Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect from my first counseling session?
The first session is a chance for us to get settled, get to know each other, and start figuring out what brought you to counseling.
There is also some required intake information we need to cover, so the first session may feel a little more structured or even a bit disjointed. That's okay. We don't have to solve your entire life in one session.
My goal is for you to leave feeling heard, comfortable, and with a better understanding of where we can begin.
How do I know if counseling is right for me?
You don't have to be falling apart to come to counseling.
Maybe you're contemplating making a change. Maybe everyday life has started feeling harder than it should. Maybe you're overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or simply tired of handling everything on your own.
Sometimes you don't even know exactly what's wrong—you just know something needs to change.
That's enough of a reason to reach out.
What concerns or issues do you work with?
My clients come from all walks of life, and everyone's story is different. My primary focus is trauma-focused counseling, including helping clients understand and work through the ways difficult experiences can continue to affect their emotions, relationships, self-understanding, and everyday life.
I also work with concerns related to emotional dysregulation, anxiety, stress, life transitions, self-worth, relationships, and feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
You don't need to fit neatly into a diagnosis or category to benefit from counseling. We start with you—not a checklist.
What counseling approaches do you use?
My approach is primarily person-centered and humanistic, meaning I believe you are the expert on your own life and that our work should be collaborative.
I am EMDR-trained and currently pursuing EMDR certification, and I also have training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Depending on your needs and goals, I may incorporate elements of EMDR, DBT, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into our work.
I don't believe therapy should be a one-size-fits-all experience. We'll work together to determine what approaches make sense for you, your experiences, and what you're hoping to change.
How often will we meet?
The frequency of counseling depends on what brings you in, your individual needs, and what you're hoping to accomplish.
For clients working through significant or complex concerns, I strongly encourage weekly sessions for at least the first couple of months. Consistency can provide the space and momentum needed to build trust, establish goals, and create meaningful change.
Therapy isn't a quick fix, and unfortunately, I don't have a magic wand. What I can offer is a consistent space to do the work together.
We'll continue to reassess what you need as we go.