Our initial consultation is a 15-minute video call for me to get an initial sense of what brings you to therapy, and for you to ask questions about me and how I work. There is no cost to you and no commitment. If it feels right for us both, we will schedule a 50-minute initial appointment.

An initial appointment is a paid therapy session. It is an opportunity for you to get a sense of what it is like to work with me, to get help right away, and for us to agree on the focus areas of our work together. If we seem to be a good fit, at the end of the session we’ll confirm a weekly appointment time that is exclusively yours.

This is a great question but there’s no single answer to it. Not everyone is on the same path, nor moves at the same pace. Some goal-oriented therapies I practice are focused on solving specific problems, like getting over certain fears or phobias, improving communications in a relationship, or overcoming insomnia. These may be addressed together in a time-bound approach so when you’ve reached your goals the therapy might end. Therapy can also be more self-exploratory in nature, examining how you got to be who you are, and how that’s affecting how you live today. This can take more time. My goal, though, is not to create a dependency for you on therapy, but rather to help you take what you’ve learned or experienced in therapy out into the world, and feel like you’ve gotten something helpful and enriching in the process.

At its core, therapy is a relationship, and credentials aside, many people find it helpful for their therapist to be someone they trust, respect and even like. The journey you take in therapy may not always be easy or enjoyable, and it’s important for you to feel heard, supported, and not judged by the therapist you’re taking it with.

I find it helpful to ask yourself the question, “does this feel like a good fit for me?” Sometimes you’ll know it right away, and sometimes it may take a few sessions. I encourage you to trust your gut, and for us to talk about it.

The important thing is to find someone who is right for you and what you’re trying to accomplish at this stage in your life. Only you can answer that question.