You and the psychologist or psychiatrist will decide upon a meeting schedule that feels right for you. Some patients like to meet every week, others every other week, and some once per month. This may depend on how much support you would like, how flexible your schedule is, and how much availability the provider has. Therapy sessions can last between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on your needs.

 

Usually the first couple of sessions are spent getting to know you and exploring your presenting concern(s). The practice of psychotherapy is similar to the practice of medicine in that the psychologist or psychiatrist will ask you questions and engage you in conversation. They may make observations. But all of the "data" comes directly from what you as the patient choose to supply. A psychologist or psychiatrist is not a mind-reader. Some people equate therapy to talking to a mentor: someone who genuinely cares about your well-being and may be able to offer you an outside perspective and some wisdom, while still respecting your autonomy. The therapist will help you identify goals that you would like to work on.

 

After the exploration phase, the style of therapy can be flexible, depending on your preference. Some patients like highly structured, directive sessions (for example, where the psychologist facilitates specific activities or interventions), and others like more supportive, unstructured conversations. For more information, see this page by the American Psychological Association.

​