FAQS

Do I have to have major problems to benefit from therapy?

Not at all. People from all walks of life and at every stage of life enter therapy and not just when there are major problems or serious mental health issues. Therapy is helpful when there are major life changes, such as becoming a mother, losing a loved one or a job, struggling with depression and anxiety, but also just for talking things through with a professional, even when things are going well. There is always something you can benefit from in therapy and always tools that can be learned to help you manage in your day to day with success and productivity.

Isn't online therapy a joke?

Online therapy is an efficient way to stay safe and comfortable at home, and still be provided professional therapy from a warm, invested therapist. A 2018 study showed that virtual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was just as effective as in-person therapy for treating depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxieties. Another study showed that virtual Prolonged Exposure therapy yielded equivalent, positive outcomes for those suffering from PTSD.

How do I tell my friends and family that I am in need of therapy/in therapy?

When it comes to your treatment, it is entirely confidential and you are never obligated to share with anyone that you are in therapy. However, if you feel you want to share this with someone an assertive and open statement you can give them is "I have been struggling with a few things and felt like it would be a good idea to work with a professional to get this sorted out." You don't have to disclose anything specifically, but you can also give them as much as you are comfortable giving them.

Can't I just take a pill for my depression and anxiety? Wouldn't that be quicker?

Absolutely you could. But you'll find that when you become tolerant to a medication and/or you quit taking it, the original problems will still exist. Medication can be seen as a band-aid and therapy is the antibiotic that prevents further infection in the long-term. Medication is great for treating the surface symptoms, such as panic attacks. However, therapy allows you to discover the root causes of those panic attacks and teaches you tools to use for the future. Medication is a great complement to therapy, however, and many benefit from a combination of the two.

What if I don't like my therapist's approach or feel like I can't open up to her/him/them?

Openness and honesty are valuable in therapy. I encourage my clients to feel at ease telling me when they're uncomfortable and when they feel the "vibe" is off. But, if you find that the vibe is so far off that you can't feel comfortable telling your therapist even that, it's ok to find a new therapist. No really great therapist will ever hold it against you to be honest with them and fire them. The important thing here is to continue searching for a therapist that you feel comfortable with, as there are so many of us out here who will work well with you.

What will we do in our sessions together?

Everyone comes to therapy for different reasons, therefore it can be difficult to narrow this down. At the beginning of therapy, there will be time spent on developing rapport and learning about your experiences that have led you to seek therapy. From there, we will set goals that you'd like to achieve and markers for progress, so that you and I both know when/if you are benefiting from therapy.

What do I do if I see you in public?

In public, I will never acknowledge you first, due to the risk of others asking how you know me. If you see me in public and are comfortable engaging, please do so! However, if you don't acknowledge me and I don't acknowledge you, know that it is to protect your confidentiality.

Why is therapy so expensive?

Therapists are highly trained, typically master's or doctoral level degreed individuals. We go through extensive licensing and training processes in order to become therapists and value our work highly. Though therapy can be very expensive, it is likely that the benefits far outweigh the costs. If you are having trouble affording therapy, there are always lower priced options available, however, and it is important to seek those out!

Can I do virtual therapy from just anywhere?

You could, but it will be important to consider that you will likely want to be in a private, quiet place to protect your own confidentiality. It's also very important that you know that even if you are on vacation or business out of state, if you are not located in a state your therapist is licensed in, there will likely be a pause in your treatment. This is normally manageable via proper notice and scheduling, however, and doesn't have to be a source of stress necessarily!

What happens if I move out of state?

If you are moving out of state and not relocating to a state in which I am licensed to practice, we will have to move toward termination preferably prior to your move. It's important to discuss this early on, so that the transition will be easier to handle for you. Therapists are actively working toward a national licensure ability and we hope that this will be a short-lived problem for us virtual practitioners, but until then, we have to abide by state licensure laws.

What is your style as a therapist?

As a therapist, I encourage you being your authentic self no matter what that means. If you feel like dropping the f-bomb, drop it! If you want to vent about so-and-so at work, go ahead. There will never be any judgment from me on this end. We are all human and you never need to feel uncomfortable being your human self with me. I'm pretty laid back in my approach, because I know how scary it can be going into therapy and not knowing what is safe to say or not say, but know this: it is safe to say just about anything here. *But I have to tell you that if you talk about harming yourself, someone else, or about things to do with child or elder abuse or neglect, I am still a mandated reporter and I have to share those things to fulfill my professional duties and ensure safety of you and others.*