Frequently Asked Questions
What do your acronyms stand for?
- MA: Master of Arts
- MFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (This means that the therapist has hundreds of hours practicing and has passed the state licensing exams).
How do I choose a therapist?
Find someone you are comfortable with. Even though this is not a friendship, you want to find someone you can trust and be honest with. This is very important and will help contribute to your therapy being successful. Give yourself a couple of sessions with your therapist. If you don not feel that you and your therapist are a good fit to work together, you should find another therapist who is. I would be happy to assist you in finding a better fit.
What will the first session be like?
Before the first session starts you will be asked to fill out some paperwork. The paperwork will ask some basic information about you, which will take about 5 minutes to complete. You will also read about my office policies and procedures, and about confidentiality. After the paperwork is completed we will meet for a 50 minute therapy session. In the first, and more than likely the second session, I will be gaining a history from you. This will include defining the presenting problem, collecting a family history, relationship history, and what you would like to gain out of therapy.
How long will it take before I feel better?
It depends. Some work together could only take several weeks before a person feels confident enough to walk away and apply the tools learned to their life. Others may take months or years to figure out and release old patterns and trauma that has been present their entire life. Either way, I am patient and solution focused.
What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?
A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy. In general, it helps you feel better. Therapy can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits of therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself and your personal goals and value
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Find new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications skills- learn how to listen to others, and have others listen to you.
- Getting “unstuck” from unhealthy patterns- breaking old behaviors and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems
- Improving self esteem and boosting self confidence