Begin with the end in mind
The main outcome of the first visit is to define a clear understanding of your destination. To do this, we will spend about 10 minutes talking about what you see as problems. We will spend a few minutes on your back story – your personal history, your thoughts on the history behind your present situation, and past work you’ve done toward your goal. We will spend most of the 45 minute visit talking about your vision of what you would like to change and how you want things to be.
The vision
To surface the strengths, capabilities, and resources you already have to achieve your vision, we will talk about what is going well in your life right now. We may talk about your interests, work, friendships, important relationships, culture, strengths, spirituality, and achievements big and small. This begins our collaboration on your vision for change, how you want things to be, and how you may get there.
“Imagine running into me in 6 months and telling me things are different, better, and how you achieved it.”
— A solutions and strengths focused thought experiment for clients
My commitment to you
My commitment to you is to help you identify your strengths, capabilities, and resources and use them to reach your goals.
Social worker and educator Dennis Saleebey wrote, “I believe that all of us somewhere, perhaps deep within, have the desire to be heroic: to rise above the nagging, petty concerns of the day, to develop our potential, to surmount hardship, to confront challenges, to be heard and to be a part of something that surpasses the trifling interests of self, to shape and realize our hopes and dreams. The heroic in everyday life is life-affirming. It is the thought, word, and deed, the basic character, however muted or oppressed, that struggles for life, for connection, for caring.”
PATRICIA WAKEFIELD THERAPY 