Help Center

Answers to Common Questions

FAQ: FAQ

"I’ve never talked to a therapist. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?"

Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it, and they have the courage and humility to seek a little help when they need it. In our work together, I’ll help you explore and identify your strengths and how to use them to reduce the effects of the problems you are facing.

"Why shouldn’t I just take medication?"

Medication can be effective in reducing symptoms, but it cannot resolve issues or teach you new ways of coping. Sometimes the right medication co-therapy can help the process of therapy. Together in counseling, we seek to understand what you are experiencing and expand on your strengths that can help you accomplish your goals and continue to grow in your confidence to face new challenges and to continue to feel great.

"How does therapy work? What do I have to do in sessions?"

Because each person has different issues and goals for counseling, I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs. By exploring your situation with a therapist who is supportive, neutral, and caring and who has studied ways that are shown to help people to deal with problems, you will be able to express yourself and feel understood. I will help you to learn new ways of looking at your situation and help you to mobilize the tools, resources, and skills that will support you in deciding for yourself the best way forward. In sessions, you are encouraged to be as honest as you can be, both about yourself and about the process of counseling.

"How long will it take?"

I use evidence-based therapies, meaning that they have been studied and shown to be effective for they type of problem you are facing. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing and CBT for insomnia, are generally time-limited and focused on finding effective solutions. Every person is different and no exact amount of time can accurately be predicted, but you can expect that we will frequently check in about how much progress you have made and about how close you are to achieving your therapeutic goals. You might start to feel a bit better after the first session, and it may take some time to reach your therapy goals. Our sessions will include 40-50 minutes of discussion in addition to activities you will do on your own. Talking weekly is typically the right amount of time between sessions.