faqsIf you are new to therapy, it may seem a little unsettling to come in and talk to a complete stranger about your innermost and deepest thought, feelings, and fears but be assured that I am very easy to talk to and people feel at ease very quickly. There isn’t anything you can tell me that will cause me to judge you. I believe that we are doing the best we know how in any given moment based on the knowledge and resources we have. The work is to explore new knowledge and gain new skills to heal, gain self-esteem, and live more skillfully.

Why do people seek therapy?
I am afraid of remembering painful experiences.
I am concerned that if I see a therapist my job or other professional relationships will be
affected.

How can therapy help me?
Do I really need therapy?

Do I need therapy or is coaching a better approach?
What is therapy like?

How long do people attend therapy?
How do I get the most out of therapy?
Is medication a substitute for therapy?

What are the risks of therapy?
Is therapy confidential?

How can I find a good therapist?


Why do people seek therapy?

People seek therapy for many reasons. Therapy is an individual choice so there are many reasons why people decide to engage in therapy. Some seek help to deal with unexpected changes in their lives such as divorce of a loss of a loved one or employment while others seek resolution from long-standing issues such as childhood trauma or abuse or unresolved grief. When people are overwhelmed by anxiety, quilt, despair, conflict, or 
stress therapy can help. Working with a therapist can provide support and offer new strategies for coping and resolving issues.  Therapy is a good fit for those interested in taking responsibility for change, creating better self-awareness, working toward goals, and achieving a happier more fulfilled life.

I am afraid of remembering painful experiences.
This is a common fear about therapy. Most approaches today have veered away from focusing on the past to examining what is happening in the “here and now”.  It is possible to alleviate pain from the past and to develop new patterns without going into all the painful details of your past.

I am concerned that if I see a therapist my job or other professional relationships will be affected.

Every aspect of your participation in counseling or coaching is kept confidential. It will be your choice who knows about your decision to seek  help and support whether it is therapy or coaching. You may be surprised how supportive people can be if you choose to disclose that you are seeking help.

How can therapy help me?

faqsThere are a number of benefits to be gained from participating in therapy. Often it is the feeling of being supported and understood. Therapy can provide a fresh look on the problem or help you explore other options. The therapeutic experience can be an asset in managing many life experiences such as personal growth, interpersonal relationships, bereavement, spiritual conflicts, and creative blocks or just the day-to-day stressors of life. The benefits of therapy greatly depend on your commitment to use the process and put into practice what you have learned.

Some of the benefits of therapy are:

  • Gaining a better understanding of your self by identifying beliefs and values
  • Develop new coping skills to support behavioral changes
  • Developing skills to improve how you relate to yourself and others
  • Finding resolution to issues or concerns that brought you to seek therapy such as: quilt, anger, depression, grief, or fear
  • Improve communication skills by learning how to be a good listener and communicator
  • Improving self-esteem by learning new ways of being and boosting self-confidence
  • Break free of old patterns and develop new ways that support a more centered life
  • Identify goals and making a plan to achieve them

Do I really need therapy?
From time to time, we all deal with difficult and challenging situations. Most of the time we are resourceful and attempt to cope with a problem on our own. Sometimes we get stuck and unable to make the changes desired. Maybe you have discussed it with family, friends, or peers. Sometimes talking it out with a sympathetic listener helps. You know you need professional help when nothing is working. When you continue to feel depressed, 
anxious, or agitated, it is time to consider counseling. You should consider therapy when you feel unhappy or when the distress is interfering with your work, relationships, or self-confidence.  Recognizing the benefit of therapy and the need for help is a strength, which will support the change you seek. Therapy provides long lasting benefits and support, giving you tools to manage the challenges of your life.

Do I need therapy or is coaching a better approach?
faqsCounseling and coaching often overlap but there is a distinction between the two. Therapists are trained to diagnose emotional problems and work with clients to heal emotional wounds. Coaches do not diagnose but emotional healing can come from a client making a courageous choice that brings about a sense of healing. Coaching is a designed alliance that  provides you with focus, structure, and support. Coaches provide support and strategy to assist clients in moving  forward to accomplish desired outcomes. Coaching provides tools, perspective, structure, and accountability. As a result one can expect to see appreciable results in productively, personal satisfaction and achievement of personal goals.

 What is therapy like?
Every therapy session is unique to the individual. It is standard practice to discuss an individual’s primary concerns and goals during therapy sessions. A session generally lasts 50-minutes. Weekly sessions are best, especially at first. In the beginning, a person will experience initial relief from the distress and start feeling better so to sustain this state takes regular practice. If a person is in extreme distress then more than one session a week may be recommended until the distress passes. It is important to recognize that you will not always experience immediate results depending on the reason you have come in. Therapy can be short-term or long-term. Short-term therapy focuses on a specific issue where long-term therapy addresses more complex issues and on-going personal growth. I make my best effort to be efficient in the way we use our time together. It is my 
intention to help you reach your goals. There may be times when it will be beneficial to complete assignments between sessions such as reading an article or book, keeping a journal, or tracking behaviors.  Outside assignments support integration and strengthen the change process so it is important to be an active participant both in session and outside.

 How long do people attend therapy?
 faqsEvery person is different. Our work together is designed specifically for you. Most people find that 6-10 sessions help them make important changes when they are coming in for a tune-up. If you are working on a major life change or a  long-standing pattern, you may need 6 months or more to make a lasting change. Sometimes as you work through one issue, it uncovers another and new goals are identified, which could require continued work.  The work is individualized so then will the timeframe for accomplishing the goals you have identified.

How do I get the most out of therapy?

Therapy is an investment of your time, money, and effort. You can make the most of your investment by setting the intention to be an active 
participant in the process. Organize your schedule so that you come to your sessions ready to be fully present in the process. Pay attention to when you do things that support change. Pay attention to when you do things differently.  Practice what you are learning. Set small attainable goals and pay attention to when you are successful. Practice gratitude.

Is medication a substitute for therapy?
In some cases medication and therapy is a good combination. It is important that you work with your medical doctor to determine what is best for you. 
The solution to long-term mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved through medication alone. It requires more than just a medical approach to treat the symptoms.  Therapy is part of the integrative approach to addressing the cause of the distress and behavior patterns that impede progress to change.

What are the risks of therapy?
Often time’s therapy requires recalling unpleasant aspects of your past or your present situation, which can bring up uncomfortable and even disturbing feelings such as sadness, anger, fear, quilt, and shame. Sometimes topics can be painful and embarrassing.  The role of the therapist is to be non-judgmental and supportive. I am here to support you while you work through those distressful and difficult feelings.

Is therapy confidential?

In general, the law protects communication between client and therapist. Information cannot be disclosed without your prior written consent. However, there are some exceptions to this rule as required by law.

These exceptions are:

If I suspect child abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child, dependent adult or elderly person
If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person
If a client intends to harm him or herself
If I am served with a court order for your records, or I am subpoenaed to testify


If any of these circumstances arise, I will make every effort to inform you before making a report and if I do make a report I will disclose only the minimum amount of information necessary to make the report.

How can I find a good therapist?
Start by getting a referral or doing some research as to whom or what services are available to you. Consider if the therapists qualifications faqsand therapeutic approach meet your needs. Place a call to the potential therapist stating your needs and concerns and ask questions as to what kind of strategies or approaches would they take in working with you. If the conversation feels comfortable and productive it is likely that the therapeutic relationship would be of benefit to you so the next step would be to arrange an appointment with the therapist.

I offer a 15-20 minute phone consultation to give you an opportunity to see if rapport can be started to see if working together will meet your needs.

You can call me @ 509-850-5991 or send me an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

I wish you well on your journey to happiness and fulfillment.