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

It’s totally normal to be nervous about starting therapy. it can be difficult to trust that you will be understood or that therapy will help. The fear around that can feel overwhelming.

It takes courage to start going to therapy. The fact that you are on this website, looking for help, and reading this right now shows that you are being brave and seeking help.

Therapy is a space where you are safe to be who you are and to express what is going on for you. I’m committed to ensuring you feel supported and safe in your sessions.

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

During our call, you can share what you’re looking for support with and I will let you know how I can help.

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

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

It’s natural to not want to share some of the painful or difficult things we’ve been through.  During our sessions, it will always be up to you to decide if you want to talk about something or not.

It’s my job to give you space and support to work through the tough stuff. You can share what you want at a pace that feels right for you.

You can always tell me if you are having a hard time opening up about something and we will work through that together.  Whatever is present for you, whatever you are going through, bring that to the session and we will explore that together.

I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m crazy.

I will not think you are crazy.  I will see you as courageous and strong. Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you.

You’re human.  I understand that we all struggle.  We all make mistakes and we all have strengths and weaknesses.  Whatever it is you’re going through, I provide a safe and compassionate space where you will be heard, understood, and supported.

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could “get out.”  I want you to know that unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else, everything you share with me is completely confidential

I highly respect your privacy and value your trust.  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 your during a free phone consultation or anytime during our work together.

How long will therapy take?

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are having a hard time and want to feel better soon..

If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing improvements after about 4 sessions.

By then, they are feeling less stressed and more calm, and have learned some ways to manage the challenging stuff in their lives

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 8-16 weeks to be enough to understand and better cope with their struggles, while other clients feel more supported by longer-term therapy.

What can I expect during the first session?

Overall, you can think of the first session as a structured assessment that helps me get to know you and the challenges that brought you into treatment. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for you in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

• What brought you to therapy?
• What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?
• 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 my experience or how future sessions work.

How can I get started?

Please email or call/text (702) 941-1790 to get started!