Working with me

Helping people access their inner wisdom, explore experiences with love and curiosity, and uncover their fullest potential is my passion. In order to achieve this, I provide guidance and support as you mindfully explore your feelings, experiences, thoughts and memories freely and without judgment. During our work together, I will support you as you seek to discover your authentic self by addressing any issues that result in feelings of stuckness and pain and by identifying both old and new resources that provide strength and self-assurance. It is through this work that you will be better able to understand yourself, how you relate to others, and engage with the world around you. This journey of love and self-discovery can allow you to create more CONNECTION, FULFILLMENT and MEANING in your life.

What will our first session be like

Just like any relationship, building a trusting connection with a therapist takes time.  Our first few sessions together will be focused on getting to know one another and establishing a strong therapeutic relationship. Research has shown that a strong relationship between client and therapist is the best indicator of therapeutic outcomes. Because of this, we will take the time needed to establish a connection that feels safe and supportive.

It is not uncommon for people to feel anxious, upset, or uncomfortable when they come in for their first appointment.  These feelings are normal especially if this is your first time seeing a therapist.  The amount of time needed to build a strong connection varies from person to person and while you should feel at ease after your first appointment, it sometimes takes 2-3 visits before you are truly comfortable sharing intimate details of your life.  Establishing a strong therapeutic alliance takes the time, energy, and commitment of both of us.  The good news is, an investment in our relationship is WORTH IT as it is what will help you ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THERAPY!

The therapy process

The therapy process varies from person to person depending on why you’ve chosen therapy and what your needs are.  I believe every individual is unique so I will customize therapy according to what YOU need. 

During your intake session, we will discuss what is happening in your life in more detail.  I will lead you through a mindfulness exercise that will allow you to notice subtle connections between thoughts and sensations. We will talk about how you balance problems and stresses and identify your current resources and strengths.  We will look closely at how you have coped with your problems in the past and discuss what has been helpful and not so helpful. 

The next step in therapy is working on the issues preventing fulfillment and joy in your life, and establishing and strengthening resources.  Choosing to commit to therapy is one of the most rewarding and challenging things you can do for yourself.  Opening up memories of traumatic events, discussing seemingly hopeless problems in your life, and recalling past mistakes is difficult.  It’s important for you to remember that often things can feel worse before they feel better but in time, the emotional pain surrounding these events will lessen as you learn to relate to them in healthier ways.  I commit to working with you during these tough times reminding you that you are not alone and that there is HOPE for things to get better.  It is this work that will ENABLE CHANGE in your life.

How will you know when it’s time to end therapy?  For some people, a crisis brings them into therapy and when the crisis has resolved, they chose to terminate.  Other times, people choose to continue with treatment because they find the therapeutic relationship enriches their life and brings up new material to be processed.  The decision to end is yours to make and should be discussed in your sessions so we can explore how to end therapy in a positive way.