What to Expect

Each person has different issues and goals for therapy…

…so, your therapy experience will be unique to you.

Monica* and Kurtis* called me to help them better understand the needs of their teen daughter, Jasmine*.

They felt she was out of control and that dishonesty and mistrust were the results of their difficulties in communicating. They craved an honest, connected relationship with Jasmine, where sharing and openness would restore harmony and respect back to their home.

After several months, all three family members reported transformative results happening in their home. For the first time in years, Jasmine was talking openly about emotions and insecurities. Her social activities and schedule have become an open book, and her new boyfriend Jeff* came over this week to meet the whole family.

Jasmine is thrilled because she feels she can show her parents her true self and feel seen, understood, and loved. Monica and Kurtis reported they feel like they have their daughter back.

We’ll give you the time you’ll need.

Depending on your needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.

A job change, a relationship decision, or transitioning from a cross country move, might require the kind of brief therapy approach that can get you on course in the positive direction you need with only a few sessions.

How about for long-term therapy?

Long-term therapy treatment might be more appropriate in scenarios like building and applying life skills, adapting to an ongoing illness, working through childhood traumas, or building self-esteem.

What often happens in therapy, is the more you are healing and growing from pain…

… the more awareness you have of issues that contribute to that pain.

This can lead to changing habits, setting new goals, and going deeper into self-discovery than the client had originally thought possible.

What could begin as a short-term plan to address a sadness from a breakup might develop into an ongoing therapeutic process of accepting a lifestyle of living alone and launching a new career path.

The catalyst for seeking counseling may appear in the form of stress, pain, and discomfort; however, as we continue to explore what you need to be happy, we have the potential to make some brave, powerful discoveries about your very destiny.

Whatever your timeline, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).

Here’s what it actually looks like…

In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issues, and any progress (or any new insights gained) you’ve made from the previous therapy session.

Your first session will be different from future visits. The initial visit is a period for us to get to know each other and get an idea of how to proceed.

Future visits will be more therapeutic. For example, in your second session, you may explore a specific symptom, problem, or past trauma you mentioned in the first session.

Keep in mind that psychotherapy usually requires multiple visits, so don’t expect instant solutions to your problems the first day. Therapy is about equipping you with life-long solutions and not a quick fix.

The more actively you participate, the better results you’ll get.

Beyond the work you do in therapy, I may suggest some things you can do outside of office sessions to support your process – things like reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors, or taking action on your goals.

By seeking psychotherapy, we know that you’re ready to make a positive change in your life, so we encourage you to be open to new perspectives and do the work of taking responsibility for your progress.

Ultimately, the goal is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life.

Are you tired of watching the seasons change…

… and not experiencing the changes in yourself that you long to see? Are you feeling left behind as others celebrate milestones, achievements, and relationship successes?

Don’t you deserve to live your dream life? I believe you DO!

Can you feel the excitement of this moment? That’s because your life is about to change.

Take that first step and call me for a free 15-minute consultation: (615) 905-1893.

Don’t lose any more time waiting. It’s time to do something for yourself.

*Names changed to preserve client confidentiality.