Individual Therapy

If you’re new to therapy, here’s what you can expect:

Therapy is a commitment. Think ahead of time what your goals are for therapy and how frequently you want to meet. Our first session will mostly be spent going over your current and background information, and developing a focus for our work. I always suggest meeting weekly at first, and then I am happy to work with your schedule and needs. Some people choose to continue meeting weekly, others move to bi-weekly or monthly. Therapy sessions are typically around 50 mins, unless we discuss something different. It is different to say upfront how long may be needed to see things improve. I see individuals from ages 18 and up. 

People choose to work with a therapist for all kinds of reasons, and inversely, there are also many different types of therapies. Most therapists use a combination of theories and modalities. Some issues I focus on in my practice are trauma, chronic pain and illness, anxiety, depression, body image, and feeling “stuck”, just to name a few. Some of the theories/modalities that I use are EMDR, parts perspective (or ego states), polyvagal theory, CBT, DBT skills, Buddhist psychology, mindfulness, and a somatic focus. 

Working with a therapist you connect with and trust is very important. Sometimes it just isn’t a good fit! It can be frustrating to feel like you cannot find a therapist that you connect with, but it’s a good reason to seek out someone new. Therapy is a collaboration. I will do my best to listen to and guide you, give you helpful information, challenge you when appropriate, and support you as you put things into practice in your everyday life. 

Telehealth vs In-person Appointments

Telehealth or virtual therapy has become very popular since the start of the pandemic. I now only provide telehealth services, but this allows me to work with people throughout Virginia. Choosing between telehealth or in-person appointments is a personal choice and each has it’s own accessibility issues. For telehealth services it is important to have a good internet connection, a private place to meet with few distractions, and earbuds. A laptop is best for telehealth and many people find having a notebook for therapy is very handy. EMDR can be done via telehealth as well.

Psychiatric Medications vs Therapy

Many people have questions about taking psychiatric medications vs working with a therapist. This comes down to personal preference and situation. For people dealing with moderate to severe symptoms,  a combination of therapy and medications can often be most effective; I do not prescribe medications. Therapy is different than medications in that it is most often not a quick fix, but a way to address underlying issues or root causes of the problem. Medications on the other hand may improve some symptoms more quickly but don’t address the underlying patterns that may also be contributing to the problem.