FAQ

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

When starting therapy, it’s very common to feel a bit nervous. It can feel intimidating or overwhelming to sit with someone new and talk about how you feel. It takes courage to take those steps. Reading this now shows that you are already moving in the right direction. 

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and bring up whatever is going on in your life and feel free from judgement. I’m committed to ensuring sessions are as comfortable as possible. 

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 read, feel free to email or call me. 

During our first phone call, you can ask me about my approach and what a typical session is like. We can discuss my training and background and any other questions you may have. You’ll also be able to share what is going on with you and we can decide together how I can help.

The first few sessions will be getting to know one another so I can best tailor therapy to fit your individual or couple needs. During our first session or phone call, you’ll be able to ask questions and discover if I am the right therapist for you. My approach may not work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel most comfortable with. We can explore this together.

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

It’s normal if you don’t feel ready to share everything right away. Some of my clients are afraid or uncomfortable opening up. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something. Together we will work through any difficult experience or memory.

I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m crazy, too sensitive or making it all up.

If you open up to me, I will not think you are crazy, too sensitive or making it all up. I will think you are extremely brave and strong.   

Working with clients for many years has shown me that the challenges you face are normal. You have nothing to be ashamed about. I believe you. Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you. 

I know we all have imperfections, we all struggle, and we may be emotionally drained from the ups and downs of life. Whatever it is you’re going through, I will provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported without judgement

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

You might already know that you want to share with me sensitive information about you or your loved ones and you don’t want anyone to find out what you’ve said. I want you to know that unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else or a court order, 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 the information being released.

If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, please ask during your phone consultation, first session, 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 need immediate relief.

If this is true for you, on average, my new clients start seeing progress, positive effects and improvements after the first few sessions. By that point, they feel more calm and hopeful that things will be better and they have learned some ways to manage challenging situations.

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 12-16 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges and gain insight into their relationships. 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 time to ask questions about the therapy process. We will get to know one another better and learn about the challenges that brought you to therapy.

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 background, training or what sessions will be like. If you feel welcomed, supported and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you would like to meet again and begin our work together.