What will my first session look like?

Beginning therapy is a brave step, and one that honors your commitment to health and happiness.  Acknowledging that you need help can be disheartening and its understandable to have hesitations. Here you can find information about what to expect when you decide to take the leap and start therapy.

In the first session, we will spend the majority of the time gathering information to complete the biopsychosocial assessment. This assessment takes a complete look at all realms of your life including medical history, social history, your family background, etc. As a social worker, I conceptualize all presenting issues as being influenced by multiple areas of life. I will ask you questions about your relationships, patterns of behavior including how you typically cope with stress, things that make you happy, things that trigger you, and many more questions. My favorite question to ask is “tell me your life story!” That sounds like a broad question, but I want to hear about the most important moments of your life that led you to therapy.

In the first session I will also confirm your method of payment and we will review all the documents necessary to sign and consent to before beginning services. The first session is a really good time to bring up any questions or concerns you may have about starting services.

Typically the biopsychosocial assessment can take one to two sessions.  After all the necessary information is discussed, we can then begin to identify your goals and formulate a treatment plan. At that time I also give further explanation of the interventions I use to ensure you understand what the therapeutic relationship will look like moving forward.

Does Tele-therapy work?

Teletherapy is platform of meeting virtually that allows the client and therapist to meet without having to drive anywhere!  Fortunately, many of us have grown accustom to this type of encounter throughout the COVID pandemic. Teletherapy is completely safe due to the HIPAA compliance and requirements of the platform I use, which is called SimplePractice.

The benefits of teletherapy include easy access to care, less time commitment due to not having to drive or sit in a waiting room, mitigating risk of exposure, and sessions are just as effective when meeting virtually as when meeting in person.

Teletherapy does require the client to be able to find a quiet and private space to meet, and it does require the client to have good internet connection.

Do you accept insurance?

At this time I do accept some insurance plans. It is best to contact your insurance and make sure I am in network before beginning services if you plan to utilize insurance as a form of payment. I will do my best to communicate with your insurance to get the most accurate information and formulate a quote for treatment expenses, however, it is up to the client to ensure accuracy of coverage.

At this time I accept Aetna, Cigna, and Anthem. I also accept some Employee Assistance Programs. Please contact me for more questions.

How long does therapy take?

Therapy may look different for each person. There is no guaranteed length of time to resolve your symptoms. Some clients may be facing temporary stressors and may require less time in treatment. For many of my clients, treatment may last from a year to two years. Length of time in treatment is dependent on many factors. If you have more questions, please reach out!

How do I know if therapy is working?

Sometimes therapy feels worse before it feels better, especially with trauma therapy, and the process is different for everyone. It’s important to recognize that progress in therapy doesn’t always happen overnight, and it may not look the way you expect. Progress can sometimes feel subtle, so it can help to reflect on where you were when you first started therapy compared to where you are now.

Some signs that therapy is working include feeling more in control of your emotions, gaining new perspectives on challenges, having more clarity or confidence in making decisions, and noticing improvements in relationships or daily functioning. You may also find that you're using the coping strategies we’ve discussed more effectively.

How do I handle feeling overwhelmed after a session?

We will do our best to practice container exercises and other grounding exercises to help self soothe at the end of a difficult session. Feeling overwhelmed after a session can happen, especially if we've touched on deep or emotional topics. It’s important to take care of yourself afterward. One helpful approach is to give yourself some time to decompress—this might mean taking a short walk, practicing deep breathing, journaling, or engaging in a calming activity like listening to music or doing something creative. Grounding exercises, such as focusing on your senses or practicing mindfulness, can also help bring you back to the present moment. It’s also okay to take some quiet time for yourself or reach out to someone supportive. If you notice that the overwhelm continues or feels unmanageable, let me know during our next session so we can discuss it and develop strategies to make the process feel more manageable for you. Remember, therapy is a space for healing, but it’s important to take things at your own pace.