Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I find the right therapist?
This is so important and is why I provide a no pressure phone consultation to discuss your needs and share with you how my practice operates. At the end of the phone call we will have a conversation about how best to proceed for you. That may include scheduling a session, waiting and thinking if you are ready to schedule, or talking to other therapists. If I feel like someone else will be a better fit for you I will share that with you. After all, your time, well-being, and (frankly) money are valuable, and I want you to start feeling better as quickly as possible!
I've never been to counseling and I don't know if it's my thing. What should I expect in the first session?
It's totally normal to feel nervous or tense at the beginning of counseling. The first session will be spent reviewing the disclosure statement (rules for counseling), exploring more about what is bringing you to counseling, and then setting goals regarding what you would like to get out of counseling. At the end of the first session we will talk about how you felt during the session and if continuing feels good for you. Then we will talk about frequency and schedule the next session.
How long should I expect to be in counseling and how often are the sessions?
This can vary from person to person. I find that counseling is most effective when people commit to weekly sessions at the beginning, though this can decrease as you start to feel better. Counseling can continue for as long as we both feel like it's beneficial. However, I don't think counseling should last forever, and when you feel ready to end counseling I recommend we have a final session dedicated to acknowledging the hard work you have done and creating a plan for you moving forward.
What happens if I have stopped therapy but want to restart again?
Just give me a call or a text. It is common for people to complete therapy and then want to re-engage in it a few months or years down the road. Think of it as an emotional tune up!
I've been to therapy before and didn't have a good experience. Why should I expect this to be any different?
Sadly, sometimes people don't have a great experience, usually because they are being pushed into therapy by someone else or because they don't have a good rapport with their therapist. I like to check in frequently with clients to hear how they are experiencing our sessions and to ensure we are following our plan that we created together. Therapy is collaborative and I encourage you to share with me if you would like to focus on other topics, if certain strategies aren't working for you, or if you just feel like something isn't quite right.
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If on the way home from therapy something is bugging you, it is really important to bring that up the next session! Could have been a miscommunication, could be that I made a mistake (it does happen!), or could be the tip of the iceberg into some other bigger relationship patterns in your life.
What happens if I need to cancel a session?
Life happens. Give me a call or shoot me a text or email, I will confirm that I received notice. Just make sure to let me know 24 hours before your session to avoid paying the full session cancellation fee.
Sounds good! How do I get started?
Give me a call or complete the contact section for our phone consultation. If after that conversation you are ready to schedule we can set a time to meet and I will send you documents through an online portal to complete (saves paper!) These include the disclosure statement, an intake questionnaire, and a section to input a credit card in the secure site. Please have these completed before the first session.
Have more questions? Send them my way!