Frequently Asked Questions

I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?

Therapy can be vulnerable and new, so it’s natural to be nervous. It can be hard to talk about feelings out loud. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Taking steps to seek help for the challenges you face is a huge step. It takes courage to realize that you can’t face your issues alone.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and feel safe from judgment. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.

I’m here if you want to talk about it during the first session.

How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?

Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can schedule yourself in my online scheduler.

During the first session, you can ask me questions about my approach, about how I have helped other people like you before, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to speak to what's bothering you and we can decide together how I can help.

The first session is like an experiment to see how things go. During the session, you’ll be able to see how you feel working with me. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

What if I don't want to talk about something?

It's natural to not want to share some of the painful or difficult things you've been through. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. We will collaborate on understanding what you feel ready to open up about. Together we will work through the difficult stuff.

You can share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whenever you have a lot of feelings about something, you are welcome to discuss them in session with me.

I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m a bad person.

If you open up to me, I will not think you are a bad person, I will think you are courageous and human. Many of my clients have had the same fear.

Oftentimes my clients feel like their experience of emotional suffering is only happening to them.

Even though you may feel like you are a bad person; it doesn't mean it's true. I know nobody's perfect, we feel pain in different ways, we are humans trying to be human.

Whatever it is you're going through, I provide a space where you can feel heard, understood, and have someone on your side.

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

You may be concerned that your friends, family, or work colleagues could learn what you have said during therapy. So I want you to know that unless you are in danger or someone else is, your story is confidential and your time in the session is protected.

I highly respect your privacy and value your trust.

You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.

If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask during your first session or anytime during our work together.

How long will therapy take?

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast.

If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing improvements within eight to ten sessions. After eight to ten sessions, clients have learned ways to manage challenging stuff in their lives a bit better.

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients notice improvement within six to eight weeks and more willing to practice getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Alternatively, other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.

We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

What can I expect during the first session?

Overall, you can think of the first session as a structured assessment and treatment planning.  You will have the opportunity to ask me questions so we can get to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session:

• What’s causing you stress in your life right now?

• Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?

• What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?

You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about my experience or how future sessions work.

The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel I’m a good fit for you. If you feel safe, heard, and supported with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

How can I get started?

Schedule yourself in my online scheduler for your first appointment today by clicking the black schedule appointment button below.