General FAQ
What happens in a first session? I’ll ask you about what's brought you to therapy and a little about your history, as well as anything else you wish to share. It's a chance for me to begin learning about you and your needs, and for you to get a feel for how I work and ask any questions before we agree how to move forward together. There is no fixed structure or requirement for you to know exactly what’s wrong; we are simply making a start.
How long does therapy usually take? There's no fixed length. With individuals, I usually work with a commitment to ongoing, longer-term sessions, to ensure as much depth and space is available as needed. With couples, some people come for a focused set of sessions on a specific issue, while others prefer regular long term support. We will periodically check in and discuss as we go.
What if I've tried therapy before and it didn't help? This is important to talk about either in our first session or in an initial call. Different approaches suit different people, so sometimes a past therapist may not have been the right fit for you, or it wasn’t the right time. I welcome feedback about what you have or haven’t found helpful previously so that we can explore how to develop this unique therapy relationship. You may find that sessions with me work differently for you than approaches you've tried before.
FAQ: Couples & relationships
Do you only work with married couples? No — I work with romantic or intimate partners in any relationship structure, married or not, including non-monogamous, polyamorous, and monogamous relationships, as well as other significant relationships such as close family members, creative or business partners, or long-standing friendships.
What if only one of us wants to come to therapy? This is more common than people expect, and all I ask is that both partners come with an open mind and a willingness to be honest about their experience in our sessions. Sometimes reluctance gets in the way of therapy; very often, however, after the first few sessions the reluctant partner is surprised to find how much they are getting out of it and are able to commit to the work.
Is it too late if we're already talking about separating? Not at all. Some couples come to therapy to try to stay together, others to separate with more care and less damage than they might otherwise. Therapy is a safe space to explore all options and make sense of whether you are operating from a reactive state, or making a thoughtful, grounded decision. The important thing is for both partners to be honest about where they stand on this question.