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 the first session, I will try to get to know the client as well as possible in that short period of time. I will ask what brings them to therapy today. I will ask about their social support network and career and family situations, both past and present. I will ask the client 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. During the session I will administer two short assessments that will help me understand what their levels of anxiety and sadness are at present so that in future sessions we can see what progress we have been making. Toward the end of the session, I will try to give the client an idea of what types of therapy I may be using in their treatment and we will set up their next appointment for therapy.