Frequently Asked Questions.

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

It’s totally normal to be nervous about starting therapy. It can feel intimidating to sit with someone and talk about your feelings. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Going to therapy even when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. You reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and bring up whatever is going on for you, 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 or video 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 consultation, you can ask me about how I have helped other people like you before, 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 tell me what's up, and I can share my ideas about how I can help you.

It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as testing out the waters together. During the sessions, you’ll be able to understand how comfortable you feel in sessions. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone whom you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

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

If something feels overwhelming or terrifying to discuss, that's very normal. It can often feel difficult to talk about some things. During our sessions, you never have to discuss something you’re uncomfortable talking about. We will collaborate on understanding what you feel ready to open up about. Together we will work through the difficult stuff.

You can also share with me that you are nervous about opening up, 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 a bad person.

If you open up to me, I will not think you are a terrible person; I will think you are courageous and human. Many of my clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are I’m a terrible person).

Through my own life journey and working with my clients, I know how normal your experience is.

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

I know we all have our imperfections; we might be emotionally drained from the ups and downs, but we all suffer differently.

Whatever 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?

You may be concerned that your friends, family, or work colleagues could learn what you have said during therapy. So, I want you to know that anything you share with me is completely confidential unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else.

There is nothing more important than your privacy.

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 a free phone or video consultation or anytime during our work together.

How long will therapy take?

You might be wondering how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast.

If this is true for you, I want you to know that, on average, my new clients start seeing positive effects after the first few sessions, but it's different for everyone...

By that point, they feel like they have learned some ways to manage challenging stuff in their lives a bit better.

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. At the same time, 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 two-way interview where we can ask each other questions to 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?

• Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?

• 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 why I'm a therapist or how I've helped other clients like you.

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 or video consultation where you can tell me what's up, and I can share my ideas about how I can help you.

Click below to get your free consultation.