William Fretwell

How would you describe your approach to care?

I believe that all clients are unique and have unique problems, so they have to be evaluated with that in mind. The therapist should determine what their background is like and then find out what brings them to therapy and what they are expecting out of it (what are their goals). I believe positive regard for the client is the most important factor in building rapport and then the counselor needs a knowledge of a variety of types of therapy so that he/she can adapt to what the client needs and apply the right type of therapy to help the client meet their goals.

What should be expected in the first session?

In a first session, I will try to get to know the client as well as possible in that short period of time. I will ask about their upbringing and any problems they had growing up and how the client believes those things have affected them today. We'll also discuss their adult life, current challenges, and what brings them to therapy now. I will ask about their social support network and career and family situations, both past and present. I will ask about what has brought them to counseling and what they are hoping to gain from the counseling experience. Their medical issues can play a role in life problems, so I will inquire about that. Toward the end of the session, I will summarize and try to give the client an idea of what types of therapy I may be using in their treatment and let them know that together, we will be designing a treatment plan with their goals in mind.