What can I expect in my first visit? How should I prepare?
How long is the average therapy session, and how often should we meet?
How long does therapy last?
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
What is Internal Family Systems Therapy?
Tell me more about your academic coaching, college prep, and APPIC internship prep services?
Are your fees negotiable?
Is is true that all of the photographs that appear on your website were taken by you? Can I use them for a project or website?
What is the meaning of life?
When and why should a person seek therapy?
When you break your arm, you (hopefully!) go to a doctor. When your car breaks down, you go to a mechanic. When your sink gets stopped up, you call the plumber. No human being is an island; even the strongest, smartest, most resilient, most competent person in the world needs help or support sometimes.
Sometimes, despite our best repeated efforts, and the best efforts of our friends, family, coworkers, and others, we find that we just can't overcome a problem or answer a question that is impacting our quality of life.
Therapists have specialized tools and resources for helping their clients see problems from new perspectives; understand themselves, others, and the world; manage complicated mental health issues; change counterproductive habits and unhealthy ways of thinking; and cultivate newer, better coping strategies.
If you've been struggling with a persistent health condition, a bad habit, an unhealthy relationship, a painful memory, or even, just a nagging sense that you're missing out on your best life or true potential, a therapist might help you to unlock hidden doors to a better life, just as your plumber will help to unplug that pesky sink.
What is therapy like?
In most forms of therapy, at the most basic level, you and your therapist will talk about events and problems in your life, and your therapist will employ different techniques for helping you confront and make sense of your problems, based on their therapeutic style or approach, your preferences and personality, your needs and goals, and your particular diagnosis.
These techniques may include (but aren't limited to) observations, questions, art, music, games/play, movement (i.e., dance), writing exercises, thought experiments, creative visualizations, mindfulness exercises, roleplays, and "homework assignments."
Certain structured treatments are indicated for particular diagnoses or problems. In these cases, your therapist will typically educate you about the treatment they intend to employ, and the rationale behind it.
My own therapeutic approach is informed by a combination of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Existentialism, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and other related schools of therapeutic thought and practice. When working with youths, I use games and play to spark conversations, teach skills, and foster insight. Occasionally, I may assign "homework" in the form of a written assignment or thought experiment, or I might recommend a particular film, book, movie, website, or Youtube video for you to reflect on.
What can I expect in my first visit? How should I prepare?
Think of the first session like a first date. Be prepared to be as open and honest about yourself as you can be. I will want to learn as much as I can about you--your personal history, your medical history/previous diagnoses, your relationships, your personality, your learning style, your strengths, your limitations--and about what has brought you to therapy, so that I can begin to conceptualize what our work together might look like, and if I'm the right therapist for you. (In the event I'm not the right therapist for you, I can refer you to a professional who will be a better fit for your needs and/or style.)
When we schedule our first session, I will provide additional instructions on how to prepare and what to bring. At the very least, I will want to know about your current and recent medications, mental and physical health history, and current and recent health providers in that initial session, and may request releases of information for those providers.
How long is the average therapy session, and how often should we meet?
On average, sessions are 50 minutes long and typically occur once per week--though, we may meet more or less often, depending on the nature and the severity of your problem(s). Meeting each week (at least initially) helps us to develop a strong therapeutic relationship and allows us to work towards your goals at a consistent pace.
How long does therapy last?
Well, how big is a fish? The duration of therapy is variable, and will depend on the nature, history, and severity or complexity of the client's problems; the client's preexisting "toolbox" of coping skills; the client's willingness and ability to change and to engage with the treatment; the specific therapy interventions used; and the client-therapist relationship, among other factors.
Some clients notice begin to notice improvement after 4-8 sessions, but treatment typically ranges from 12-30 sessions for most common mental health issues. The duration of therapy will be shorter if you wish to focus on a single problem, and longer if you are coping with chronic/complex/long-term issues; if you wish to delve into deeper patterns and habits; and/or if you are hoping to cultivate deeper personal growth.
Therapy is a collaborative process, and so we will periodically "check in" to ensure that we are still on track and that the therapy is meeting your needs.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
At the most basic level, CBT posits that our thoughts and beliefs shape our feelings, which in turn shape our actions--so, the best approach to changing your behavior is often to re-evaluate and try to transform the thoughts that are driving that behavior.
I use various CBT tools and techniques to dig down to uncover the "scripts" that are driving their actions and reactions, and revise the ones that just aren't working.
What is Internal Family Systems Therapy?
Do you sometimes argue with yourself? Do you find yourself falling into bad habits in moments of stress, anger, sadness, or fatigue? Do you have an inner critic who scolds you when you mess up, or who tells you that you'll never measure up? Do you sometimes act in ways that are out of character for you, or which you know run counter to your goals, ethics, or common sense?
IFS posits that consciousness is comprised of different sub-personalities or "parts" which are all motivated in different ways to protect and preserve the "Self System" (i.e., you). Sometimes, however, our parts adopt unhealthy or counterproductive roles in a misguided-but-sincere effort to protect us from suffering or strife, and must learn how to let go of their previous pain and find a healthier way to do their "job." In IFS, the therapist and the client work together to dialogue with the client's "parts" to learn about them, help them to move past previous experiences, and discover healthier ways of having their needs met. Learn more about IFS.
IFS has helped to inform my treatment approach in various respects--most notably, it has taught me to look for the positive purpose or goal behind a given counterproductive behavior or bad habit.
Tell me more about your academic coaching, college prep, and APPIC internship prep services.
With an eye towards neurodiversity and learning disabilities, I will teach you strategies and lifehacks for organizing your schedule, keeping track of your assignments and your To-Do list, beating procrastination and demoralization, studying for tests, writing and proofreading essays, securing proper 504 and IEP accommodations, and locating other resources and tools for learning. I can also provide guidance and information on the college prep and essay process and navigating college itself. Because I have been through the APPIC Psychology internship process myself, I am also happy to share what I have learned with psychology students and proofread cover letters and essays.
How are you different from other therapists?
Living with a disability has taught me that normality is overrated, and that one person's best life may not be another's. As your therapist, I will strive to help you to identify your strengths, resources/supports, limitations, and desires--while working to ensure your basic safety and well-being, and the safety and well-being of others--so that you can create the life that works for you.
I believe that health is not merely the absence of sickness; it is also the presence of meaning, purpose, healthy social connections, and the feeling that you can exercise meaningful choices over your life. I want to help you to add positive things to your life just as much as I want to help you subtract the negative ones.
How are you the same as other therapists?
I am held to the same legal and ethical responsibilities as the other in my field. See my Policies and Fees for more information. I operate within the overall paradigm of the profession, and rely on the same body of scientific research and the same evidence-based therapy methods.
Do you take insurance?
No, not at this time.
Are your fees negotiable?
Yes. I want you to be able to afford the care you need. Visit my Policies and Fees page for more information.
Is is true that all of the photographs that appear on your website were taken by you? Can I use them for a project or website?
Yes, they were all taken by me! Please contact me if you wish to use any of my photos, and please give me credit if and when you do so.