Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does a session look like?

Sessions last approximately 50 minutes and can be customized for your individual needs

Typically a session begins with a brief check-in. From there we usually try to identify a particular theme to explore more deeply. The bulk of the session will be spent exploring this theme. The goal will be for you to have some kind of understanding or emotional release, acceptance, or capacity that you didn’t have before. We’ll often spend the last 5 to 10 minutes of the session integrating and talking about how to apply the learnings from the session into your daily life.

Why do you suggest we stick with one theme? What if I have a lot to talk about?

A question might arise as to why I tend to encourage clients to focus on one theme with me for the majority of a session. The main reason is I’m wanting to facilitate long-term change for you. If we talk about multiple topics it might provide temporary relief. However, it’ll be like cleaning your house without teaching you how to keep your house clean. I’d rather we focus on one theme or topic and do it in a way where you learn how to connect with your body, heart, and experience in a way that you can apply what we have learned to multiple areas of your life.

How does the healing of therapy happen?

There are multiple pathways for how the healing of therapy can happen including:

-inner child work

-dialoguing between multiple parts of oneself

-expanding the capacity / ability to be with a certain emotion (often by expanding it through the whole body including the belly, pelvis, and legs)

-an understanding or set of understandings as to where or why our difficulties are arising (i.e. my boss is reminding me of my strict parent and I’m relating to him like I am little)

-raw emotional expression

-titration / pendulation (sometimes a traumatic issue is so big we cannot process it all at once..we may need to bite-size the processing of it and alternate by moving towards something resourcing or grounding)

-relational impact (noticing how being with the difficulty in an attuned relationship can often be healing around the very issue itself)

-experiencing the authentic yearning and deeper self behind our feelings (we might get angry because we really love ourselves or someone else)

Will we just be talking?

It can depend but oftentimes no. I will often engage with you in terms of somatic questions and directives. I might ask you where you feel a feeling in your body. I might ask you how it is to be with a particular feeling. If you are showing signs of overwhelm I might ask that you open your eyes and look around so that you can stay regulated. Other times, I might point out different parts of you that are showing up and we might engage in a role-play or dialogue involving these two parts. You are always at choice whether you wish to follow any particular intervention I suggest.

Will you just be a good listener? How directive are you?

The simple answer to these questions are no and that I’m somewhat directive. Some people come to therapy because they don’t have many people to talk to in their life’s and they really just want someone to talk to. Other people have seen therapists who were mainly just good listeners and feel frustrated because their issues have not resolved and they want more direction and support. I tend to be a more directive therapist then the therapy approach that has become popular in some circles of just listening and not saying too much. However, I do that in conversation with what you are looking for and what your needs are. At the beginning it’s worth noting I tend to take a less directive stance because I am just getting to know you.

Can I eat during session, take a break, lie-down, etc.?

Of course I encourage people to be as focused as possible during sessions which usually would involve not eating. However, I really want you to take care of yourself and I’d rather you be eating and present as opposed to not eating and distracted by hunger. Similarly if you ever need a break (physical or emotional) you are welcome to take it during session. Sessions are designed to support your own growth, development, and well-being and we do not have to follow the conventional social rules of decorum. Similarly, I usually would not recommend lying down because it can tend to make one’s experience overwhelming. However, for some people and situations it can be very supportive.

Will we just be talking about my childhood? What if I don’t want to?