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I’ve compiled a list of the most frequent questions that I have received. It’s normal and encouraged for clients to ask many questions when choosing to work with a Psychotherapist. Here are some answers to the questions I receive the most. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please contact me.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
What are your session fees?
Sessions have different fees depending on the type of session. Play Therapy sessions must be face to face and require specific toys, therefore they have a cost of 70 USD per 50 mins. Face to face sessions have a cost of 70 USD per 60 mins. Finally, virtual sessions (psycotherapy and supervision) cost 60 USD per 60 mins. Payments can be done through bank transfer (Bancolombia and Daviplata in Colombia or Monzo in the UK) or through PayPal.
How do I make an appointment?
If you would like to make an appointment, you can email me at dsgpsicoterapia@gmail.com or phone or write to me on the WhatsApp number +57 305 244 8471. I also have a form on the "contact" page of this website.
Where do you work? What hours do you work?
I mainly work online since I'm currently in Scotland. This gives me the opportunity to work with clients from all over the world. I work Monday to Friday, from 6 am to 10 am and from 8 pm to 10 pm, Colombian time.
How do sessions work and what do we do in each session? How many sessions do I need?
Each session for clients aged 13 or more lasts 60 mins. Ideally, we will meet on the same day, at the same time, once a week. On our first session, I'll tell you about the therapeutic process and how it works, and then you'll be free to use the time in whichever way you need. You can bring whatever subject you need to talk about in your sessions, this is your space and time to use it however you like. As a therapist from this approach, I'll be guided by you, by how you feel and the topics that feel the most important to you. Therefore, each session is a bit different for every person I work with. My goal is to create an environment where you can feel safe and to support you emotionally no matter what you're feeling. People need different things, so I can't give you a specific number of how many sessions you may need (some people might consider one or two sessions to be enough, other have long-term processes). We can see how you feel on the way and, when you feel like therapy doesn't bring any benefits anymore, we can finish our sessions.
What kind of therapy is Person-Centred Therapy?
One of the main cornerstones of this approach is that people tend naturally towards growth, adaptation and the fulfilment of our potential. It is beacuse of this that we believe that you, as the client, are the most able person to solve whatever is bothering you, who really knows what hurts and where do you need to work on yourself. What I have to do as your psychotherapist is to create a safe space and to support you the whole way, so you can find your own solutions. Considering the above, in this space I offer you non-judgemental empathy and understanding; genuine responses to whatever you bring to the sessions; and to value the person you are and to respect your opinions and decisions. Carl Rogers, founder of the approach, was the first to research what happened within the therpy room, and he created his therory in all the research he did. That is, this is a scientifically proven method. Person-Centred therapy can be long or short-term, and can be beneficial as a preventative measure for all age groups.
I am a psychotherapist. Why do I need supervision? What kind of supervision do you offer?
Being a counsellor or psychotherapist can be a very lonely road. As professionals, we are obliged to maintain our client's confidentiality, but sometimes we need to review a case or just get some emotional relief. Supervision is a safe space for you and your client's confidentiality to do so. In supervision, we'll review your cases but we'll also focus on your personal and professional growth. Desde este enfoque, la supervisión te ayuda a reflexionar en un lugar que te brinda aceptación sin juicios, sobre tus reacciones frente a tus consultantes. Te invito a que te des la oportunidad de seguir trabajándote a ti mismo/a como profesional.
¿What is Child-Centred Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a method of providing counseling/therapy that utilizes play and toys as a way of communicating with and understanding the child (or adolescent or adult in some circumstances). Play therapy is to children what counseling is to adults, since play enables little ones to say with through specially chosen toys and through play what they have difficulty saying in words. Play provides a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development. Child-centred Play Therapy is a kind of play therapy that uses the method of play and the values of Person-Centred Therapy. Child-Centred Play Therapy helps children: - Become more responsible for their behaviors. - Develop new and creative solutions to problems. - Develop respect and acceptance of self and others. - Learn to experience and express emotion and communicate better. - Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others. - Learn new social skills. - Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities. - Play out their worries and concerns with support. - Sometimes they may re-enact traumatic or difficult life experiences in order to make sense of their past.
I play with my kid all the time. What is the difference between me playing with my child
and a play therapist playing with my child?
When parents or carers play with children, they help them develop cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills. A play therapist playing with children also has similar benefits but takes those benefits to a therapeutic level. The difference between a play therapist and a parent or other caregiver is that the play therapist is trained in utilizing the play in a therapeutic way. Play Therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help little clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve a better growth and development. Play therapy uses the child’s natural tendency to “play out” their reactions to life situations, in the presence of a trained play therapist (who is a neutral and objective person), to help the child feel accepted and understood. I have been trained in Child-Centred Play Therapy to provide an environment of acceptance, empathy and understanding in the play therapy room. When a child or an adult feels accepted and understood, they can gain a sense of control or understanding of difficult situations. In the end, play therapy differs from regular play in that the therapist helps children to resolve their problems through play.
How long are play therapy sessions and what will my child do in the sessions?
Each play therapy session lasts 50 minutes and sessions are usually held weekly. Play therapy is hard work emotionally and for most little clients this is ample time. Research suggests that 20 play therapy sessions are enough for most children (although some might need more and some might need less). In Child-Centred Play Therapy, your child selects the toys and activities to play with. I may join in the play with the child’s invitation or direction. In a typical session, I will be reflecting about how your child is engaging with toys and the underlying emotions which seem to accompany the actions rather than asking questions. I set limits and boundaries as and when needed. This is done in a way to help your child make choices and develop self-responsibility and self-esteem. During therapy your child’s behaviour may appear to get worse before it improves, this is normal and we can talk about it during our session. The process of therapy can be a slow one, as the child becomes more comfortable with the process. That can be frustrating for you. Naturally, children attend play therapy with a certain sense of anxiety. They may wonder who I am, what is my role and what are my expectations of them in the playroom. The little client may need to take the first few play therapy sessions just to get to know me and to understand the boundaries in the playroom and how they differ from the rules at home, school or daycare.
What role do I play as a parent in play therapy?
In my experience, what works best is that I have a session with you for every 4 or 5 sessions with your child, to go over the progress or concerns you might have. While I will explain the themes and my observations of what generally happened during the child's sessions in our parent sessions, in this approach, we do not talk about your child’s specific play. This is done in order to maintain your child’s trust and feelings of safety with me; just as I would not talk about my sessions with adult clients with their friends or family. If something arises in a Play Therapy session that I am concerned about, I will give you a phone call. You can also text or call me between sessions with any concerns you may have.