It’s up to You!

So, after reading my last few posts, you should have a good idea of what it’s like to work with me; you’ve seen a little bit about my approach and style.

So what about you?  What do I require of those who come to see me?

1. 1.  First of all, you need to come in because you want to, because you’re ready to get better.   Those who truly desire to learn and improve and make positive changes will get a whole lot more out of the counseling experience than someone who doesn’t really want to be there in the first place.
2. You’ve go to be honest with me.  For me to be able to help you, you have to be totally honest.  That’s the only way I can get to the heart of your issues and help guide you towards a solution that will work.  I would rather hear you honestly say “I  don’t want to answer that question right now” than for you to lie to me.  If we’re to work on the REAL problem, we have to assume honesty in our conversations.
3. Decide to give this counseling thing a chance – remember, you’re here to see me because the things you’re doing now aren’t working so well.  You may not always agree with what I say, and sometimes I may even make you mad, but remember I’M ON YOUR SIDE HERE!
4. Decide to give my suggestions some thought – If you tend to get defensive and immediately discount everything I say, you might as well not be here to begin with.  I will challenge you with new ways of thinking, with new ideas.  Decide to chew on those ideas a bit.  They might actually work!
5. Take responsibility for your own success in the process – the amount of effort you put in is proportional to the amount of relief and benefit you’ll get out of it.  The only person you can change is yourself.  For counseling to work, you have to be ready to stop blaming anything and everything else for the problems you’re having.

Ultimately, your success with counseling is up to YOU!