What to expect when starting therapy

It’s natural to wonder what therapy is like before beginning, especially when it is often stigmatized or sensationalized (as in popular movies or TV shows like “Shrinking”). While much less outlandish than portrayed in media, working with a therapist is much like hiring an expert guide to navigate together through unfamiliar territory. You choose the destination, and a therapist like me will help you learn skills and walk with you all along the way, until such time as you feel you can be your own guide. Beginning this journey is a sign of strength, not weakness - it’s not your fault this travel is difficult, you haven’t been down these trails before.

You’re invited to share at whatever level you feel comfortable throughout therapy - you won’t be made to discuss something you don’t want to. We start off talking about things you might like to do in your free time, tv/podcasts/movies/books/video games you’ve enjoyed, what your school or work is like, and what brings you in to see me. Generally speaking, we spend the first meetings talking about you, and in what areas you’d like to make things different. With goals in mind, we’ll make a plan to get there together. It takes about 3 or so meetings before we’re really able to get a sense of the goodness of fit between us and establish a feeling of safe space.

I’ll leave you with this: a therapeutic relationship can be quite unique - a caring relationship that exists fully in the therapy room, and evolves over time as you take insights, experiences, and tools with you out of the room and into your life.