There can be a lot of variation in the ways that therapy works for clients depending on the therapist’s style and experience, the client’s presenting problems, and the client’s preferences. I believe that in all cases, therapy works best when there is a good fit between the client’s expectations and the therapist’s experience and orientation, and most importantly, when there is a secure, trusting relationship between therapist and client.

When there is transparency about the process of therapy and the plan for a particular client’s goals to be met, the client will usually be more motivated to continue even when the work becomes challenging emotionally.

Please visit my Specialties and Approach page for more information on my style of practicing therapy and my areas of expertise.

I recommend that clients ask any therapist they’re considering working with if they offer a free phone consultation prior to deciding to schedule the first appointment. Many therapists (including me) will offer that to assess whether there is a good fit before any sessions get billed to the client.

I welcome clients’ questions and concerns at any stage of the therapy process. The process of therapy is a collaborative one, and feedback from clients to therapists is important for maintaining a shared understanding of the clients’ needs.

The duration of treatment varies, and ultimately, I believe it should be the client’s decision when they feel they’re ready to stop. At the start of treatment, I discuss this with clients after we establish the presenting problems and goals they are pursuing in therapy.

When these goals are very specific, such as a particular behavior change that a client wishes to make or a specific conflict in a relationship that the client wants to work on resolving, short-term treatment of a few months may be sufficient for the client to feel they’re ready to end therapy.

Other clients may prefer to have an open-ended long-term therapy, recognizing that there may be additional issues beyond the ones that brought them into treatment that can arise over time and be worked through, as well.

Some clients may also engage in therapy in “episodes” of treatment—that is, there may be specific problems that get worked through in short-term therapy and the client may be ready to stop, but then later, a different issue arises and they return to therapy to work on that.

I believe that the most important thing for clients to understand is that they are the best judge of when they’re ready to stop treatment. It’s important for clients to check in with themselves and their therapist periodically and discuss their progress and how they feel about continuing.

I welcome you to call me or send me a message through the Contact form on my website if you have additional questions about starting therapy.

I offer an free phone consultation to new clients, which provides an opportunity to ask questions and evaluate the fit between what each particular client is looking for and my experience, theoretical orientation, and style of practicing therapy.