How do we get started?

If you have decided you want to work with me, please call or email me to set up an appointment, or send a message through the “Contact Me” tool. I typically like to have a brief conversation before scheduling to find out a little bit more about what you are hoping to achieve in therapy and make sure I am a good fit for you.

How do I know if we’ll be a good fit? How do I choose the right therapist for me?

I would encourage you to read through the different pages of this website to see if my clinical approach feels like a good fit. Oftentimes, it is hard to tell until you actually meet with a therapist whether this is someone you want to work with. If we meet for your first session and it doesn’t feel right, I will not be offended. I may not be your cup of tea, and that is okay. I would be happy to provide you with referrals.

What is the first session like?

Prior to the first session, I will send you an intake form to fill out that will include much of the factual information that I will need to have context for your presenting problem.  It will be very important to fill this out ahead of time to ensure we have sufficient time to discuss more about what brings you into therapy. During the first session, I will ask you to tell me more about why you are seeking therapy at this time, and what you are hoping to gain from treatment. If you are seeking treatment for PTSD, I will need to have at least a broad overview of the nature of the traumatic event, but I do not need intimate details at this time. I will provide you with a brief overview of the services I offer and whether I believe I can help you with your goals. If we decide to continue working together, we will spend a few additional sessions gathering information, assessing the problem, and deciding on a treatment plan. 

How will therapy help me?

Therapy helps in many ways. I will speak to trauma treatment specifically because that is my area of specialty. In the aftermath of a trauma, reminders and memories create unpleasant reactions such as difficult emotions (e.g., fear, anger, shame) or physical symptoms (e.g., rapid heart rate; sweating; shaking). Understandably, people seek to prevent reoccurrence of further symptoms, so they avoid experiences that may trigger these reactions. This avoidance leads to the experience of relief, which then reinforces the belief that avoidance is helpful. The problem is that avoidance actually prevents recovery from a trauma and leads to a shrinking of life activities. By avoiding trauma reminders, you prevent yourself from having corrective experiences with everyday life activities. Through the process of therapy, we will approach, rather than avoid your trauma. We will do this at a pace that feels comfortable and safe for you. Being able to approach one’s trauma can help in many ways: it often helps to process difficulty emotions, digest and understand the sequence of events that occurred and how it affected you, and even to discover the strengths you have developed as a result of your efforts to recover from these events. Following trauma-focused treatment, people often find that the memories feel less disturbing, are appropriately placed in the past, and that they feel better able to handle memories and triggers. As a result of these improvements, people often find themselves much more engaged in life.

Do you see clients in person or online? What are the benefits of each?

I see clients both in person and via telehealth. There are costs and benefits to both. For in-person treatment, we are able to see each other fully, including important non-verbal behavior that is lost via telehealth. In-person care also does not involve technological difficulties like lagging or disconnections. Telehealth also provides the convenience of avoiding commute/drive time and being able to participate in therapy from the comfort of your home or during your lunch break at work. An additional consideration is for engaging in EMDR. While it is possible to do EMDR virtually, it will often require an excellent internet connection and a large screen.

How long do sessions last?

Typical sessions will last 60-minutes. If it is determined that more or less time is indicated, fees will be prorated accordingly.

How long should I expect to be in therapy?

It depends. People with single-incident trauma may be able to resolve their symptoms in under 12 sessions. People with chronic or complex trauma may take longer (2 years or more). The best way to minimize your time in therapy is by engaging in evidence-based treatment, ensuring you are getting the appropriate dosage of therapy by attending regularly, and completing any out-of-session practice assignments to consolidate/strengthen skills.

Do I need to stop using substances to be able to participate in trauma therapy?

It is not necessary to be completely abstinent from substances to participate in trauma therapy. It is, however, necessary to abstain during treatment sessions and any practice assignments. It is generally recommended that you abstain on the day of session to allow your brain to incorporate new learning during REM sleep. Substances prevent this consolidation from occurring.

I’m concerned that therapy may make me get worse. What should I do?

This is a common concern. While it is true that symptoms typically do increase early in treatment due to decreased avoidance, this generally only lasts a handful of sessions before people begin seeing improvement. I will work with you to evaluate your coping and preparation/skills training sessions may be included in your treatment plan prior to engaging in trauma-focused treatment.