Therapy Process

What’s it like to work with me?

I love a good metaphor. The one I often use to describe the therapeutic journey is just that- it’s a journey. More specifically, you can think of it as a road trip. We’re on the journey together. You’re in the driver’s seat and I’m riding shot-gun. We have a similar view on the world from our seats side-by-side, but ultimately it is the driver who is in control of the car. Some days, we might have a specific destination and route in mind, and other’s we’ll see where the road takes us. You might find yourself wanting to hit cruise control on the highway, and I’m there to have us slow down and take the scenic route, following curiosity and unafraid to hit a dirt roads. After all, there’s a reason why you found yourself in therapy (or even skimming my website) and it usually has to do with wanting some form of change. So let’s start by looking at what your usual route is, and then see where a new direction can lead us.

How often do we meet?

Weekly. At least on the onset and you should plan for that going in. Just like it takes time to get to know someone in your day-to-day life and fully feel comfortable with them, a therapeutic relationship is no different. It can be difficult to dive in deep when we’re still finding our footing, so a strong foundation of trust is essential and takes time to build.

What do you consider “trauma”?

The barebones definition of trauma is “a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.” What’s important to consider is that the degree to which an experience is distressing or disturbing varies from individual to individual. And, it matters less what the actual traumatic event is as much as how it is perceived and experienced by the individual going through the trauma. So, a breakup, for example, may not feel so destabilizing for one person, but to another it could lead to severe emotional distress (depression, hopelessness) and physical disturbances (loss of appetite, insomnia, digestive issues).

It’s also important to note that our ability cope with stressful events varies moment-by-moment and day-to-day depending on the accumulative stress experienced by the individual at any one time. So take that break up for an example, and imagine just how much more taxing that experience may feel when paired with losing a job, or even a disagreement with a close friend.

For a more in-depth answer, check out this blog post on trauma and this one on the window of tolerance.