What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or family?

A trained mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you validate and care for yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential and in the context of a professional relationship, the therapist is providing a service to you. I love what I do, but I’m also getting paid for it. So, as your therapist, I am working to make sure you receive quality care that is informed by evidence-based practices and is aligned with your individual goals/needs.

Why shouldn’t I just take medication?

Medication can be effective but it alone cannot solve all issues. Sometimes medication is needed in conjunction with counseling. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing so that progress isn’t dependent on medication alone.

How often do I need to attend therapy sessions?

In most cases, I recommend that new clients start with weekly sessions. Once we get to know each other better and start to make progress toward specified goals, we can discuss dropping the frequency of sessions to biweekly or even monthly.

When will I start to feel better?

It is not uncommon in therapy to actually feel worse before we start feeling better. Therapy can result in considerable discomfort and is often not a linear process. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time counseling can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and factors specific to your situation.

How can I get the most out of therapy?

As your therapist, I am really here to help you help yourself. I can offer tools, coping skills, direction, alternative perspectives, etc., but I can’t force you to use them. So, that being said, your active participation and dedication will be crucial to your success.