Every therapist is a little different and has their own style, and what a session looks like might vary from week to week. Sessions with me are 50 minutes long, and I encourage an open dialogue that allows you to take the lead in guiding the conversation around what is important to you. Since people are complex, there are often many relevant aspects to ourselves that we will discuss in session related to the main goal we are focusing on– to me, almost nothing is irrelevant.

How long you are in therapy is largely up to you. Some clients wish to address one specific issue and move on, and some clients wish to work with therapists for a much longer period of time and address deeper issues. Therapy can be what you make of it as long as you feel you are still moving forward.

Yes, with a few exceptions. What you share with me will not be disclosed unless you provide permission for me to do so (e.g. if you would like to sign a release for me to speak with your psychiatrist). The exceptions to this are if you present a significant risk to yourself or someone else, if I have knowledge of a child or vulnerable adult who has experienced abuse or neglect, or if a court subpoenas my records.

My initial phone consultation is 15 minutes. In that time, I try to get a sense of what you are looking for from therapy, and I am asking myself: “Am I the best person to help you with your concerns?” I can also answer any questions you might have about me or my practice. We are both trying to gauge goodness of fit. If we both agree to an appointment, we will discuss scheduling and fees. If it doesn’t feel like I would be a good fit for you, I can provide other referrals.

In the first session or “intake session” I ask a lot of specific questions about your life, what is going on for you, and what your goals for therapy are. We usually continue this process in the first three sessions, so I encourage you not to feel pressure to fit your whole life into the first hour. We will also be feeling out if this could be a great working relationship, and if I’m the ideal therapist for you. If after the first few sessions we determine other services would be better suited to your needs, I will help you connect to other resources and referrals.

Sometimes a good fit between client and therapist depends on the therapist’s specialty, the therapist’s approach, or aspects about the client. Sometimes, a good fit depends on whether the personalities of the client and therapist work well together. Sometimes, it is hard to know for sure until the initial phone consultation, or sometimes, until a few sessions into therapy.

While it may take time for a therapist to fully get to know you or for you to build trust with a new person, you want to feel that the therapist is listening and trying to understand your specific needs and that you can build trust with that person in the future. Listen to your gut – is it telling you this person jives with you? Or, is it telling you things don’t feel right? No therapist is a good fit for every client. If after a few sessions with me you find yourself questioning whether I am the right therapist for you, please talk to me and we can determine the best plan for your treatment.