People come to therapy for different reasons, therefore therapy works in different ways depending upon the person seeking therapy, the reasons for seeking therapy, and the style of the psychotherapist. Therapists help people with a variety of problems. Sometimes it can be helpful to talk to a therapist because the therapist not only is an expert in the area of human psychology, but also, the therapist can offer a different perspective than a family member or friend. Therapists are also trained to use their knowledge to be able to help people understand the difficulties in their lives and cope with them in a healthier way. Therapy can help people to re-evaluate their priorities, gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their lives, make important changes, receive support when they most need it, and most importantly, improve the quality of their lives.

The number of sessions a person attends depends upon their goals. Some people come for a single session in order to get a professional opinion on a particular problem. Some come for several months to address more complicated, long-standing patterns or difficulties. The average length of a therapy is somewhere between three and nine months. That being said, some people benefit from therapy so much that they attend for years, continuing to update their goals and improve the quality of their relationships and their lives.

The most important predictor of success in therapy is the rapport between the client and the therapist. Therefore, you want to choose someone with whom you feel comfortable talking about important things in your life. It is normal to experience some anxiety when meeting with a therapist for the first time. It will likely take a few sessions to determine if the therapist you are meeting with is the right fit for you.

Typically, therapy sessions are weekly and are 50 minutes in length. Sessions are held at the same hour each week. Together, we will find a day and time that works for you, that will be reserved for you during the entire duration of your therapy. I am able to offer evening and Saturday appointments to accommodate your schedule.

Yes, I do. I love to meet in person but there are times when that isn’t possible. When we agree to online sessions it is still my hope that we’ll occasionally meet in person. I’ll be in my office and you can be anywhere that works for you. I recommend planning ahead to be sure you’ll be in a quiet place free from distraction.

We will decide together on the structure of your child’s therapy sessions. Your level of involvement will depend upon a number of factors including the reasons for which your child is in therapy and his/her age. Parent consultation is always a vital component of child treatment. Typically, a portion of the session is reserved for your child, and a portion is reserved for you (the parent). Sometimes, separate sessions will be scheduled for the parent and the child.

I want you to be involved in your child’s therapy and will certainly talk to you about your child’s treatment and his/her progress. The level of detail with which I will tell you about my conversations with your child depends upon your child’s age and the reasons for his/her coming to therapy. You and I will discuss the salient issues that arise during treatment and how we can both help your child. One of the factors that can contribute to your child opening up to a therapist is knowing that they have some confidentiality. However, if there is ever a concern about your child’s safety, I will immediately tell you and make sure either you or I take the necessary steps to protect your child’s safety.

Play therapy is a type of psychotherapy used with young children. Children often are not able to express themselves or their experiences verbally the way that adults express themselves. Therefore, play therapy is a process of engaging the child in therapeutic play which facilitates self expression. Play therapy may involve the use of puppets, drawing, sand play, and art. Children project their thoughts and feelings onto the play materials, which gives the therapist a sense of their inner world. The therapist can then interact through both play and language to communicate with the child to achieve the goals of therapy.