F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are some frequently asked questions that people often have when they are considering therapy. My answers are partially geared to how I work, but offer an overview of what therapy is like.

1. How do I know if therapy is a good idea for me right now?

People begin therapy for many different reasons. You may attend therapy on and off, or have never been in treatment before. Maybe you’re having a personal, relationship career or medical crisis. Or you want to work on long-standing issues that are keeping you from personal fulfillment, such as social anxiety, problematic coping skills or a tendency toward depression.

2. What can I expect from the first therapy session?

Part of the focus of the first session is simply for us to become acquainted with each other. I will ask you some questions about your present situation, to learn more about you. I encourage you to ask questions about the nature of our work. We will talk about your reasons for wanting to start therapy. Most importantly, we will make sure you feel safe starting therapy.

3. What about the next two sessions?

I like to set goals during this time. It’s important that we both have a clear idea of how you want to benefit from therapy. Usually, we will set about two or three primary goals. Some people need help setting goals, and have a vague understanding of what they want to change. Others know exactly what they want. Therefore, goals can be general, such as “increase self-esteem” or “improve coping skills.” More specific goals may involve seeking help for an addiction or deciding about whether to stay in a difficult relationship.

4. What do I do in between sessions?

Sometimes we might decide on homework. This may involve practicing deep breathing to deal with stress, developing your ability to counteract a self-defeating thought with a positive one, or buying a journal to record upsetting feelings. We will decide on homework together, and you can complete it however you feel comfortable. Or you may want to use the time to consider what we talked about. It will vary from week to week, and will depend on where you are at emotionally, and what you are ready for.

5. What if I feel really overwhelmed after leaving our sessions from discussing sad feelings and/or events?

Part of our work together will depend on where you are at emotionally, and what you are ready for. Therapy can only be successful if we move at a pace that is comfortable for you. For instance, if you feel so depressed and anxious that you can barely keep your job, we will try to stabilize your feelings before tackling other areas. I like to check in with clients during sessions and before they leave. We can take some time at the end of a session to review a difficult discussion.

6. How do I know if my depression and/or anxiety even have a psychological basis? Sometimes I worry that I have a medical problem.

This is a valid concern. I don’t assume that just because you’re seeing me, your problem might not have some sort of medical basis. Since I don’t have a medical degree, I may suggest you discuss your symptoms with your internist. It can be important to know if certain issues, such as poor appetite or heart palpitations, are even partially caused by a physical condition.

7. What if I need medication? I’m not sure how I feel about that.

This is a decision that you and I will make together. We will explore the reasons for a referral to a psychiatrist. If you do see one, with your signed consent I can work with the doctor so your treatment is coordinated.

8. How can I tell if therapy is helping me?

As we begin to focus on your daily life and frustrations, your specific issues will become clearer. Simply by exploring your feelings, we can start to clarify areas to look at. The next step will be to figure out how to make changes in your life. As we continue our work, you may notice yourself practicing what we do in between sessions. You will start to remember our discussions, and integrate them into your day-to-day life. You may notice that you have improved insight, and have more positive coping skills.

9. How do I know when I’m done with therapy?

This goes back to establishing goals at the beginning of our work together. We will review your goals from time to time. We may refine them, or decide you have achieved what you set out to do. We can examine how your quality of life was when we began, and where you are currently at.