What to Expect

Although each person and session will differ, here is a general idea of what you can expect.

Therapy starts with an intake session.

The initial or intake session is different from a typical therapy session. I will ask you many questions, allowing me to learn more about your history and needs.

The intake aims to help determine if we will be a good match therapeutically. This means we will have a collaborative conversation to decide if we can continue our work together. The therapeutic relationship is one of the most critical factors in determining success in therapy.

Another critical factor is the client’s willingness to show up and engage meaningfully. This is important because understanding what a typical session might look like becomes essential.

Sessions are weekly or bi-weekly.

A typical session starts with a check-in to see how the time has gone since our last meeting. We will review any “homework” or things we need to track throughout our sessions and identify major stressors (picking a topic or two to narrow our focus). Then, we will process those stressors and determine an action plan to see where we go from this point onward.

The final step in a session involves deciding how to prioritize the identified stressors and what actions will be taken between the following sessions, if any.

Sometimes, an issue is so significant, such as a change in relationship status, that we need to spend multiple sessions figuring out the potential roots of the conflict between your current life and your most valued life.

What is therapy like?

Therapy is like conversing with a trusted support person who can keep your confidence. It is a safe place to discuss life’s stressors with someone who can assist you in navigating your challenges.

What is said during a session is kept confidential, except for safety issues like suicidal ideation with a plan or intent to harm oneself, homicidal ideation with a plan or intent to harm someone else, child/elder abuse, abuse of an otherwise dependent or vulnerable person, or comments threatening your clinician with intent to harm or kill.

This is when it is likely that outside support/agencies/emergency attention will need to be pursued.