Meet and Greet
Finding the right therapist can be challenging and fit is an important part or the therapeutic relationship. Meet and Greet appointments are a great way to take the pressure off and have a chance to see how it might feel to work with me. I really enjoy these appointments and can answer any questions you may have about seeing a therapist or what therapy me be like for you. I offer a 15-30 minute telehealth appointment and at the end of that time we can talk about moving forward and scheduling. There is no expectation from you during this time, I appreciate your time and look forward to speaking with you.
Your First Appointment
Once we’ve had a Meet and Greet and decided you want to move forward and schedule an appointment, I’d like to share a what you can expect during that time. I like to have plenty of time for your first appointment and schedule those for 90 minutes. This helps take the pressure off to rush and make sure we covered everything. It’s a starting place and we can begin to create a path for our relationship. I ask a variety of questions about you and your experiences with family, relationships, work or school and your relationships. It is a big step to decide to dedicate time to begin taking care of yourself and I appreciate the privilege of helping you begin to do that.
Therapy
After your first session, we will talk about what may be helpful and how to scheduled at a pace that matches your current needs and ability. In the beginning, I appreciate meeting weekly for a few sessions to have a thorough understanding of you and your stress. The majority of people I work with schedule every other week and as you begin to notice progress, we can adjust scheduling to align with that. I will do some checking in with how you feel about your progress, what you notice, what has changed or helped and what still feels stressful. It is important for me to know how you feel about our relationship and the support you are receiving. Our relationship is dynamic and flexible and I truly appreciate the privilege of offering a relationship that is safe, open and honest to provide you the support that matches you and your needs.
Graduation
You may have questions about how long you can expect to be in therapy or what may help you decide if you are ready to graduate from therapy. Graduation looks different for everyone and is dependent on what brought you in and what progress you have seen. Sometimes people to come to therapy and have something specific they would like to address once we have met that goal, the may decide to graduate from therapy. It is also normal for people to develop a relationship with a therapist that is ongoing, varies over time and adjusts depending on their needs. Many of the people I work have appreciated having an ongoing relationship. Whatever brings you to therapy, you are an important part in deciding what your needs are and what graduation may look like. The biggest privilege I have as therapist is our relationship and being allowed to help you meet yourself and begin to appreciate who you are. It is truly beautiful to watch someone as they heal.
rescheduling after a period of time away
I will often have someone reach out after our relationship has ended, time has passed and something comes up. I always welcome and appreciate seeing a someone familiar and the opportunity to see them again. Life can be stressful and knowing you can always reach out to schedule is reassuring. It is helpful to know that this does not mean you lost what progress you made. It means life changed and you have a safe place to sort it all out. Sometimes, I have people who appreciate the ability to come back for a few sessions, focus on something different, or continue therapy as a way to take care of themselves in the midst of life, family, work and stress.
For Professional Supervision & consultation
No therapist stands alone and it is equally important we have a safe, trusting community of professionals so we can be our best, professional selves to the people who choose to work with us. I appreciate the trust and privilege of supporting dependently licensed therapists as they pursue their independent licenses. I also value being part of a professional consultation group that offers clinical and ethical support, accountability and network of professional with insights and experiences that help me be a better therapist. Developing a relationship with a supervisor or consultation group is one way we support each other as professionals and a fantastic way to learn and grow for ourselves and our clients.