Reaching out for help can be scary and many people find it  difficult  to actually pick up the phone or go online to schedule an appointment. Maybe you’ve never been in therapy and wonder what talking to a stranger about your personal issues will be like. Or maybe you have tried therapy before, but it did not go as you had hoped because there was not a good fit between you and the therapist, or the timing was not right.

Finding a good fit between you and your therapist is extremely important. Every person has their own style and so do therapists. If these do not match up, it is difficult to accomplish your goals. My approach to therapy is very person-centered, which means I take direction from where you tell me you are at and what you want to accomplish in therapy. The initial session involves some paperwork and general information gathering, but after that we generally talk about what is on your mind that week. I can provide you with handouts and home work if you like, but generally I focus on what is most pressing to you in the moment, and as time goes by it becomes more clear what you need to work on and how you can get there. 

You might also wonder how talking to someone about your problems can really improve your life. Research has shown that both medication and “talk therapy” are equally effective in treating conditions such as depression and anxiety. Sometimes both are needed to get the improvement you would like to see. However, talking to a therapist provides some unique benefits that are difficult to get anywhere else. Therapists are trained to listen in a way a friend or family member is not. They can provide objectivity and clarity in a safe, nonjudgmental environment and the focus is on your needs during the time you are there. As you become more comfortable with this, you begin to find ways in which you are growing that you may not have been aware of before. And you begin to find a sense of hope and mastery over the situations you have been struggling with.