STEP INTO GREATER FREEDOM & UNLOCK YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

We learn to be courageous by couraging and doing the thing that our fear says is too risky. Taking initiative to reach out for help and showing up to the first assessment session is courageous! When you reach out for our free 15 minute initial call, we’ll briefly talk about the changes you want to make, or what you’ve identified as significant to discuss throughout therapy. You’ll be able to ask me questions that you may have about me, my therapeutic styling, and gauge if we may be a good fit. 

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  Upon scheduling an initial assessment, you’ll receive an invitation to my secure and mobile-friendly client portal where you can complete the intake paperwork and review our practice policies. These documents will need to be completed prior to our initial appointment time. You’ll be able to use the client portal in the future to send secure messages to Ciúin Counseling, schedule appointments, receive invoices, and upload any supporting documents. 

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   When you arrive at our initial assessment, please make yourself comfortable in the lobby area. There is a kitchenette area where you may make yourself some tea or refresh with a bottle of water as you wait. Our clinician Niamh, pronounced Neev, will greet you in the lobby at the time of your appointment. In order to make the experience comfortable, if we are meeting with children or families, we like to start with the family unit together in the office. Niamh likes to start the initial assessment by asking the parents the first question to take the pressure off the child. She typically asks the parents some variation of "Why was it important for you to come in today?" while asking the child,"As they share their answer, I'd like you to listen carefully so you can grade their answer and make any corrections you feel need to be made." Niamh likes to give the parents an opportunity to communicate their concerns and also believes it's important for children to have the opportunity to respond to their parents concerns. 

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   It has been our experience that kids open up more, share, and settle into the session once they’ve heard that 1.) We have to be a good fit, so you’re not stuck with me if you don’t like me at the end of this. There are other wonderful clinicians in the area that we can refer you to that you may click with 2.) Confidentiality is a thing! Parents have rights to know our treatment focus, but it’s mostly up to you to disclose all of the details we talk about if you wish to and 3.) We spend some time fostering the therapeutic relationship by conducting some of the assessment independently from the parents before joining back together as a family to discuss treatment recommendations. When you leave Ciúin Counseling, you’ll leave with a list of recommendations to think about before making any commitments.