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

Not at all. I believe that asking for help is an intelligent thing to do. It reflects your intuition that at this point in your life you know that you need help and that you have the ability to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have some strengths that you’ve used before, and for whatever reason, they aren’t working right now.  Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, I’ll help you identify what those strengths are and how to implement them again in what is happening now.

What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or family?

A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, help you to gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential.

Why shouldn’t I just take medication?

Medication can sometimes be useful in treating symptoms. Therapy helps to develop insight and coping tools, to work through the roots of an issue, and to accomplish your personal and/or relational goals.

How does it work? What do I have to do in sessions?

Because each person or couple has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs. Using complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we will work together to shift old patterns of behavior and interaction and build on your strengths to help you achieve your goals.

How long will it take?

Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place.

My partner and I are having problems. Should we be in individual counseling or come together?

I work with couples together because I believe that it is the most effective way to accomplish relationship goals. It is not unusual in the course of relationship therapy to discover that individual therapy may be a helpful adjunct to the couple’s work together. I can make appropriate referrals to an individual therapist when necessary and/or appropriate.