FAQs

I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?

Quite the opposite. We are not meant to live life alone. We are social beings. We should be able to lean on and rely on each other. I see reaching out for help as a strength. It is in this humility that allows real healing to have a chance to occur. I am honored by your willingness and vulnerability to look at yourself and your relationships with a new set of eyes. Everyone needs help now and then. In our work together, I will help you explore and identify your strengths and how to implement them to reduce the influence of the problems you are facing.

What is the difference between therapy and counseling?

A counselor is just that, a counselor, one who give counsel with what they think is best given their training and life experience. On the other hand a therapist is one who has received specialized training to ask questions where you will begin to figure much of this out for yourself. You will learn critical thinking skill. You will begin to see the the good, better and best reasons for doing or not doing something. Your thinking will lead you to consider the emotional, social, as well as moral, financial, physical and trans-generational (intended and unintended) ramifications of your choices and perspectives.  Therapy may take longer, but they are your answers, that some one has guided you (much like the Socratic method). And with the solutions coming from you, you will be more likely to follow through and continue implementing long after the therapist is gone. I.E. Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a life-time. 

What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or family?

The difference is between someone who can do something, and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, and you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.

Why shouldn’t I just take medication?

Medication can be effective but mediation alone usually does not solve all issues. Sometimes medication is needed in conjunction with therapy. Medication generally will not solve our problems, however, it can take the edge off, so we can begin to solve our own problems. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing and expand on your strengths that can help you accomplish your personal goals.

How does it work? What do I have to do in sessions?

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, it will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs.

How long will it take?

Therapy? improving yourself? will be an ongoing process throughout your life. Seeing a therapist should be a springboard to helping you become more self-reliant.   However, this being said, the decision of how long you meet with your therapist will be between you and your therapist. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek counseling in the first place.

I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?

Great question! Therapy is a lot of talking and doing. Talking will definitely be helpful, but the real progress comes in the doing. Your active commitment to real change will occur as you apply what we talk about OUTSIDE of session. It is in the application of therapeutic principles that lives are changed. 

Another part is on your willingness to honestly look at yourself. Others are invariably apart of the problem and the solution. However, because of the nature of agency/freewill, we can't change others, we can only give them a different kind of person to respond to. The hard truth is, I can't use their bad behavior to justify my own bad behavior. I must still ask myself, "of all the possible things I could do, what do I feel is the good and right thing to do in this situation?"