AMAR SANGHA COUNSELLING

helping to balance your life

Session Structure

Each counselling session is tailored to your individual needs while following a thoughtful structure to support reflection, progress, and meaningful change.

1

Check-In and Current Situation

  • What has happened since the last session?
  • Most important concern today
  • Significant changes or stressors
2

Presenting Problem

  • Main issue affecting the client
  • Thoughts, feelings, behaviours, relationships, work, sleep, or daily functioning affected
3

Mental Health Functioning and Safety Check

  • Mood, anxiety, stress and emotions
  • Sleep, appetite, energy and concentration
  • Risk or safety concerns and addictions
  • Protective factors and supports
4

Client Priorities

  • What would be most helpful to focus on today?
  • Agree on one or two priorities for the session
5

Strengths and Supports

  • Personal strengths
  • Coping skills
  • Family, friends, community and professional supports
  • Previous strategies that have worked
6

Realistic Goals

  • Immediate goals
  • Short-term goals
  • Longer-term goals where appropriate
  • Make goals specific and achievable
7

Barriers and How to Overcome Barriers

  • Emotional, practical, interpersonal or environmental obstacles
  • Unhelpful thoughts or behaviours
  • Lack of resources or support
  • How to overcome barriers
8

Progress and Stage of Change

  • What has improved?
  • What remains difficult?
  • Readiness and motivation for change
  • Recognize even small gains
  • Which stage of change is the client in for each issue
9

Counselling Interventions

  • Explore the issue in greater depth
  • Identify patterns
  • Challenge unhelpful thinking where appropriate
  • Problem solve
  • Practise coping or communication skills
  • Use approaches such as CBT, solution-focused counselling, strengths-based work, mindfulness, psychoeducation, etc.
10

Coping Strategies and Resources

  • Identify practical strategies the client can use between sessions
  • Strengthen existing coping skills
  • Discuss referrals or community resources when needed
11

Homework or Between-Session Practice

  • Keep it small and realistic
  • Examples: journalling, practising a coping strategy, having a conversation, tracking symptoms, completing one practical task
12

Treatment Plan

  • What are we working toward?
  • What interventions will be used?
  • What should be addressed next?
  • Whether referrals or coordination with other professionals are needed
13

Session Summary

  • Briefly summarize the main themes
  • Identify what the client is taking away from the session
14

Next Steps

  • Confirm the next steps or focus for the following session
  • Homework

Client Forms & Documents

Download the counselling consent form and records form below. Please review the appropriate form carefully and complete it as directed before submitting or bringing it to your appointment.

Consent Form
Records Form