Frequently Asked Questions

Counseling, sometimes called “talk therapy,” is a conversation or series of conversations between a counselor and client. Counseling usually focuses on a specific problem and taking the steps to address or solve it. Your challenges are discussed without too much attention on the role of your past experiences.

Psychotherapy, like counseling, is based on a healing relationship between a therapist and client. therapy also takes place over a series of meetings, though often it has a longer duration than counseling. Instead of pinpointing individual problems, psychotherapy considers overarching patterns, chronic issues, and recurrent feelings. This requires an openness to exploring the past and its impact on the present. The aim of psychotherapy is to address the underlying issues which fuel the current challenges.

HOW DO I KNOW YOU'RE THE BEST THERAPIST FOR ME?

There are many factors that go into finding the best Therapist for YOU. Of paramount importance is PERSONALITY FIT. This is the launching point and foundation for the work you will do over time. Having a strong relationship will be key to the success of your therapeutic process.

• TRUST: Can you see yourself trusting this person with your emotions, behaviors, and life experiences even if it might be scary? Are they empathetic?
• AUTHENTICITY: A good therapist is genuine, approachable, and honest.
• AFFIRMING: Your therapist should believe that you have the ability to learn, grow and make progress on your therapeutic journey. If that does not appear to be happening, you should both decide to end the therapeutic relationship.
• COMMUNICATION:Your therapist should be open, warm, and respectful even if they are challenging you or pointing out areas for growth.
• COMFORT LEVEL: The best healing work happens when you feel connected to and comfortable with your therapist. You may also want to find a therapist who is familiar with your identity and understands the unique challenges you face. This can be especially important for those who identify as a part of marginalized groups including women, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.

HOW LONG WILL I BE IN THERAPY?

The length of time you are in therapy is very individual and depends on your, goals, process, and journey. Your therapist is there to help facilitate your inner work factoring in your emotional safety, and interventions used.

Typical time frames can be anywhere from 4 to 12 months or more depending on the types of challenges you are dealing with. Some people participate in therapy off and on over several years.

There is no “magic wand’. Therapy is a process that helps you deal with difficult challenges. It took a while to notice the issue, it will take a while to assess and address the issue. You’ll likely dive into sensitive subjects that bring up tough or uncomfortable emotions.

You may become angry with your therapist and believe it or not, that’s a good thing. It’s called transference, where the emotions you feel about other people or situations in your life you shift to your therapist. Don’t worry, we don’t take it personally. You’ll need to be OK with processing this and other hard topics to achieve the changes you’re hoping for in your life.

So, long story short, you might initially feel worse before you feel better. However, you should always discuss how you’re feeling with your therapist especially if you don’t believe you’re improving.