When starting therapy, it’s normal to feel nervous. It can feel intimidating to sit with someone and talk about how you feel. Going to therapy even when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. You reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and come just as you are, including feeling nervous. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.

Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can email me.

During a free phone consultation, you can ask me how I work as a therapist, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to share what’s going on for you and I will let you know how I can help.

The first few sessions are used to see if it's a good match- it's important you feel comfortable. During the sessions, you’ll be able to start seeing what it's like. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

It’s normal if you don’t feel ready to share everything. During our sessions, you never have to talk about something you’re not comfortable talking about. It’s my job to give you space to slowly start to work through the tough stuff. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share.

I recognize the courage it takes to share your deepest insecurities, hurts and shameful parts. Many of my clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are crazy or a bad person).

I know that what you are going through is common through many years of hearing people's stories. You're not being dramatic or "too much."

I know many of us are overwhelmed, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, we all suffer in different ways. Whatever it is you're going through, I provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported without judgment.

You might already know that you want to share sensitive information about your loved ones with me and you don't want them to find out what you've said. So you should know that unless you are suicidal, harming yourself, or someone else, what you say in sessions stays between you and me. I highly respect your privacy and value your trust.

If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, just ask.

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast. On average, my new clients start seeing improvements after the first few sessions. By that point, they feel like they have learned some ways to manage challenging stuff in their lives a bit better.

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 3-6 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges. While other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.

We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

Overall, you can think of the first session as a conversation through which we start getting to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

• What brought you to therapy?

• Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?

• What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?

You can ask me questions as well. The most important part of a first session is to see if you feel I’m a good fit for you.

I am in network with some insurances including Optum, Medica, United Healthcare, UBH, Bind, and Preferred One. For insurances where I am out of network, (currently Health Partners and BCBS), full payment is due at time of service and I can provide a superbill for possible reimbursement from your insurance company.