I’m new to therapy. What should I expect?

First and foremost, I’m thrilled you decided to get into therapy! I know it can feel scary but fret not - many people find great benefit and have had the same fears as you. Once we’ve decided to work together our first few sessions will be spent getting to know each other and identifying your needs more clearly. From there each session can look different - reviewing items from the previous week, exploring new findings, recognizing patterns/habits, and more. Sessions help us learn what areas in your life need to be changed or explored more and how to go about making change. Some sessions you might find “easy” and some very challenging. It’s all part of the process!

Do I just go to therapy and everything is fixed?

First, don’t assume anything actually needs fixing (as that presumes there’s something broken). Second, therapy isn’t a cure-all. Therapy can shine light on dark places or help to change perspective/narrative, but it’s a tool in a larger bucket of supplies that can help bring about change. And lastly, therapy requires work outside of sessions which you’ll need to do on your own and/or with the help of trusted allies. I’ll regularly give you items to think about or work on between sessions so you can learn to make desired changes on your own.

What is CBT?

CBT stands for cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT is one of the most commonly used methodologies/modalities in talk therapy. It focuses on exploring the ways in which we think, patterns of unhelpful behavior, and coping skills.

What is DBT?

DBT stands for dialectical behavioral therapy. DBT is a commonly used methodology/modality in talk therapy and was developed in the late 1970’s by Marsha Linehan. DBT is an effective strategy to help manage and/or regulate emotions and can assist with emotional coping before diving into the “why” of a situation.