The client typically meets the consultant once a week for a 50 min to hour-long session. Some clients feel they reached their goals after 3 sessions, some after a year, some work with the consultant for several years on a constant basis to not only reach but also maintain and continuously improve their mental skills.
In the first stage, the consultant asks a lot of questions to assess a client’s situation, which then leads to an execution and ongoing adjustment of their work.
A client is one who leads most of the conversations. The consultant is one who offers expertise on what / how can affect clients situation. A client reflects on it, and both, the consultant and the client search for an effective solution.
There is a strict rule of confidentiality across all psychological professions. The consultant will keep all the content discussed with the client private unless 1) the client himself would like the consultant to share it, and 2) the consultant needs to protect you or the public from serious harm, to report abuse or neglect of children, the elderly or people with disabilities, or to respond to an order from a court.
No. There is nothing in the psychological field that would define someone as a “head case”.
Even though it is better to visit a professional later than never, the most effective mental training happens at a time a client has space for self-exploration, testing mental skills, and practicing them.
That is not true. Working on one’s own potential is a strength. Acknowledging current obstacles, discussing them, and learning new skills is a highly courageous act most likely supporting the fact you care about what you do and are open to new possibilities.
Handling the nerves is not the only thing with which you can come see a professional. Improving concentration, strategizing mental recovery, and working on performance enhancement itself are the most common examples clients like to work with the consultant. In addition to handling the nerves, the problem itself might be an expression of disbalance in other areas of a client’s mindset or life.
That is something to discuss with the consultant before you start working with the consultant. First of all, the consultant will explain to you a typical consultant-client’s relationship with emphasizing how much it actually depends on the situation, possibilities, and goals of each client. Based on these aspects, the consultant will suggest the most effective way for the client how to reach their predefined goals. From there, all is set based on mutual agreement and possible to change based on momentary situations.
Absolutely not. The consultant will give you full freedom in terms of what you would like to share with her. In fact, you will be the leader of the discussions for the most part of the consulting process. The consultant-client relationship is solely a relationship of collaboration and mutual respect of boundaries of both.
That being said, opening up might be a step towards self-exploration and acceptance leading to solving a certain situation. The consultant will remind you on that.
