How do I know if you’re a good fit for me?
Fit between client and therapist is one of the main contributing factors to the success of therapy. I offer a 15-minute phone consultation in which we’ll discuss your reasons for considering therapy as well as my approach, so you can decide if I’m a good fit. Meeting with each other during our first few sessions will also give you a chance to determine if you like working with me.
What happens in the first session?
My focus will be on getting to know you – what brings you to therapy, what you would like to achieve through our work together, your family history, and aspects of your life such as physical health, work, and social support. It will also be your opportunity to ask me anything you’d like to know about therapy and my approach.
How long does therapy last? How often will we meet?
How long therapy lasts really varies from client to client, depending on your goals. The idea is to help you learn more about yourself and learn approaches and skills so that you can address challenges on your own moving forward. I recommend meeting on a weekly basis for the first few months so that we can build momentum and then we can move to biweekly or monthly sessions based on progress toward your goals. Even after you decide you no longer need to meet for therapy on a regular basis, I’m always available for occasional sessions.
Will sessions be confidential?
Confidentiality is critical because the therapeutic space is your safe space. Our sessions will be completely confidential and would only be shared with anyone else if you submit a written request to do so. There are only a few exceptions to the confidentiality, including if you put yourself or someone else in imminent physical danger or if I learn about child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of a disabled person, for which I am a mandated reporter.
Are sessions in person or virtual?
I schedule in-person sessions on Thursdays in my Evanston office, and the rest of the week I schedule virtual sessions utilizing a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform.