What should I expect at first?
Initial session(s) are focused on intake assessment and evaluation. These typically last from 1-3 sessions and can vary on the complexity of your needs. I will ask questions (likely many!) to get a clear understanding of what brought here to therapy and what you are hoping to get out of therapy. I use this formulate a clinical impression and possible treatment plan for you. This is YOUR therapy; so it's important this feels like a good fit for you. I'll provide you feedback and then encourage you to reflect on whether this personally fits your expectations for therapy. I will explicitly elicit a commitment from you to enter into the therapeutic relationship because I want to foster your "say" in your care. We will collaboratively set treatment goals together, which is a process that is revisited throughout therapy. Although these are intake sessions, this is still considered active therapy, and most individuals find benefit from this process.
How long is therapy?
How long our sessions are and how frequently we meet vary on a case-by-case basis and change throughout the course of therapy. We will discuss what makes the most sense for you and update this as we progress in your journey. I take a "developmental" approach which means my goal is to gently assist you to becoming independent in your own therapy and provide the launching pad for you to take flight when you are ready. There are "no surprises" and our pathway together is a consistent part of our therapy discussions.
What if I don't like this therapy, you, or something you're doing?
Please remember therapy is a commitment and does involve substantial personal resources (time, energy, money, practice), so please bring up any concerns or feedback as they arise. No hard feelings! I will consistently ask for feedback and how I can change or modify something to feel like it works. If we are not a good fit, or you need something more, I will do my best to refer you out to a practitioner that can assist you and set you up for the best chance at success. You are welcome to end therapy at any time, just let me know.
What does refer out mean?
Not everyone is a good fit for teletherapy, my style of practice, or may be outside of my expertise. Usually this is indicated at the beginning of therapy, where it is clear you may need in-person therapy, or additional and/or different types of services. Sometimes issues can escalate during therapy, again, necessitating different or more intensive care. If this is the case, I'll discuss why and what I think would be a better recommendation for you. My ethical duty is to ensure you are getting the care that you need to heal. I will provide you a list of possible practitioners or services and am more than happy to assist as best that I can in getting you connected.
What are "evidence-based therapies"
Treatments that work! All therapy that offer is rooted in scientific evidence showing that individuals get better with this approach or therapy. The therap(ies) i recommend to you are "modalities" and I choose based on what the research and evidence shows will be the most effective for you to get better. Of course, no one-size fits all, and all treatments I utilize are tailored to your needs and preferences. I am always to happy to discuss these with you and provide as much information as you would like.