What To Expect from Therapy

Each of my patients is engaged in a course of therapy tailored specifically to them. The way your course of therapy unfolds will depend on many things, including your goals for therapy, your strengths, your history, and your readiness for change.

In our initial sessions, I encourage you to assess whether I am the right fit for you. Because therapy requires a certain level of motivation and openness from the patient, it is crucial to choose a therapist with whom you feel comfortable. At the same time, I will be focusing on understanding your needs and goals, to ensure that I will be able to help you. I will also be getting to know you as a whole person, so that changes you make will be meaningful and long-lasting.

The direction we take next depends upon the information gathered in our initial sessions. We may explore your current life and your personal history to understand why you think, feel, and behave as you do. This depth of self-understanding fosters self-acceptance, which is the foundation for a happy, healthy person. Our therapy may also include more solution-focused work, teaching you specific skills (e.g., coping skills or assertiveness skills) and concrete strategies for behavior or thought change. I will draw from a number of therapeutic approaches to address your specific needs.

Because it has taken you a long time to become the way you are, it will take some time to create change. Significant, sustained change does not usually occur over a matter of weeks. Typically, it will take months to achieve a major change in the way you see things, react to things, or behave. For more severe issues, such as a long-standing eating disorder, it may take a year or more.

Therapy is a place to focus on yourself, which is a rare opportunity in our extraordinarily busy lifestyles. It can help you solve a specific problem or gain more general self-acceptance. I dedicate my knowledge, experience, and caring to help each patient meet their goals and live a happier, more fulfilled life.