The details.

What a counselling session at DPMH looks like.

Research continues to show that engaging in counselling services is incredibly effective in helping people manage and cope with daily stressors and mental health conditions.

The act of speaking to someone, in a safe, non-judgmental space, should be as normal as going to the doctor when feeling physically sick. Psychotherapy, or “Talk therapy” is what counselors use to communicate with their clients; the goal in talk therapy is to help you identify the areas that cause you emotional distress and offer a space to work through them.

Additionally, coping tools, skills and strategies are explored. YOU are the expert; the counselor’s job is to promote and encourage self-growth and autonomy.

When you come to DPMH for a session, you can expect to spend your time in a comfortable room, speaking to one of our trained counselors about what YOU need to speak about. Our counselors will then support you in working through the identified stressors in your life.

In addition to this, if you so choose, you will also be able to access animal therapy; animal therapy will allow you to have one of our support animals present with you during your counselling session. For more information on this service, please see our animal therapy page.

The first session.

We recognize that the idea of entering a new space, with a stranger, and discussing your most intimate struggles and concerns can be anxiety-provoking. That is why, we have made every effort to create an environment that is comforting, safe and hygge-inspired.

Naturally though, your first session will likely still be the most nerve-racking for you; to ease these nerves, we have outlined some of the things that you can expect:

1. Your counsellor will want to explore what brought you to counselling

2. Intake forms and discussions will occur: this means that you and your counselor will discuss your history – your family dynamics, your current stressors, occupation, relevant historical events that may be contributing to your current presenting problem, and so forth.

This part of the counselling process can feel very overwhelming and leave you feeling vulnerable; please know though, that your counselor is asking these questions for your best interest and to help direct future sessions. Just like your doctor will ask for a history of physical ailments, your counselor will look to do the same with mental health issues.

After the first session.

You and your counsellor will work to identify your goals for counselling and collaboratively create a plan to achieve them. The frequency and duration of counseling will largely depend on these goals. The most important piece though, is that you and your counselor spend time building your relationship and creating a safe space for you to work towards your goals.

Counselling is more than “just talking”; it is about ‘talking with intent’. Naturally, speaking with friends and family can be helpful; counselling however, offers a neutral, non- judgmental space that is often unachievable with our closest loved ones. Interested in counselling services?

Book an initial session with one of our counselors today.