How counseling works

Psychological counseling is basically a structured process tailored to your specific issues. How often and for how long you meet depends heavily on your situation, your current state of mind, and shared goals. Generally speaking:

• Sessions happen on a weekly or bi-weekly basis (for couples and family therapy, it is always bi-weekly);

• Individual sessions usually last 45-60 minutes, while couples and family therapy takes about 80-90 minutes;

• The total length of the process varies depending on the depth of the issues and the goals set: there are short-term therapies (e.g. 8-12 sessions) and longer-term processes (several months or even years).

You and your psychologist will decide on the frequency together. Our psychologists will make a recommendation based on professional aspects regarding how often you should visit, depending on the issue and distress you are facing. Some professionals do not deviate from their own way of working, so they might only take on a client if they commit to weekly visits. Certain therapeutic methods also influence frequency; for example, psychoanalytic therapy might require multiple sessions a week at a specific stage of the process, whereas in sex therapy, you might only need to meet every 3 to 4 weeks.

Generally, weekly visits in individual therapy provide the frame in which inner work and self-reflection can really kick off. It simply sets a nice pace that helps you start progressing as soon as possible. Of course, there are other factors that can influence how often you come, such as financial considerations, family background, work schedule, etc. It is important that you can share these factors openly with your psychologist, so you can discuss together how to collaborate in the best possible way within your possibilities.

The stages of the counseling process

First session
In this session, you will get to know your psychologist, who will introduce themselves, explain their therapeutic methods, and guide you through the frameworks of counseling. Once you have shared a brief overview of yourself, you can outline what brought you to counseling. The first session is all about getting that first impression for both of you to decide if you want to work on your concerns together, which then leads to making a therapy agreement. The goal is also for you to understand the framework, process, and expected outcomes of the counseling.

First interview
We call the first one or two sessions the 'first interview', which is your chance to define and unpack the issue more precisely. During this, the psychologist explores your life situation, emotional state, and the root of the problem. This allows the specialist to form a complete picture, so you can set clear goals and directions together for the process.

Active work (intervention phase)
This is where the intensive work happens. The psychologist supports you with various methods and techniques to achieve the desired changes and handle your issues. This active phase can be shorter or longer, depending on the depth of the challenge. Throughout the process, you will gradually adopt new strategies, build self-awareness, and feel more confident in making changes.

Wrapping up
In the wrap-up phase, you and your psychologist review the results achieved, evaluate the process, and discuss how you can maintain your progress on your own.

Follow-up
In many cases, follow-ups are super helpful. This means scheduling one or more check-ins at a later date, where you can share feedback on how you have managed to integrate the things you learned into your daily life. This helps prevent setbacks and gives you a nice extra boost.

Every single stage of the counseling process helps us support our clients on their journey of growth in the best possible way. Psychological counseling is a long-term investment in achieving and maintaining mental health, which helps us show up more balanced, calm, and assertive in both our individual and social lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a therapy session?

To keep things effective, individual sessions at our clinic are always 50 minutes long, while couples and family therapy sessions last 80 minutes. The pricing of the two types is also different.

What happens at the psychologist during the first visit?

Besides getting to know each other, you will clarify the details of the process and decide if you have the mutual trust needed to start working together.

What does the active phase of therapy actually look like?

In this phase, you will work towards your goals using easy-to-use techniques and deep self-reflection.

Does it make sense to visit my therapist again after wrapping up?

Yes, later check-ins (follow-ups) are great for helping you integrate what you have learned and keeping you from falling back into old, difficult patterns.