Everyone needs a little extra help now and then. But if you are asking the question, it might be time to try. Therapists are there to help before life gets out of hand. People who come to therapy usually have tried to do it on their own and haven’t reached their goals. It takes courage and strength to acknowledge that you can’t fix things on your own. In our work together, I’ll help you explore your concerns and create solutions that will help you improve your life.

I will admit that the therapy relationship is a bit lopsided—it works when you know very little about me so that we can both focus on you. The difference is between someone who can offer support and someone who has the knowledge, skills, and expertise to help you create change. A mental-health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way by teaching you new skills, offering different perspectives, and adopting new strategies. Furthermore, counseling is confidential. You won’t have to worry about others judging you or your concerns. And that is probably the main difference between talking to a psychologist instead of a family member or friend: we are trained to not judge but to understand.

I tell every client that your only job is to show up and talk; it is my job to hear your story, make connections, pay attention to the unconscious, and hold a mirror up so that you can make more informed decisions about your life. However, each person has different issues and goals for counseling, so how that looks will vary depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs and will help guide our sessions so they are helpful and productive to your concerns. If you don’t know what to say, I will help guide our conversation or check and goals to use our time together productively to meet your needs.

Generally, people report symptom reduction in the first couple of months and characterological, life-long-changes after a year or two. So there is no easy answer. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time counseling 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. Goals and phases of treatment can change, but that will be a transparent discussion between me and you.

Couples / Relationship (2+ more people in a romantic relationship) is generally lasts less than thirty sessions because the partners will need will eventually carry on the relationship on their own. In this form of therapy, neither partner is my client but the relationship itself is. I view my role to join in, reflect on the dynamics, and help the partners see new productive ways to relate to each other. That said, it is not uncommon for some dynamics to reassert themselves, and I always welcome any couple / relationship back for ongoing maintenance for how to be better partners to one another.

While many insurance companies cover family therapy, billing for couples / relationship counseling is a murky scenario. It requires the practitioner to use one party’s insurance and identify that patient as being diagnosed with the mental health concerns that are affecting the relationship. However, very rarely have I witnessed difficulties within a relationship as stemming from one person alone without influence from another. Insurance may also request forms of payment back from the identified patient should the relationship end, and the insurance process may also adversely impact one party unfairly should the relationship end with legal action.

Medication can be effective in some situations, but it alone cannot solve all mental health problems, issues, and concerns. Research indicates that medication in conjunction with counseling can be more effective than medication alone. While medication can address some of the physiological components of your concerns, it cannot impact other important areas that are related to what you are experiencing. Also, while medication can treat some of the symptoms you are experiencing, it may not address the root cause of your concern. I am open to speaking with you and your medical provider to provide an accurate representation of your mental health.

You are always welcome to call or email me if you’d like to talk and ask questions. I’m happy to consult with you to determine if counseling might help assist you with your concerns or if I am a good fit.

I am so glad that you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation, motivation, and dedication will be crucial to your success and reaching your goals. As I said above, all you need to do is show up and talk. But, if you want specifics, I provide skills but also work very closely with dreams, personal fantasies, thoughts, the unconscious, and language. I pay very close attention to help uncover what may be hidden to you, so all you need to do to help is to engage with an open mind.