In our first session together, here's what you can expect

First session is primarily used to identify presenting issues and getting a set of goals established. These goals can change over time as growth or new presenting issues arise. However, they serve as a roadmap as we take the therapeutic journey together. Personally, those first sessions are some of my favorite times spent together. I love hearing the stories of my client's lives and beginning the process of understanding their way of thinking and viewing the world.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

One of the comments I receive from my clients is the down to earth and relaxed atmosphere I provide. This is probably due to the fact that I myself had to process hard things in my own therapy sessions, so I understand what it is like to be on the receiving end of the therapeutic relationship. This is a helpful skill to have seeing that research shows one of the leading determining factors in client growth is the therapeutic relationship, behind client's willingness to make change. Additionally, many clients say that "the way I word things" help them put a name to what they are feeling or why they act in a certain way. This is significantly helpful when looking to gain insight into our internal world and going about making lasting change. Everyone has a different lived experience and view of their life and the world. As we spend time together, my client's will often hear me say things like "that sounds like you" or "you would." This understanding of my client's thinking and behavioral patterns is so critical in our work together. As I am able to gain greater insight into the way my clients think and respond I am often able to articulate these patterns to them through the lens of psychology, human nature, sin nature, and/or family systems. This awareness is most helpful in the change process, as we say in the psychological nerd world, "if you can name it you can tame it."

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

Clinical rapport with your therapist is vitally important to progress. It is my goal to help clients who are willing to do the hard work, look introspectively at their strengths as well as weaknesses and together make a plan to address presenting issues. The clients that make the most progress in my practice are those who are ready to make change themselves, they just need the skills to get there and the knowledge about themselves to get set up for success. I remember this client of mine, let's call her Bon Qui Qui. Together, she and I were able to track her triggers. This involved her writing them in a therapy journal (yes I will make you have a therapy journal) and discussing them in session. We were then able to make a plan for addressing them when they arose... and they did. We also took a deeper look at the underlaying issues surrounding the trigger and began to create some much needed boundaries to address the gap in personal advocacy needed to feel less "steam rolled over." For many people it is the STARTING that can be the hardest part. I am a firm believer in therapeutic timing, so take your time in considering therapy and when you are ready schedule a first session and get on the road to feeling better today.