What to Expect

This may be the first time you are considering seeing a therapist, or you may have had counselling experiences in the past. Regardless of where you are starting from, it is common to have questions about what to expect.

Before we decide to work together, I offer a free 15-minute consultation. This gives us an opportunity to explore whether we feel like a good fit, whether I have the experience and tools to support your needs, and for you to ask any questions you may have about my approach or about therapy more generally.

In our first session, I will ask questions about you and your life to better understand what is bringing you to counselling. Some questions may focus on your personal health and wellness history, while others may explore your current circumstances, challenges, relationships, or patterns that may be keeping you feeling stuck or disconnected from who and what is important to you. You are always welcome to add anything you feel is important, even if it has not come up in my questions.

The first session is designed to help us begin building a shared understanding of the concerns bringing you to therapy. In my experience, there is no one better equipped to help me understand your experience than you.

By the end of our first session, I will reflect back some initial thoughts about what I am hearing and what may be helpful for us to focus on in our work together. These reflections are meant to help organize and summarize themes that emerge in session and to create some structure and direction for our work together. I will regularly check in to ensure my understanding reflects your experience as you experience it. If I miss something, misunderstand something, or frame something in a way that does not feel right to you, I welcome that feedback as part of the therapeutic process.

In future sessions, the approaches we use will depend on the concerns you are bringing, what feels supportive and accessible for you, and the therapeutic approaches that I have been trained to use and that I believe may be helpful. For more information about my therapeutic style and approaches, please see my "About My Practice" page.

For therapy to feel meaningful and sustainable, it is important that the pace of our work together feels manageable and supportive. I will check in regularly to ensure the pace and direction of therapy continue to feel aligned with your needs, recognizing that these may evolve over time.