I’ve never been to therapy before. What should I expect?

Therapy is a way for someone to talk through various issues, situations or behaviors that they may feel challenged by or that they wish to change. This is done in a supportive, non judgmental environment. You guide the therapy. Wherever you feel like starting is where therapy begins. You can start with something that happened long ago that got you to where you are today or you can start with something that happened yesterday that upset you. You took the huge first step of reaching out for support.  Great job!!

I’m a parent of a teenager. If you are meeting with my child will you tell me what is discussed? Do you meet with the parents?

In order for the therapeutic relationship to be safe and effective, clients must feel that what they disclose will be kept confidential.  I ask all parents that I work with to trust in this confidentiality process. If your child knows that I’m going to tell you everything they tell me, it is unlikely that they will participate fully. However, I am mandated to report certain situations in order to ensure safety.  If your child states that they intend to hurt themselves or someone else, or if your child states that someone is hurting them, I will disclose this information.   In the initial intake session I meet with parents and youth together to discuss the mandated reporting and my policy on confidentiality.  Generally, I will give updates to parents regarding topics the youth and I have discussed and how they are doing overall but in most cases, I will not offer details.  We will have family therapy as well. Often the family as a unit will undergo change as the youth grows and changes. As long as the youth is ready to talk openly, we will all meet together every third or fourth session (or more frequently depending on need).

What can I expect from you as my therapist?

As your therapist, I will listen and help you to more clearly understand your situation, emotions and behaviors.  I will support you as you work towards change.  Communication and confidentiality is of utmost importance to me and I take both very seriously.  I will work hard to ensure that you have the support and care that you need.  I make myself available via email, phone, text and in person for scheduling, appointments, support between appointments and crisis management.  

I have worked with adolescents and their families for many years and I am confident that I can easily connect and engage with a wide range of people. That being said, a client once told me that finding a good therapist is like finding a good pair of jeans. You have to try a lot on to find the right one!