FAQs
I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?
It’s totally normal to be nervous about starting therapy. It can be difficult to have faith that therapy will bring you relief. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Going to therapy even when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. You reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.
Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and come just as you are, including feeling nervous. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.
I’m here if you want to talk about it during a free phone consultation.
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 email me.
During your free phone consultation, you can ask me more about my training and education, what a typical session with me is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to share what’s going on for you and we can decide together how I can help.
It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as trying out the waters together. During the sessions, you’ll be able to understand how comfortable you feel. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together. A good therapist will never force you to work with them.
What if I don’t want to talk about something?
It’s normal if you don’t feel ready to share everything. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. It’s my job to give you space to slowly start to work through the tough stuff. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share.
You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whatever is present for you. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to session and we can explore that together.
I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m unable to take control over my own life. You’ll think I’m weak..
If you open up to me, I will not think you are unable to take control over my own life or that you are weak. I will think you are courageous, strong and human. Many of my clients have had the same fear and will share this fear goes away fairly quickly once they start to see change.
Working with previous clients has shown me that the challenges you are facing are normal and natural.
I believe you. Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you.
I know many of us are overwhelmed, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we all suffer in different ways.
Whatever it is you’re going through, I provide a calming space where I respect you and listen with focus, compassion and empathy. Our therapeutic relationship is what is most important.
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.” So you should know that unless you are suicidal, harming yourself, or someone else, what you say in sessions stays between you and me.
I highly respect your privacy and value your trust.
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 currently struggling and want relief fast.
If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing progress after the first few sessions.
By that point, they feel a little more confident in themselves.
The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 6-12 weeks to be enough to reach their goals while 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 two-way interview where we can ask each other questions so we can begin to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.
Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:
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What brought you to therapy?
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Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?
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What goals would you like to reach by coming to therapy?
You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about my experience or how future sessions work.
The most important part of a first session is to notice how you feel during and after the session. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
How can I get started?
I’m here to talk during a free phone consultation where you can share what’s going on for you and we can decide together how I can help.
Email me today to get your free phone consultation scheduled at
Will I be given a diagnosis?
For those paying out of pocket, a diagnosis is not needed. We may discuss specific characteristics that you may elicit for a diagnosis but it is not needed. If you are paying with insurance or requesting a bill for out of network benefits, a diagnosis is required by insurance companies. You are always welcome to ask questions related to your diagnosis.
What happens in play therapy?
Child centered play therapy uses play as a child's form of language. Children of a certain age will not just sit and talk to an adult. With play I can discover their perspectives and focus on goals to work on. In play therapy we will boost independence, provide choices and give limits if needed. The child has my undivided attention while giving their story through play.