Interested in psychotherapy but have some questions? Ready to start working toward your goals but unsure what it will look like? I hope these answers to some common questions about psychotherapy will help you.

Talk therapy can be extremely helpful in a lot of different ways. A therapist offers support, coping strategies and the ability to build increased insight for concerns such as depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, grief and loss, lack of self-esteem, traumatic memories or lack of direction. Many people find that in addition to relieving problem symptoms meeting with a therapist can help inspire and encourage personal growth, aid in building better relationships and movement toward a life that feels full and satisfying. A therapist provides a fresh perspective or outside unbiased view on difficulties or areas in which one may feel stuck. Past clients of mine have expressed some of the following benefits to working together in therapy:

• Increased understand of themselves, their relationship patterns and emotional triggers
• Decreased anxiety about work, home life and other concerns
• Found new ways to cope with stress 
• Growth in effective communication and listening skills
• Improved self-esteem and self-confidence
• Movement past traumatic events or grief into a life that can feel hopeful and satisfying again

Everyone is different and has different goals and objectives for therapy. Because of this, your experience will be unique to what it is you are looking for. However, some themes will stay the same. You can expect to talk about both current and past events in your life, relevant history to your current concerns and progress and set-backs you have experienced along the way. The length of therapy will be gauged based on your need, whether that be short-term (8-10 sessions) to focus on a specific concern, or longer term to deal with more overarching personal development. I usually recommend starting with weekly sessions and augmenting this if necessary after 4+ sessions to meet your needs. 

Because I truly believe you are your own best guide, in session I will encourage you to speak to what comes to mind for you. I may ask you to tell me more about a particular memory, or ask details about how you felt in a certain situation. Often within our 50 minutes we will find that we are able to forge previously unseen connections and links between your thoughts, memories and emotions and current presenting problem. Once we know more about your concerns, whether they be anxiety-based, motivation centric or based on a traumatic reaction, we will be able to help you make steps towards new and healthier behaviors. 

Confidentiality is one of the most important components of successful therapy. Trust takes time to build between us, however you can be assured that what we talk about remains completely between the two of us, except in some specific situations: 

You decide to give written permission for me to share relevant details with other members of your treatment team such as your physican, psychiatrist, attorney or naturopath.

State law and professional ethics require me to disclose only required information in the following 2 cases:

• Suspected abuse or neglect of children or elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
• If I have reason to suspect you are seriously in danger of harming yourself or have threatened to harm another person.

You can read more about confidentiality in my Notice of Privacy Practices.