How would you rate the size and depth of what you want to explore?
Size: big/small – to guage the size of what you want to explore, try questions like: how much of your lifespace is currently taken up with this issue? If the area you want to explore were a landmass, would it be more like an island or a continent? Size is about how much ground we need to cover. Roughly speaking, bigger issues are likely to need more time than smaller issues.
Depth: surface/deep – to guage the depth of what you want to explore, try questions like: how fundamental to your being is this issue? If we were exploring the sea, would we be snorkeling or deep sea diving? Depth is about how far into your sense of yourself we need to go. Roughly speaking, deeper issues are likely to need more time than issues closer to the surface.
This metaphor may or may not work for you. Hopefully it’s clear that the point is thinking about how much time we’re going to need to really do justice to what you’re wanting to explore. We aren’t going to make much headway with lifelong difficulties with intimacy in eight sessions, but we might secure closure for a relationship that ended badly.
My issue/area is big and closer to the surface
My issue/area is small and deep
My issue/area is small and closer to the surface
And if this has made no sense at all, then I suggest either arranging an initial consultation so we can work it out together, or reading about my approaches to therapy.
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