I recently was required to visit the counseling center for a course, and while this practice does not directly utilize psychotherapy, it is highly related and much overlap exists. As someone who strives to be a therapist, I have actually never been to an intake session of any kind. Therefore, I found this experience to be useful.
Similar to any new opportunity, feelings of unsureness swept through me as I set foot in the counseling center. When I walked in, I immediately felt pacified with the serenity of Zoerner House. Originally, I thought that the building was called Zoerner House because it resembled a home and was previously one. However, I realized that the center was also structured like a house with its vibrant colors, comfortable furniture, and open rooms. Evidently, some rooms had doors in order to maintain clients’ confidentiality and offer privacy. However, the waiting room led into another room, which led into the secretary’s office. This connective vibe made me feel as if I could be open in my session. Nobody would shut a door in my face and allow me to feel unwanted. The only door that would be closed was the one that would create a safe haven between my counselor and I. When I arrived, I completed paperwork. Questions about my mental and physical health, eating habits, emotions, family history, personal history, self-harm, and more covered the sheets. Most questions were on Likert Scales and were numeric ratings of how I felt. This reminded me of some of the tests that I have created and conducted in former psychology courses. Following the paperwork component, I patiently waited until I was called in for my session. My counselor seemed kind-hearted and approachable. However, I noticed some of the feelings of uncertainty that I had previously felt seemed to be present in her as well. I remembered that my counselor is only a graduate student, and she is not much older than me. I am new to being in the patients’ seat, and she is still learning and training to be a counselor. While my counselor was amiable, she seemed to have a flat affect and monotone voice, but she did attempt to establish rapport with me.
I instantly told my counselor that I am interested in what she is pursuing without telling her that I was seeing her for the sole purpose of a class. I did not mention that I was visiting her for my assignment because I was genuinely curious as to how it feels to be a client in therapy. I told my counselor that I am accustomed to being in her chair because I am typically the individual whom my friends and family consult for advice. She seemed intrigued by what I told her, and she explained to me that since this was my first time at the center, I was in my intake session. I was familiar with the term and told her that I understood. She asked me if there were any issues that I wanted to specifically discuss. I told her that nothing tremendous was occurring in my life, but I did want to talk about minor instances. I expressed to her that I feel that in my friendships, I am the one who typically initiates communication and that I bend over backwards for others to accommodate them instead of focusing on my own needs. This is a personal conflict that I have been dealing with for a while, and it felt satisfying to be able to share what was on my mind with a neutral, third-party candidate. When she asked why I was seeking help, I told her that I wanted someone who was not involved in my personal life to hear me.
