What To Expect

Let’s face it: picking up the phone or emailing a stranger is scary. I know this because I’ve done it myself (seen my own therapists) and it was scary! It takes a lot of courage to reach out for help when things are tough in your life, and I always greatly respect clients for their bravery in contacting me. To help ease some of that fear and anxiety, I want to outline a bit of what you can expect as you begin counseling.

First, there’s the initial contact. Whether it’s via email or phone, we’ll have to connect someone and establish that you’re looking for a counselor. I like to hear a brief summary of what you’re looking for from counseling and what’s been happening recently. Here’s an example: “I’m looking for a counselor to help me deal with issues in my marriage. My wife and I argue all the time and never resolve anything; we don’t know what to do anymore. Can you help us?”

Next, we’ll need to set up the first meeting. Some clients are unsure about the process and want to meet me in person before committing to anything. In these cases, I offer a free 30-minute consultation where I’ll tell you a little bit about myself as a therapist so you get a sense of who I am and what to expect from me, and then I’ll ask about you and your situation. From there I’ll let you leave and think about the experience without any obligation, so you can decide for yourself if you think I’m a good fit for you. Other clients are ready to get started on their issues and would prefer to just schedule the first paid session right away. Either one is fine – it just depends on where you’re at in your own process.

If we end up working together, the first few sessions usually involve a lot of questions from me. It’s important that I learn as much about you as I can so that I get a good sense of who you are before dealing with specific issues; each situation is different and every person is unique, so our work together will be specific to you and based on your own goals. I view therapy as a collaborative process, so I will be working with you to help define your goals and provide ideas for beginning to work towards them.

Practically speaking, I typically see clients once a week. This allows us to establish a relationship and tackle the issues in a timely manner. Some issues may be more complex or deeply rooted, requiring more long-term work to resolve. We can talk about these during the first few sessions to help you get a better sense of how long the process might take. When things improve and remain consistent for several sessions, we may consider meeting less frequently such as once every other week or once every 3-4 weeks as you become skilled with the tools you learn in counseling.

From me, you can expect complete confidentiality, professionalism, and commitment to your best interests. It’s my job to remain nonjudgmental but to guide you on the journey. You can also expect me to return your calls or emails within 24 hours (except on weekends and holidays). Your growth and healing are my top priority!