Individual Therapy
Are you new to therapy and trying to decide if it is right for you?
The process of seeking out a therapist, deciding if they are right for you, reaching out, hoping they are a good fit, and heading to your first appointment can be overwhelming.
I understand. When you are dealing with difficult issues, finding someone who you feel comfortable with is the top priority.
Let’s take the mystery out of therapy
Below, you can read about my style of therapy, what to expect for your first session, and how the therapy process might look. Every client’s therapeutic journey is unique, but I can give you an idea of how the journey might begin - where it will lead is up to you. We will work together to help you reach your therapy goals.
The first session
When you come to your first appointment, I will introduce you to the therapy space, where the restrooms are, where you can get water, and the room where we will have our sessions.
We will spend the majority of the hour getting to know one another. I will ask you about what your day-to-day life has looked like lately and why you decided to seek therapy at the present moment. You may have experienced a major change or event, or you may have finally gotten to the point where you are ready to address those nagging issues that are keeping you from living your most fulfilled life. This information lets me better understand where you will be starting your therapy journey so we can make a plan to move forward.
I will keep track of the time and make sure we are able end the first session at a place that feels comfortable to you. I will save time at the end of the session for you to ask me any questions you have and I’ll do my best to answer them all. We will discuss moving forward in the therapy process and I will help you schedule your next appointment with me.
Starting your Therapeutic Journey
Opening up about difficult issues can take time. I will provide a supportive environment for you to share about yourself in a space free of judgment and shame. No one comes to therapy because they are feeling great, life is wonderful, and they love themselves unconditionally (wouldn’t that be a lovely world!). Inside my therapy room, I will encourage you to begin to let down those walls we all build to protect ourselves.
Some clients feel comfortable right away and want to dive right into the difficult issues that caused them to seek therapy. Some clients feel unsafe letting their walls down – or maybe they don’t even realize they have walls to begin with! No matter how quickly or slowly you develop trust with me, I will not judge you and will always support the pace that feels right to you.
Each client’s therapeutic journey looks different. Clients come to therapy with a wide range of concerns, which means the therapeutic journey can vary widely as a result. I work with my clients on a weekly basis – this means that you and I will meet for a 50-minute session one time per week.
Some clients who are seeking therapy for acute issues such as panic attacks, agoraphobia (fear of leaving the house), or a recent tragic event may desire to meet twice per week until they feel more stable. I will schedule multiple sessions per week on a case-by-case basis if requested by the client.
How long does therapy take?
I wish I had a magic formula that could tell you exactly how many sessions it will take to address the concerns that brought you to therapy. However, each person comes to therapy with a unique set of circumstances. Some factors that can affect your therapeutic journey are:
Your specific concern and its severity
How long you have been dealing with the issue we are addressing
The regularity with which you come to sessions
If you engage in the therapeutic process outside of sessions
Your openness with me and honesty about your progress
Financial resources
Some clients come to therapy with a very specific concern, high motivation to address this concern, and attend sessions consistently. Often, these clients are able to make significant progress towards their therapy goals in about 8-10 weeks.
Some clients come to therapy with concerns that are more complex or have persisted for a long time. Working to untangle complex issues can take some time and therapy can continue for months or even years.
Other clients will continue therapy over the course of months or years because they value having a scheduled time each week in which they can engage in ongoing growth related to their needs, life goals, behavior patterns, communication, relationships and more.
I understand the thought of committing to therapy for a long period of time can feel scary. My role as your therapist is to match your pace and walk with you every step of the way until you feel confident enough to manage your concerns on your own.
In your therapeutic journey, we will take things one session at a time and continue to check in along the way to make sure you feel comfortable with your rate of progression towards your treatment goals.
How do I know when therapy is done?
This is a question that will be answered through conversations between you and I along the course of your therapeutic journey.
Depending on what concerns brought you to therapy in the first place, you may feel ready to end therapy for different reasons. Most clients enter therapy because something is preventing them from living the life they want. That may be panic attacks, grief, a devastating medical diagnosis, or something yet undiscovered. As you travel along your therapeutic journey with me, we will identify how your concerns are impacting your quality of life and address them. Once you feel confident in your ability to consistently manage concerns without them significantly impacting your quality of life, that is usually the indicator that you may be ready to leave therapy.
Sometimes, issues may flare up after leaving therapy and there is no judgment or shame in returning to the therapy space after leaving. We will refresh the skills you learned along your therapeutic journey with me and help you continue to live your most fulfilled life.
Do you have more questions about therapy?
Please feel free to connect with me and I will be happy to address any concerns you have.