Understanding the Therapy Process
Understanding the Therapy Process at TRT Center of Georgia
The Focus of Therapy
The focus of therapy is on you – but “you” exists at multiple levels.
You have an internal world—your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and sense of self. You exist within relationships—with a partner, parent, child, or friend. And you operate within larger systems—your family, workplace, or community.
We evaluate all three levels to understand what’s actually happening and where intervention will be most effective. Sometimes the work focuses on your individual internal experience. Other times, addressing a specific relationship—with your spouse, child, or parent—is what creates the most meaningful change. And sometimes we need to work with family dynamics or organizational systems that are affecting you.
As part of your treatment plan, we’ll recommend the focus of care that best addresses your situation—whether that’s individual therapy, couples or family work, or a combination of these levels. This three-part perspective (individual, relational, and systemic), where it is appropriate and applicable, will be our fundamental approach to your therapy.
Your Initial Assessment
Your first appointment is focused on understanding your situation comprehensively.
What We’ll Discuss
We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, your history, current challenges, and what you’re hoping to achieve. This includes:
- The specific events or circumstances that may have affected you
- Whether you're dealing with multiple difficult experiences from different points in your life
- Any other factors that might need attention (such as substance use, co-occurring mental health conditions, or safety concerns)
- Your current support system and life circumstances
Creating Your Treatment Plan
Based on this assessment, we’ll develop a clear plan that addresses your needs in the right sequence. If multiple issues are present, we’ll identify which needs to be addressed first to give you the best outcome.
You’ll leave your first appointment with a clear understanding of what we’ll be working on and what the process will look like.
What to Expect in Your Sessions
Initial Phase of Treatment (4-6 weeks)
When you first begin therapy, you'll enter an initial phase focused on:
- Establishing a therapeutic relationship with our center
- Identifying the most pressing issues affecting you
- Stabilizing and creating a foundation for treatment
During this phase, you may attend individual sessions, group therapy, and family sessions as appropriate for your situation.
For some people, this initial phase is all that’s needed, and treatment concludes after 5-8 weeks.
Ongoing Treatment Phase
For those who continue into trauma resolution work or more intensive treatment, this phase typically lasts:
- 3 months to 2 years for the most severe cases
- Approximately 9 months on average for trauma resolution
The frequency of sessions changes as you progress. You might start with multiple sessions per week (individual, group, and/or family therapy), then reduce to once-weekly sessions as treatment progresses.
Session Structure
Sessions are 53-60 minutes. The pace and intensity of therapy are tailored to your specific situation and capacity.