, cancellation policy, eligibility for services, and confidentiality of services.

After you have completed the paperwork, you will proceed to the counselor's office with whom you will speak. The counselor may ask to tape record the session. These audiotapes are confidential and will be erased within 1-2 weeks. Although a few students are concerned they will feel self-conscious, most students subsequently report they forgot the recorder was even there. Any concerns about taping can be discussed with your counselor.

If you are considering group therapy, a screening appointment will be arranged with the counselor who leads the group. This is an opportunity for you to meet the group counselor, to learn more about the group, and to decide if it is the right 'fit' for you.

If you and your counselor determine that our time-limited counseling services are not appropriate for you, your counselor will discuss alternative counseling options that you can pursue in the community.

Getting Started in Counseling

Typically, you will meet with your counselor for a 50-minute session every other week. You and your counselor will decide each session the time and day for your next appointment. This is to allow you the most flexibility in your schedule as student's schedules frequently chain with study groups, exams, projects, and work. If you set a regular "standing" appointment day and time or whether the appointment will vary from week to week. Your appointment will generally begin "on the hour," between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and end at 10 minutes before the next hour. Early on, you will work with the counselor to set goals and approximate number of sessions. Most people find that 5 to 6 sessions are adequate to address their concerns. If you have any questions or concerns about the counseling process itself (e.g., feeling "stuck" or lacking direction), your counselor will be pleased to discuss them with you.

At first, you may feel a little nervous about counseling, but this usually fades as your counselor helps you talk about your concerns. There is likely to be some balance between talking about your present-day experiences and adjustments, and discussing the roots of your concerns in your family or experiences growing up. The more you share your thoughts and feelings about yourself and your problems in counseling, the more you are likely to benefit. Your counselor will help create a safe place for you to explore alternative points of view and to understand connections between different aspects of your experiences. The exact focus and balance of your counseling experience will depend on the issues you bring into therapy, your counselor's perspective, and the goals you set for your work together.

* adapted from the George Washington University Counseling Center