Frequently Asked Questions

I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?

When starting therapy, it's very common to feel nervous. It can be scary to think of opening up or crying in front of someone new, perhaps fearing that it will be awkward and uncomfortable. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. It takes courage to start going to therapy. The fact that you are on this website, looking for help, and reading this right now shows that you are being brave and seeking help.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and feel safe from judgement, including feeling nervous. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.

I’m here if you want to talk about it during a free phone consultation.

How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?

Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can Email me.

During a free phone consultation, you can ask me questions about my approach, ask how I work as a therapist, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to share what’s going on for you and we can determine how I could best be of service to you.

I think of the first few times that I meet with someone as a trial run. During the sessions, you’ll be able to see how you feel working with me. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

What if I don't want to talk about something?

It's natural to not want to share some of the painful or difficult things we've been through.. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. It’s my job to give you space to slowly start to work through the tough stuff. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share.

You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whatever is present for you. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to session and we can explore that together.

I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m too sensitive.

If you open up to me, I will not think you are too sensitive, I will think you are courageous and human. Many of my clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are too sensitive).

Working with my clients has shown me that the challenges your are facing are normal and natural.

You're not being dramatic or "too much." Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you.

I know nobody's perfect, we all struggle, we may have normal reactions to abnormally challenging experiences.

Whatever it is you're going through, I provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported without judgement.

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could "get out." So I want you to know that unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else, everything you share with me is completely confidential.

Your privacy and trust are of utmost importance.

You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.

If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask during your during a free phone consultation or anytime during our work together.

How long will therapy take?

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you think that therapy will be an overwhelming process.

If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing small amounts of growth after the first 3-5 sessions.

By that point, they they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible.

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 8-16 weeks to be enough to gain insight into their relationship challenges. While other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.

We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

What can I expect during the first session?

Overall, you can think of the first session as two-way interview where we can ask each other questions so we can begin to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

What brought you to therapy?
What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?
What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?

You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about about my experice or how future sessions work.

The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel I’m a good fit for you. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

How can I get started?