It’s natural to have some concerns about entering into therapy as a way to deal with your anxiety. Many clients are skeptical at first, and then find that the work they do in therapy changes their lives in ways they could never have predicted.

Maybe you’ve tried therapy in the past, and didn’t see results (or haven’t yet). I’ve had this experience in my own journey as a client in therapy, so I get it. The research consistently shows that the right fit between client and therapist is key to effective therapy. For that reason, I offer a free initial consultation, and I check in regularly so that we can be sure we are heading in a useful direction. Your feedback is always encouraged and taken seriously.

The strategies I use to treat therapy are shown to be helpful for many different people. No matter how we approach the problem, the experience we aim for is to identify thoughts and feelings that you find intolerable, and the behaviors you currently use to manage those thoughts and feelings. We will practice ways to shift responses when necessary. We will talk about what’s happening inside of your brain and body that is creating your moods and mindset, and with that knowledge, you’ll be empowered to make change where you feel it would be helpful. You may have heard of some of the techniques often used, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). These are among a number of approaches that have strong scientific support for their effectiveness, and I lean heavily on them to guide our work together.

Therapy is an investment in your future well-being. The returns on this investment are immeasurable. By taking an hour a week to focus on your own inner workings, you’ll not only feel better yourself, but you’ll also be in a much stronger position to help those around you. Your body will feel it. Your family will feel it. Your co-workers will feel it. You are planting seeds that you get to watch develop for years to come.

You may also find that your insurance will cover all or part of the cost of therapy. Click here for more information on that.

No! It doesn’t have to! It’s true that some people find the process of therapy so helpful in maintaining their mental stability that they decide to continue sessions without setting an end point.

That’s not everyone’s experience.

I offer time limited approaches to anxiety management that focus more on learning and integrating new habits.

Additionally, I fully support the practice of taking a break from therapy, and in fact find it quite valuable to do so.

You are not stuck.

The duration of your therapy is up to you.

It's normal to feel hesitant or uncomfortable about opening up at first.

That’s why I work so hard to create a space in which you feel safe. I am already on your side, and invested in your well-being. And, whenever you don’t want to talk about something, we won’t. Trust takes time to build, and that’s ok.

Yes! You can, and you should. But they aren’t your therapist (or at least they shouldn’t be). Unlike informal relationships, your therapy hour is unquestionably dedicated just to you and your well-being. My expertise is in guiding my clients to discover and create new parts of themselves. Rather than staying in homeostasis within established, informal relationships, our work together has the overarching goal of creating change, even when it’s not comfortable.

Your friends and family are an integral part of your mental and emotional well-being. It may be a therapy goal to help you strengthen those relationships, or let go of guilt about letting yourself be cared for by your network.

Just as it’s helpful to hire a personal trainer for your workout, or a nutritionist for your diet, it’s also helpful to have professional input on your mental health journey.