What to Expect from Therapy

LET'S GET STARTED

The process of getting started with therapy is often marked by doubt and disbelief.  You may be second guessing yourself, or trying to convince yourself that you are making a big deal out of something small. If you're hoping your pain/struggle will go away on it's own, or if you are worried about what others will think about you seeing a therapist, I want you to know those feelings are completely normal. 

It's also completely understandable if you are anxious or hesitant about contacting a therapist. It takes a lot of courage to sit down with a stranger, ask for help, and make space for your story. I acknowledge you for reaching out to get the support your deserve, and will welcome every part of you into therapy (including the anxious, scared, angry, doubting, and resistant parts). 

FIRST THINGS FIRST 

It's hard to know if I am the right therapist for you unless we sit down and interact in person, which is why I offer a free initial consultation. This is a chance for us to meet, explore your concerns, answer your questions about therapy, and decide if we will be a good fit. 

If you decide you’d like to move forward after our consultation, we will schedule our first session and I will send you an email inviting you to my client portal, where you will review and sign the forms in my intake packet. These forms are legally required, and are an important part of therapy because they explain your rights as a client, outline our agreement of services, and help provide me with important background information.  I always make room to discuss these form in your first session, so bring your questions and concerns. 

WHAT HAPPENS FROM THERE?

Though we will identify important issues that you want to address, therapy is a week-to-week process of paying attention to your life. Therapy is your time, which may be an easy or difficult thing to get used to. Depending on where you are, your sessions may be full of laughter, tears, grief, joy, stories, and/or silence (often all in the same session). 

As a trained interpersonal psychotherapist, I utilize many different theories to help you connect with your truest self. Often this includes focusing on the 'here and now' of our relationship as it develops, using our experience together as a way to reflect on the relational themes causing pain in your life.

I'll invite you to notice your emotions as they present themselves during therapy. This moment to moment noticing of your bodily sensations is a way to track the epigenetic and neurobiological legacy of trauma in your brain-mind connection. Often your body can tell the story better than your memory, and here is a good place to use the creative arts to express the 'unsayable' parts of your story. 

I also often utilize Internal Family Systems (IFS) with clients. IFS is an evidenced-based modality that conceives of individuals as a collective of parts (part of me is depressed) as opposed to a single, monolithic “I” (I am depressed). Through IFS, I will guide you to restore and adjust your internal relationships so that you will experience greater clarity, connection, courage and compassion with and for yourself.

I have found it valuable to let my clients know up front that things may get worse before they get better. Often times starting therapy feels good. You feel the power of your self efficacy and your decision to care for yourself, and creating space to 'be who you are' is empowering. But as we engage long held beliefs, address problematic thoughts, and work through painful stories it can be an intense experience. This is not a reason to be concerned, rather it is an opportunity to practice new skills and further your journey of healing and integration.