Ирина Архипова – English for Psychotherapy and Counselling: Handbook. Английский для психотерапии и консультирования: практическое руководство (страница 11)

_______________________________?

3. (how / you / feel / right now)

_______________________________?

4. (you / have / any questions / about confidentiality)

_______________________________?

5. (what / you / hope / achieve / through therapy)

_______________________________?

6. (how long / you / experience / these difficulties)

_______________________________?

7. (you / feel / comfortable / talking about this)

_______________________________?

8. (who / know / that you / come / therapy)

_______________________________?

Exercise 4: Open or Closed?

Identify whether these questions are open or closed. Then, rewrite the closed questions as open questions:

1. Do you have a support system? __________

2. What does your support system look like? __________

3. Are you sleeping well? __________

4. Have you thought about your goals for therapy? __________

5. What brings you here today? __________

6. How are you managing stress? __________

7. Is this situation affecting your relationships? __________

8. Do you want to tell me more about that? __________

COMMUNICATION:

Intake session

Setting: Dr. Maria Santos, a clinical psychologist, is meeting her new client, Robert, for the first time. Robert is a 28-year-old man who has been experiencing anxiety.

Part 1: The Greeting and Opening

Dr. Santos: Hello, Robert? I’m Dr. Santos. It’s nice to meet you.

Robert: Hi. Nice to meet you too.

Dr. Santos: Please, follow me. My office is just down this hallway. (They walk to the office) Have a seat wherever you’re most comfortable.

Robert: Thank you. (Sits down, looks a bit nervous)

Dr. Santos: So, I know first sessions can feel a bit awkward or strange – you’re talking to someone you’ve just met about personal things. That’s completely normal. We’ll take things at your pace today.

Robert: Okay, that’s good to hear. I am feeling a bit nervous, actually.

Dr. Santos: That’s very understandable. Before we get into what brings you here today, I need to go over some important information about how therapy works and confidentiality. It might feel a bit formal at first, but it’s important that you know what to expect. Does that sound okay?

Robert: Yes, sure.

Part 2: Explaining Confidentiality

Dr. Santos: Great. So, first of all, everything we discuss in our sessions together is confidential. That means I don’t share what you tell me with anyone else without your written permission. This confidentiality is really important because I want you to feel safe talking openly about whatever is on your mind.

Robert: Okay, that’s clear to me.

Dr. Santos: However, there are a few limits to confidentiality that I’m legally required to tell you about. If I believe you’re at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or if there’s suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, then I would need to take action to ensure safety. Also, if a court orders me to release records, I will have to comply. But in all of these situations, I would discuss it with you first whenever possible. Do you have any questions about confidentiality?

Robert: No, I think I understand. Those exceptions make sense.

Dr. Santos: Good. And just so you know, you can ask questions at any time – either today or in future sessions. This is your time, and I want you to feel comfortable.

Part 3: Discussing the Therapy Process

Dr. Santos: So, let me tell you a bit about how we typically work. Sessions last 50 minutes, and most people find that meeting weekly works well, at least initially. We’ll work together to identify your goals and figure out the best approach to help you. My style is collaborative – that means we’re working as a team. You’re the expert on your own life, and I’m here to provide support, tools, and a different perspective.

Robert: That sounds good. I was worried you might just tell me what to do.

Dr. Santos: (Smiles) No, therapy is really a collaborative process. I’ll offer suggestions and we’ll explore different strategies, but ultimately, you’re making the decisions about your life. My role is to support you, ask questions that might help you see things differently, and provide evidence-based techniques that might be helpful.

Robert: Okay, I like that approach.

Dr. Santos: I’m glad. Now, I do want to mention that therapy can sometimes be uncomfortable. When we talk about difficult experiences or emotions, it can bring up challenging feelings. That’s actually a normal part of the process, and it often means we’re working on something important. But I’ll always check in with you about how you’re doing, and we can adjust our pace as needed.

Part 4: Exploring the Client’s Concerns

Dr. Santos: So, Robert, tell me – what brings you to therapy?

Robert: Well, I’ve been struggling with anxiety for a while now, maybe about six months. It’s been getting worse recently, and it’s starting to affect my work.

Dr. Santos: I appreciate you sharing that. When you say “anxiety”, what does that look like for you? What are you experiencing?

Robert: It’s mostly worry. I worry about everything – work performance, what people think of me, whether I’m making mistakes. And physically, I feel tense a lot. My heart races sometimes, especially at meetings.

Dr. Santos: That sounds really challenging. It takes a lot of energy to carry that constant worry around. You mentioned it’s affecting your work. Can you tell me more about that?

Robert: Yeah, I’m having trouble concentrating. I keep second-guessing my decisions. I even avoided a presentation last week because I was so anxious about it.

Dr. Santos: I hear you. It sounds like the anxiety is limiting what you feel able to do. That must be frustrating.

Robert: It really is. I used to be more confident.

Part 5: Beginning Goal-Setting

Dr. Santos: Robert, if our work together is successful, what would be different for you? What change would you like to see?

Robert: I’d like to feel calmer, more in control. And I want to be able to do my job without this constant worry hanging over me.

Dr. Santos: Those are great goals. Feeling calmer, having more control, and being able to engage fully with your work. We can definitely work on those things together. In our future sessions, we’ll explore where this anxiety comes from and develop practical strategies to help you manage it.

Robert: That would be really helpful.

Dr. Santos: (Glancing at clock) We’re coming toward the end of our time today. Before we finish, I want to check in – how are you feeling about our conversation today?

Robert: I feel good, actually. I was nervous coming in, but I feel like you understand what I’m going through.

Dr. Santos: I’m so glad to hear that. It takes courage to take this step and come to therapy, and I want you to know that I’m committed to supporting you through this process. Let’s schedule our next session for the same time next week. Does that work for you?

Robert: Yes, that works.

Dr. Santos: Perfect. And Robert, if anything urgent comes up between now and then, you can call the office. But otherwise, I’ll see you next week. Take care.