Frequently Asked Questions
I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?
It’s totally normal to be nervous about starting therapy. 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. Taking steps to seek help for the challenges we face is a huge step. It takes courage to realize we can’t face our issues alone.
Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and come as you are and not worry about looking like you have it all together, 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 schedule a free phone consultation in my online scheduler.
When we speak, you can ask me what a typical session with me is like, 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 I can share my ideas around how I can help you.
It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as trying out the waters together. During the sessions, you’ll be able to understand how comfortable you feel. 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.
Your website talks a lot about women. Do you work with men? What about transgender and nonbinary folx?
Definitely! I see people across the gender spectrum in my practice. Because of the way our culture socializes cisgender women, many of them learn people pleasing and perfectionism from an early age. However, these patterns also show up in other genders, especially when there has been trauma or family dysfunction. I see people across the gender spectrum in my practice.
How long will therapy take?
You might be asking about how long therapy will take because therapy is hard to fit into your busy schedule.
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 few weeks. 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 a few months to be enough to resolve immediate 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 a free-flowing conversation through which we start getting 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’s present for you in your life right now?
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 to experience what therapy is like with me. If you feel supported, seen, and at-ease with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
How can I get started?
I'm here to talk during a free phone consultation where you can share what’s going on for you and I can share my ideas around how I can help you.
Click below and schedule your appointment now.