Counseling does not involve providing ready-made answers or specific advice; rather, it represents a collaborative thinking process between client and psychologist.
Psychological counseling is offered by a licensed counseling psychologist who, after completing five years of university training in psychology, has also completed an additional two-year postgraduate specialization program.
Counseling is intended for adults who do not have a diagnosed mental disorder. If a diagnosis is already present, I recommend seeking support from a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist.
The counseling process may be of fixed or open-ended duration. Typically, the exact length of the process cannot be predicted in advance. However, we can outline a preliminary number of sessions based on smaller, well-defined goals. Sessions last 50 minutes and are held on a weekly basis.
To maintain a professional tone we keep boundaries like the timeframe, the weekly routine or to avoid seeing a client that the psychologist already has a connection with. We cannot work with friends, family, neighbours or even old acquaintances. These boundaries help protect both parties by ensuring that, despite the intimacy of the one-on-one discussions, mutual respect and professional distance are preserved.
Introductory Phase
When selecting a psychologist, factors such as professional qualifications, location of the practice, and most importantly, personal rapport (“sympathy”) may influence our decision. Even after careful consideration, it's natural to feel uncertain—how can we be sure if we’ve chosen the right specialist, and how can we express it if we haven't?
This is a professional relationship, but first and foremost a human one, requiring deep trust and genuine connection—something we may not experience with everyone. Therefore, it is important that clients feel free to reconsider their choice. The first three sessions serve as an assessment period during which the psychologist evaluates whether the presented difficulty falls within their professional scope, while the client assesses how they feel within the therapeutic relationship.
I often check in on thoughts or feelings that emerge during and after this initial phase, and I continue to do so regularly throughout the process. If both professional competency and personal rapport are present, we then formulate a verbal agreement outlining a focus or goal for the collaboration. In the first session, the client usually does most of the talking, while the psychologist outlines the framework for the collaboration. This stage is focused on getting to know and understanding each other—intervention is not expected at this point. It is important to view psychological support as a process.
Goal Setting
Goals in counseling can take many forms, but they must be within the client’s sphere of control. Therefore, changes in other people or external circumstances cannot be considered valid objectives. A good counseling goal is one that the client feels motivated to pursue, is attainable and measurable, and targets either an internal transformation or a behavioral adjustment. Goals can always be redefined as the process evolves or the focus shifts; they serve as guideposts for our work.
Working Phase
Following the goal-setting stage, the collaboration begins: a deeper exploration of the client’s difficulties. I often introduce practical, creative, or structured tasks to be completed between sessions to keep the topic active and present. However, there is no expectation of continuous task completion—progress is not measured by performance. Rather, the most powerful therapeutic tool remains the thoughtful, attentive, and meaningful conversation that occurs in session.
Review Sessions
Dynamics that appear in the client’s other relationships may also emerge in the therapeutic relationship. This makes it particularly valuable to explore the development of the process and the relationship within a safe space. Doing so offers further opportunities for self-awareness and personal growth.
The Importance of Closure
The psychologist acts as a supportive crutch until the client learns to walk on their own again—having discovered and connected with their internal resources, and having worked through their crises, they become capable of managing life independently. The counseling process, therefore, has a natural conclusion. If, following the initial sessions, both client and psychologist commit to the collaborative work and establish a clear focus or goal, the regular sessions can lead to deep connection and significant insight.
Counseling typically lasts for several months, sometimes even years, though shorter processes of just a few sessions can also create meaningful emotional impact. Regardless of which party proposes ending the process, at least one closing session is essential to reflect on the journey: where the client started, where they are now, how they can seek further support if needed, and what internal resources they have to navigate future challenges.
Self-awareness is a powerful investment—an awe-inspiring and sometimes daunting journey inward, requiring both courage and strength. If you feel that psychological support could help improve your current life circumstances or emotional well-being, feel free to reach out to me with confidence.
