What to Expect

Going to therapy holds some risks, and there are a lot of unknowns about what will be said and felt. What helps many people in preparing themselves for the therapeutic adventure – whether it’s your first time, or you’re a seasoned client – is knowing what to generally expect. Below is a loose outline of how things go with me. Hope it helps take the edge off.

Before

  • CALL FOR A CONSULT. Consultations are free, and range from 15-30 minutes. This brief discussion will help you understand if I can help you meet your goals, and if you’re comfortable with my style/approach.
  • PAPERWORK. If we’re a good fit, I’ll send you all the necessary logistics and paperwork. The forms help gather basic details about your life, history and needs, and explain all that you will be consenting to when engaging in the counseling process.

First

  • WELCOME. In the first session we’ll start to get to know each other and you’ll get familiar with the therapy space. You can ask questions about me to get more comfortable starting this unique relationship.
  • START WHERE YOU ARE. You can start to unload and confide in me, and I will meet you with curiosity and openness. Solutions or quick fixes to big problems are extremely unlikely to occur at this stage.
  • SEE WHERE IT GOES. We’ll talk about your goals for treatment and how to best meet those goals. Typically, this means setting up weekly sessions, but you can also decide what to do session by session, without long term commitment.

During

  • EXPLORE. As therapy continues, you’ll have open opportunities to talk about your current concerns and history. We’ll spend time together understanding your emotions, thoughts, physical/somatic sensations, and beliefs, which will slowly yield insight into your unconscious motives and needs.
  • INTERACT. As our therapeutic relationship develops, there will inevitably be moments when our own interpersonal dynamics take the forefront. Perhaps surprisingly, old wounds can start to heal when you engage with these “live” experiences and give voice to how I impact you in the moment.
  • STEER. Therapy is a vehicle for growth, and you are in the driver’s seat. What we discuss is up to you. As your travel companion, I may offer some directions or offer different routes, but ultimately you decide where to go in the conversation and how long the journey will continue.

After

  • NO REQUIRED HOMEWORK. Therapy can be a lot of work, so I generally don’t dole out homework or to-dos for clients unless it is clinically appropriate.
  • CONTACT BETWEEN SESSIONS. I view our time together as a sacred space, and require the bulk of our work to be contained in that period. I am never an appropriate replacement for 911.
  • TERMINATION. Ideally, we will both agree when your therapy with me is ready to end, but that doesn’t always happen. It may happen after a few sessions, or it might be years away! Endings can bring up a lot of feelings, so it can be helpful to take a bit of time in session(s) to process our goodbyes or the reasons for your departure. A happy sendoff is something I hope to provide you.

The process is manageable, and you get to call the shots. Let’s give it a go.