A therapeutic session is not just a conversation. It is a structured process with a purpose.
Research shows that structured sessions are more effective than free-form talking. Not because free-form talking is bad — but because structure helps us go deeper and not just skim the surface.
The five steps of a session
1. Check-in
How are you doing? What has happened since last time? What came of what you set out to do?
The check-in is important. It grounds you in the present and creates continuity from session to session.
2. Agenda
What do you want to work on today? You set the agenda — not the therapist.
This is intentional. Research shows that clients who set their own agenda are more motivated and achieve better results.
3. Exploration
The central part of the session. You talk. The therapist listens, asks questions and helps you see the patterns.
Good therapy is not about giving advice. It is about asking the questions that help you find your own answers.
4. Summary
What came up? What is the most important thing you are taking with you?
The summary is important because it consolidates the learning. What you put into words, you remember better.
5. Homework
One concrete step for next time. Not a list — a seed.
Change does not happen in the session. It happens in life between sessions.
Why wait five days?
On Forlove, you wait at least five days between sessions. This is not a limitation — it is part of the process.
The homework needs time to settle. The insights need time to sink in. And you need to live with what came up.
Questions for reflection
What do you want to work on in your next session? What have you taken with you from your most recent session?
AIA knows these theories and can help you understand them in your own situation.
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