A: This is one of the biggest concerns individuals have when trying to decide whether to begin therapy, and rightfully so. Choosing a therapist is a very personal decision. In fact, research has confirmed that the relationship between client and therapist is one of the most important factors to the success the client experiences. You may get a sense of whether we can work together from your 15 minute free consultation call. However, the best way to know if I’m a good fit for you is to come in for a session. Ask yourself some of the following questions: “Do I think I can feel comfortable and safe with this person?” “Does it feel like this person “gets” me?”

If you do not feel I am the best fit for you, I will absolutely make a referral for you to another therapist who may be a better fit. The most important thing is that you get the help you need to succeed.

A: I provide therapy for individual adults who are experiencing anxiety and depression, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and people who are dealing with grief and loss. I have worked with many adults who are looking for a safe place to question their LDS faith and have helped individuals who have chosen to transition out of that faith. I do not work with children or teenagers.

A: Once you have made a decision to see a therapist, you will probably still feel apprehensive about the process. It’s natural to feel nervous before your first appointment. Therapy is a shared journey; a shared process. Although you and I will travel together, it is ultimately your journey and you will make your own decisions. I do not have answers to all your concerns, but I do have the ability to listen carefully and will ask thoughtful questions. Your answers to these questions will help shape the direction of our work. You can expect to be respected. You can expect that I will offer opinions and suggestions from time to time but I will not tell you what to do.

A: This is a great question that is asked frequently. The whole process begins with you calling for your free 15 minute phone consult. This will involve me asking you a few questions to determine if we are a good fit.

If we feel we are a good fit, you will book a session and I will email you a link through my HIPPA compliant platform to complete some forms and sign them electronically.

If you choose online therapy, you will receive a link to a virtual waiting room and will use this same link for future online sessions. All online therapy is conducted through a HIPPA compliant platform to meet privacy and confidentiality standards.

The initial session is 80 minutes and gives us the chance to talk about you, your current situation, what you hope to accomplish in therapy, and privacy and confidentiality standards.  Subsequent sessions are 60 minutes.

A:  To begin, we will meet once a week. I find it’s important to gain some momentum in the beginning by meeting weekly. This can help you begin seeing progress soon. Once some of your goals are met, meeting less often makes sense.

A: No, I am not a medical doctor. Many clients find medication is helpful, but many of them also progress well in therapy without medication. If you want to be evaluated for psychiatric medication, either contact your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. If you are already taking medication, I can coordinate care with your doctor.

A. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), as with most therapy approaches, focuses on the individual’s present concerns. The EMDR approach believes past emotionally-charged experiences are overly influencing your present emotions, sensations, and thoughts about yourself. As an example: “Do you ever feel worthless although you know you are a worthwhile person?”

EMDR processing helps you break through the emotional blocks that are keeping you from living an adaptive, emotionally healthy life. 

EMDR uses rapid sets of eye movements to help you update disturbing experiences, much like what occurs when we sleep. During sleep, we alternate between regular sleep and REM (rapid eye movement). This sleep pattern helps you process things that are troubling you. 

EMDR replicates this sleep pattern by alternating between sets of eye movements and brief reports about what you are noticing. This alternating process helps you update your memories to a healthier present perspective.  

(Excerpt from EMDR Consulting brochure)

A: One of the misconceptions about therapy is that it just means talking, talking, talking AND talking about the past. While we will create space to talk about the past, it is always in reference to how it’s affecting you in the present and showing up in your current situation. The past is a place we visit to get clues and awareness, but you definitely don’t want to stay there.

I am a very direct and engaged therapist, who is also warm and challenging. I will hold a space for the feelings that may surface during therapy, but will also challenge you to take action to implement what you’re learning in therapy into your everyday life, so you can see real change. In addition to our sessions, the work you do outside of therapy will be the greatest determining factor to your healing and growth.

A: This answer varies from person to person. My goal is to help you get what you need as quickly as possible. Generally speaking, depending on their current situation, most clients get the help they need and are ready to leave therapy within a few short months.