I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?

When starting therapy, it's very common to feel nervous. It can be hard to talk about feelings out loud. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. It takes courage to start going to therapy. The fact that you are on this website, looking for help, and reading this right now shows that you are being brave and seeking help. 

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and bring up whatever is going on for you, including feeling nervous. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible. 

I’m here if you want to talk about it during a free phone or video consultation.

How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?

Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can email me. 

During a free phone or video consultation, you can ask me questions about my approach, what a typical session with me is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to discuss what's on your mind and we can determine how I could best be of service to you.

The first sessions are like an experiment to see how things go. During the sessions, you’ll be able to understand how comfortable you feel in sessions. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

What if I don't want to talk about something?

If something feels overwhelming or even terrifying to discuss, that's actually very normal. It can often feel difficult to talk about some things. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. It’s my job to give you space to slowly start to work through the tough stuff. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share

You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whatever is present for you. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to session and we can explore that together.

I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m crazy.

If you open up to me, I will not think you are crazy, I will think you are extremely brave and strong. Many of my clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are crazy). 

Working with my clients has shown me that the challenges your are facing are normal and natural. You have nothing to be ashamed about. Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you. 

I know that we all suffer in different ways, nobody's perfect, we are humans trying to human. 

Whatever it is you're going through, I provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported without judgement.

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could "get out." So I want you to know that unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else, everything you share with me is completely confidential.

I highly respect your privacy and value your trust. You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.

If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask during your during a free consultation or anytime during our work together.

How long will therapy take?

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast. 

If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing positive effects after the first 2-3 sessions. 

By that point, they they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible.

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 6-12 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges. While other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.

We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

What can I expect during the first session?

Overall, you can think of the first session as two-way interview where we can ask each other questions so we can begin to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

• What brought you to therapy?

• What’s present for you in your life right now?

• What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?

You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about about my training or what sessions will be like. 

The most important part of a first session is to experience what therapy is like with me. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again. 

How can I get started? 

I'm here to talk during a free 20-minute phone or video consultation where you can discuss what's on your mind and we can determine how I could best be of service to you. 

Email me today to book your free 20-minute consultation.