Therapy is a unique experience that is 100% devoted to you. It’s a place for you to check in, reflect on life, and create goals to move yourself forward. Like many people, you might be feeling distracted, isolated, and overwhelmed by the stressors of modern life. Maybe you want to build stronger relationships, or you are struggling with negative thoughts. You might try pushing your feelings away or beating yourself up to get where you want to be. It doesn’t work, and you feel overwhelmed, burnt out, and stuck. Therapy can help.
What can I expect in therapy?
For a first-time client, therapy might seem shrouded in a layer of mystery. Will I end up lying on a couch for an hour? Will it look like it is on TV? What will we talk about? What therapy looked like in the past often isn’t representative of what it looks like today. It has been portrayed inaccurately by media and pop culture, whether it’s blatantly unethical practice or over-dramatization. Therapy with me isn’t stuffy. It isn’t mysterious. I will never force you to talk about anything, nor will I assume that my way is the best. I believe that therapy works if a therapist collaborates with their client. I am open, genuine, and willing to listen - that’s my job.
It’s also my job to help you feel informed about the therapeutic process. This is done through a process called informed consent. Before you ever sit down in a session with me, I will ask you to read and complete intake paperwork. This includes a thorough description of what therapy with me looks like, my policies, and the parameters of therapy. If you’re a person who skims those types of forms, please don’t with this one! Informed consent is vital for your understanding of what to expect in therapy. You will also provide me with details on what is bringing you to therapy, any issues you are experiencing, and your mental health history.
What is an intake session?
Next, you’ll have your first session (also called an intake session). The purpose of an intake session is for a therapist to get to know a client and what is bringing them to therapy. It’s a chance for both the therapist and client to assess if they will be a good fit. It is often less conversational and more of an opportunity for the therapist to gather information. It can also be a very cathartic or reflective experience for the client. During an intake session, I will start off by reviewing important details about the therapeutic experience. You are encouraged to ask questions about anything - my background, policies, fees and insurance, and what therapy entails. I will then ask you what is bringing you to therapy, and you can disclose as much or as little as you’re comfortable with. I usually like to leave my intake sessions organic and open-ended, but I can also provide more structure if you’d like. I often reference your intake paperwork and ask clients to elaborate on what they wrote about. I routinely ask questions about mental and physical health, interests, relationships, and family history. Throughout the intake session, I will also ask you about your goals for therapy. It’s ok if you don’t know what these are yet, and I can help you with the goal-setting process. I will never pressure you to talk about anything you aren’t ready to yet. And no, you won’t be lying on the couch (although you’re welcome to!).
At the end of the intake session, I will check in to see if you have any questions and we can talk about scheduling. I often encourage new clients to schedule appointments at a weekly or every other week frequency to get the ball rolling, but am flexible to your preferences. You are welcome to choose a recurring time or schedule as you go.
What does ongoing therapy look like?
After that, you’re off and running! Your primary job as a client is to show up for yourself. I am a client-directed therapist, which means that I believe it is more effective for my clients to lead the therapeutic process. To choose the topics for sessions, to engage in mindfulness outside of the therapy room, and to create their own goals. I will help guide you, provide suggestions, and challenge you at times. However, I will never know you better than you know yourself, and you are in charge of your own progress. I believe that the ultimate success in therapy is when a client becomes more independent at making choices that bring them towards a more satisfying life.
To learn more about my therapeutic approach, check out my bio page.