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Individual Therapy 

Overview of Individual Therapy

É«ÖÐÉ« University Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) provides individual therapy to current full-time undergraduate and graduate É«ÖÐÉ« University students (including Lancaster campus) and full-time LTS students, at no additional charge. Students are typically assigned to a therapist that best fits with the student’s schedule, however if both student and therapist schedule allows it, students are able to request a specific therapist. The number of sessions a student attends and the length of each session is based on each student's individual therapy need. Typically, students will either meet weekly, biweekly, or schedule as needed and sessions will last 30 or 50 minutes. 

What to expect at your first session?

When you first contact CAPS for services, you will typically be scheduled for a 50 minute intake session. After you schedule your first appointment you will receive an email with paperwork that needs to be completed prior to meeting with your therapist.  During this first meeting your therapist will discuss confidentiality, collect relevant background information, and ask about your reasons for seeking counseling. Together the therapist and you will begin addressing your current concern and identify a plan on moving forward, which may include completing an agreed upon action plan, scheduling follow-up sessions, and/or referral to community resources. 

How do I make the most of my therapy experience?

Individual Therapy is most effective when....

  1. You attend your scheduled sessions.
  2. You have a general idea of what you would like to discuss and goals you are working towards.
  3. You are motivated outside of the therapy session, in that your therapist may ask you to try a new behavior, adapt your thinking, better manage your emotional responses, or experiment with a different approach to your concerns. You are encouraged to try and practice these ideas and approaches outside of the therapy session.
  4. You are open and honest with your therapist about your concerns. The thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that produce the most emotion and/or life disturbances, are usually the concerns that need to be discussed. You have certain rights of confidentiality and you are encouraged to discuss these with your therapist if you are unclear about them.

Confidentiality

The APA Code of Ethics and PA state law considers the personal information you discuss in therapy to be confidential, therefore CAPS strictly protects the confidentiality of information shared during sessions, as well as the attendance to any therapy service.  This means that no record of therapy is made on an academic transcript, and that information regarding your therapy is not released without your written permission to anyone, unless otherwise indicated by law.