The first step is to call to request a telephone consultation to find out if Aimsir psychotherapy or counselling meets your needs. This will take up to 20 minutes. You may share as much or as little as you want during this call in relation to your life story. Based on this you may wish to book an appointment. If a booking is made an email will be sent to confirm.

The objective of the first appointment is for the client to decide if the therapist is the right ‘fit’ for you. It is time to experience the therapeutic space and ask questions about the process, confidentiality etc. If you feel safe to share more of your personal story and motivation for therapy you may and your therapist will make sure they have the academic and practical experience to work with your concerns. If a client wishes to continue with therapy, they will receive a Registration Form and copy of a Contract which they may review and discuss with the therapist. The limits of confidentiality are specified in the contract as well as information on cancellations and codes of ethics.

Therapy may be set for a specific period of time or it may be open ended. There are many variables that affect this including the presenting issue(s), the quality of the therapeutic relationship, life events etc.

There’s no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ for therapy. Humanistic and Integrative therapists often work in a non-directive way, building a strong therapeutic relationship so therapy is not time limited or manualized. This is particularly important in working with survivors of trauma.

Typically therapy will come to a natural end when a client feels they meet their therapy goals. The purpose of therapy may be processing a new medical diagnosis, working through the death of a loved one, processing childhood trauma etc. When the client and therapist agree that therapy will end, there will be an agreed number of ending sessions allowing enough time for the client to work through the ending process.