What to Expect from Individual Therapy
The GW Meltzer Center offers low-cost therapy services for children, adolescents and adults in the Washington, D.C. area. Learn more about our service offerings on the Services and Fees page.
Key Tips for a Smooth Therapy Session
- Please bring paperwork documenting you or your family's income (e.g., a pay stub, recent W-2 forms or tax return), which will be used to verify the fee for the service.
- Ensure that you have read and completed all forms and client commitment information.
Before the First Session
Once it is determined that you will be scheduled for an intake, your clinician will reach out with a welcome email introducing themselves. In that email, you will be directed to our online system to complete forms and to our online payment system, as we ask that you complete the forms and make a payment before the first session. You will also confirm your meeting time. Please prepare to bring your proof of income with a tax return or W-2 to confirm the fee.
The First Session
The purpose of your first therapy session is to get an in-depth evaluation of your psychotherapeutic needs. Initially, your clinician will briefly review the forms that you have completed and answer any questions you may have. The clinician also will explain your rights and responsibilities as a client, Meltzer Center policies, and limits of confidentiality.
You may be asked to complete additional paperwork at this time. Once all the forms are completed, you will be asked to discuss your need for individual therapy, your goals for psychotherapy, and your expectations and concerns regarding therapy.
The clinician also will conduct a detailed clinical interview of your present complaint and your background (e.g., current health, employment, and social status; medical history; psychiatric history; work history; family background, etc.). For training purposes, all sessions will be recorded with your written consent.
The Therapy Process
After the first session, if it is determined that you are a fit for the Meltzer Center and you would like to proceed, you will be assigned to a clinician for treatment. This clinician may or may not be the same clinician you met with for your intake session. Your clinician will discuss your case with the assigned supervisor, a licensed psychologist, who will oversee the treatment process. The graduate student clinician will have regular meetings with their supervisor to discuss your progress in therapy.
Typically, clients see their assigned clinician during the course of their treatment. Occasionally, therapist and client mismatches do occur, and we will try to accommodate you by assigning you to a new clinician or providing you with an appropriate referral. We strongly encourage you to address any concerns you may have with your clinician during the course of your treatment.
Most clients decide to end therapy sessions when they feel that they have met their goals for therapy. Because our clinicians are graduate students, they may not be available to provide services after completing their coursework and training requirements. If this occurs before you have met your therapy goals and you wish to continue to receive treatment from the Meltzer Center, you will be assigned to another clinician or provided an appropriate referral.
Cancellation and Payment Polices
If you cannot attend a session, we require a cancellation notice 24 hours before your scheduled session. Please email us at [email protected]. If we do not hear from you within 24 hours, then you will be billed for the missed session. If you show up late for a session, your clinician will not be able to extend the session to make up for the lost time.
We ask that you pay your set fee to your clinician at each session through our online payment system. If you experience financial difficulties and have trouble paying your balance, please notify your clinician as soon as possible so that we can discuss a payment plan or possible reduction in fee.