Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through past difficulties alone, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize when they need a helping hand; I see this as admirable.

By choosing therapy, you are taking responsibility for your life by owning where you're at and making a commitment to change the situation. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to see yourself clearly and compassionately so you can overcome whatever challenges you face.

People are often reluctant to attend counseling because of the cost. I can only tell you that while no counselor is always helpful to everyone, we are helpful to most and I encourage you to consider counseling as an investment in yourself, your family and your children. If you value yourself and your relationships enough, it is generally worth figuring out how to transform disabling habits. Ultimately, what you put in now can pay off for the rest of your life. Therapy is expensive and time consuming but the overall gains are completely life affirming and long lasting.

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy varies with the individual. Based on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term for a specific issue, or longer-term to deal with more difficult patterns or to fully commit to personal growth. I find that I am most effective if we schedule regular weekly sessions, especially at the beginning while we are developing trust.

It's hard for me to describe a typical session exactly because I evolve to fit people's learning styles and areas of strength, but with that said, generally we sit together in a comfy room and talk. You can expect to discuss the current events in your life, some of your personal history, and report progress or new insights from the previous therapy session. My therapeutic modalities work with the mind, body, spirit and emotions. Very often I'll ask questions to get you to deepen your thinking, sometimes I’ll coach you on diet, exercise or gut health, sometimes we'll utilize the spiritual beliefs you feel comfortable with, and sometimes we'll do emotional release work. All of these paths lead to greater self-awareness, which in turn provides clarity and resolution.

People usually feel some relief during the first session.

Confidentiality is the cornerstone of successful therapy. In order to feel safe sharing sensitive material and to develop trust in me, you need to know that your privacy will be respected. Your presence in my office and all information disclosed within sessions is confidential and will not be revealed to anyone without your written permission, except where reporting is required by law:

• When there is suspicion that a minor or other vulnerable person has been or is being abused.
• When the client presents a serious danger of violence to self or others.
• When a client reveals that he or she has been sexually abused by a health care provider.
• When a court issues a subpoena, my files may be part of the legal proceedings.

• Bring a journal to therapy and take brief notes.
• Spend 30 minutes to an hour after your session to write about what we discussed and any questions that arise. This will significantly increase your ability to integrate the new material.
• Between sessions, jot down notes about significant events or topics you would like to discuss.

It is important to understand that you will get better results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do with me directly, I may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noticing specific behaviors, or taking action on your goals. People seeking therapy are typically ripe for change and can utilize their exquisite vulnerability to motivate healthy risk-taking and transformation.