What is it like to work with you in counseling?

I strive to be approachable, kind, honest, and collaborative. I believe counseling is magical, but not magic in and of itself. Like most things in life, counseling is a process, and its dependent on trusting relationship and the goodness of our connection, which takes time to build. It also depends on how we both show up to the work. I am an advocate for check-ins, and continuing to assess if you feel that you are receiving good care.

What makes you different?

I suppose that will eventually be for you to answer! I think there are many great options for counselors, and different counselors can be right for different seasons of life. As my client, I know that I commit to your best care and do not waver. I often like to say I have an expansive definition of counseling, and love to bring creativity to sessions."

I’ve never done counseling before, and I’m feeling nervous about it. What should I expect?

That’s completely understandable; if you’re brand new to therapy, it makes sense that you would have hesitations about what to expect. First, I genuinely feel honored that you would pursue working with me in counseling. It’s my hope to create a safe and welcoming environment to explore whatever you’re struggling with together. I consider the foundation of therapy to be the relationship between a counselor and client, and it will be necessary for us to build a relationship through time, getting to know each other, and building trust, not unlike other relationships in life. In the beginning phases of counseling, I may be curious and directive about exploring the nature of your presenting concerns, elements of your history, and what’s important to you. I commit to not judging, not giving unsolicited advice, not forcing you to talk about things you don’t want to talk about, not making weird interpretations about your struggles, and not pretending to be the expert of your life. We will build this together, grow, and evaluate pace, safety, and helpfulness during the process. It’s also important that we’re a good fit! Counseling is something you can decide to try once or for a short time, and you do not need to make a lengthy commitment to begin working with me.