FAQ
I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?
When starting therapy, it's very common to feel nervous. Being vulnerable and open can be difficult, especially if you are used to prioritizing the care of those around you. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Getting the counseling we need can be challenging. And although it's normal to be nervous, that doesn't make it feel great. It takes courage to continue towards getting the help you need.
Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and welcome all of the feelings you might have, including feeling nervous. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.
I’m here if you want to talk about it. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can email me.
Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have, you can ask me questions about my approach, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to let me know a little about what you would like to work on and where you feel stuck and we can determine how I could best be of service to you.
The most important factor that contributes to successful therapy is the fit of the relationship, and it's important that you feel safe, seen, and comfortable. During the sessions, you’ll be able to start seeing what it's like. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.
What if I don't want to talk about something?
If something feels overwhelming or even terrifying to discuss, that's actually very normal. It can often feel difficult to talk about some things. During our sessions, I will never push you to talk about things that are too painful for you to talk about. We will collaborate on understanding what feels comfortable to share. I find it very helpful to spend some time working on understanding the parts of ourselves that are scared or shut down. Often these parts have had to be there to protect us before and benefit from some time and support.
You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whatever is present for you, whatever you are going through, bring that to session and we can explore that together.
I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m crazy.
If you open up to me, I will not think you are crazy, I will think you are courageous and human. Many of my clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are crazy).
We often feel like we must be the only person feeling the way we do. Through my own life journey and working with my clients, I can help you know that what you are experiencing is normal and more human than you may realize.
We all have experiences inside that can be confusing and frustrating. They often don't feel rational at the surface, but may be trying to serve some important function in our life. With deep listening, respect, and compassion we can understand this together. Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you.
I know many of us are overwhelmed, we all struggle, we may have normal reactions to abnormally challenging experiences.
Whatever it is you're going through, I provide a calming space where I respect you and and listen with focus and compassion
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Yes!
You might already know that you want to share sensitive information with me. I want you to know that everything you share with me is completely confidential. However, there are couple of exceptions to confidentiality related to safety.
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If you are ever in any imminent danger to yourself or someone else, I may need to take steps to keep you safe. This may mean talking to members of your support system or crisis services. In the rare situations in which this happens, we will talk about it together.
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I am a mandated reporter and am legally and ethically bound to report abuse of children and vulnerable adults.
I highly respect your privacy and value your trust.
You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.
If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask during your free consultation.
How long will therapy take?
You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you think that therapy will be an overwhelming process. If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing positive effects after the first few sessions. By that point, they they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible.
The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 6 months to be enough while other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.
We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.
What can I expect during the first session?
Overall, you can think of the first session as a time for us to get to know each other. During our first session, I will ask you questions about what you are experiencing now and want to learn a little more about your background, current supports, and goals. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.
Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:
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What brought you to therapy?
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What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?
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What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?
You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about about my experience or how future sessions work.
The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel I’m a good fit for you. If you feel calm, safe, and supported with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
How can I get started?
I'm here to talk. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have where you can let me know a little about what you would like to work on and where you feel stuck. We can determine how I could best be of service to you.
Email me today to get your free phone consultation at katie@healingrootstherapypnw.com