I will do everything in my power to earn your trust. And you get to take your time as you’re assessing whether or not it feels safe to be vulnerable. You will always be in control of how much you share and how soon. 

It’s not your job to trust me right away. It’s my responsibility to be trustworthy.

It’s a collaborative process that requires a lot of participation. I reject the traditional model that positions me as the expert here to treat or fix you.  I expect people to arrive at their sessions with some ideas about how they want to use our time together. I can help guide the way, but I can't choose your work for you. You know yourself best.

Therapy requires radical honesty, genuine curiosity about ourselves, and a willingness to be vulnerable. All of this is risky so it won’t always feel comfortable. You’ll be digging deep into buried wounds and facing things more directly than before. When we break old patterns and show up in new ways, it can be distressing or disorienting. I’ll strive to create the safest possible conditions for your exploration, but change rarely comes without discomfort. 

The challenges that bring many of us to therapy often evolved over many years (or decades!). Changing old patterns and healing deep wounds is not a quick or easy process. I encourage patience in this process.

Don't get me wrong. Some moments in therapy are transformative. Epiphanies and breakthroughs do sometimes happen in session. But real, lasting change takes ongoing effort, intentional action, and practice in your real life and in your other relationships. 

It’s not that therapy isn’t part of your real life of course. But if the great work happening in session doesn't eventually translate to noticeable and sustainable shifts in your life outside the office, then how valuable is that? 

I don’t just want you to have a good experience in therapy. I want you to live the life you want to live.