If you are browsing counseling service providers, deep inside, you already know that you might benefit from talking to someone about your mental health. I encourage you to give yourself credit for taking agency in your life and seeking support. However, it is understandable that you may be reluctant to try therapy since it is still surrounded by stigmas and misconceptions. People generally seek counseling when they feel overwhelmed with past or present life stressors. Therapy can help people who struggle with various mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, interpersonal difficulties, issues in romantic relationships, and family conflict. American Psychological Association suggests that therapy can help people examine possible solutions to their situation, promote effective behavior, and lead to more positive thinking. Similarly, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy reports that after receiving treatment, most clients notice an improvement in their emotional health, family relationships, partner relationships, overall health, and other domains of their lives. If this is your first therapy involvement, it is understandable that you might feel nervous and apprehensive. However, getting support through counseling is life-altering and incredibly rewarding for many people. I sincerely hope you will experience the full spectrum of therapy benefits, whether with me or another clinician.

Every therapist has their own procedures, but generally, the first step of treatment is related to logistics and paperwork. Here, I outline my process. First, you and I will decide on the day/time of the initial appointment and discuss if therapy will be provided online or in-person. Soon after scheduling your session, you will receive intake forms to complete, consent forms to sign, and instructions to set up initial payment. Once everything is signed and submitted, you are all set for your first appointment! During our first meeting, we will review the paperwork you signed, and I will address any questions you might have at the time. Then we will discuss concerns that brought you to counseling and any other important information you decide to share. Sometime during the first couple of sessions, we will work collaboratively to identify your therapy goals and discuss your treatment plan. Sessions two and beyond are typically more therapeutic in nature, and you might even start getting some relief and begin seeing new perspectives. However, it is important to remember that change is not immediate or linear. Please give yourself time. With persistence and an open mind, a small change will lead to bigger changes, and improvement will become highly likely.

The client-therapist relationship in counseling is very unique. Research indicates that the quality of the therapeutic relationship directly influences therapy success. Generally, a strong therapeutic alliance promotes better therapy engagement, openness, collaboration and correlates to successful treatment outcomes. Because of the very personal nature of the client-therapist relationship and its importance, finding the right therapist is crucial. To see if I can be a good fit for you and learn about my approach, I welcome you to browse my website. However, ultimately, the only way to know for sure if I am the right therapist for you is for us to meet in person or online. I offer free 10-15 minute online consultations if you would like to meet and chat before the first session. If, after a session or two, you realize that you are not completely comfortable with me, I will be happy to provide you with other referrals to ensure you find the right clinician.

Yes, I am passionate about helping couples overcome their challenges and achieve stable, healthy relationships. I use the Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy, which are internationally recognized as some of the best evidence-based approaches to clinical work with couples. You can learn more about my couples counseling services here.

Yes, I love working with families and supporting them through common challenges, such as parenting concerns, communication difficulties, and other family dynamics issues. You can learn more about my family counseling services here.

Yes, I work with children / adolescents, but my approach to their treatment is through family therapy. Personally, I believe strongly in parental influence on children and the value of consistent, respectful parenting. Therefore, to help a child / adolescent overcome their challenges and improve family dynamics, I invite the whole family or at least one caregiver alongside the child to participate in therapy together. You can learn more about my child/family counseling services here.

In accordance with professional codes of ethics and applicable laws, I take my clients’ confidentiality very seriously. Most of the things we discuss will always stay confidential, and your records will be protected. However, there are a few exceptions. In short, I might be obligated to break confidentiality: If there is reasonable suspicion to believe that there is an imminent risk of you harming yourself or others; If there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that a minor, a disabled adult, or an older adult is being abused or neglected; If there is a court order for me to share information; Additionally, I might need to share some information with my supervisor in order for you to receive the best care possible; Alternatively, I might share information with a third party if you sign a written consent requesting the release of your information.