Getting Started

Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the ability to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have some strengths that you’ve used before, that for whatever reason isn’t working right now. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, I’ll help you identify what those strengths are and how to implement them again in what is happening now.

The difference is between someone who can do something, and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, if you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.

Medication alone cannot solve all issues. What medication does is treat the symptoms. Our work together is designed to explore the root of the issue, dig deep into your behavior and teach strategies that can help you accomplish your personal and/or relational goals. Medication can be effective and is sometimes needed in conjunction with therapy.

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs.

Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place.

I am so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication is crucial to your success. After all, we only see each other for a session a week. It’s the work you do outside of our sessions that will really help you see your personal growth and development.

If you are concerned about your relationship, and you would both like to work with me, I would initially work with both of you together. After this work, if one of you would like to continue in individual sessions, I could work with only one of you. It is not helpful to move from individual into couple’s work with the same therapist because of potential trust issues.

In your very first session you can expect your counselor to begin by going over the highlights from our intake paperwork. After that the rest of the session will be an opportunity for you and your counselor to get to know each other. Although this goes both ways, for your counselor to get to know you and for you to get to know your counselor, your counselor may have a lot of questions for you. By the end of the first or second session, your counselor may ask that you do some work or additional thinking outside of the session. Some counselors call this “homework”. The getting to know you process can take anywhere from 1 to 4 sessions. By the time you near the end of the getting to know each other process, you will have given a few coping skills to utilize to minimize your distress.

Log into the client portal here.

As we continue to navigate the COVID pandemic, we are working to ensure your health and safety remain a top priority! We know seeking out help can be overwhelming itself, so we are taking the necessary steps to ensure COVID does not stop you from talking to our of our counselors.

Telehealth Appointments are available and allow you a way to stay in the comfort of your own home/office/car while still speaking with someone in a HIPPA-compliant format. We use a platform called doxy.me that holds your privacy and confidentiality to the highest standards.

If you choose to meet with someone in our office, we have taken additional steps for your safety. We ask our clients and clinicians to wear a mask while in our office, we have temporarily closed our waiting room and use an electrostatic disinfectant sprayer to keep our offices as clean as possible.

If you are feeling sick or have been exposed to COVID, please let us know at your earliest convenience.

We are here to help and support you through the ups and downs of life. If you have any questions in regards to Room For Change, how we are staying safe or how we can support you, please don’t hesitate to reach out!