Individual Therapy: What to Expect
Individual therapy is different than receiving support from friends or family. It is unique because you get the whole hour where a professional is focused on you; tracking your nervous system cues as you speak on different topics, asking deepening questions to support insights and processing, individualized treatment built on your current strengths, interests, and goals, all tailored to support you in overcoming the obstacles in place.
When you are one-on-one with me, we take time to build trust, collect data, and practice skills that really make a difference in your life experiences. My individual clients often experience relief in "finally feeling seen," and work with me to develop their own relationship with themself, which is foundational for how we interact with and operate in the world (we are often conditioned during developmental years to take on the voice of someone else in relating to ourselves... we can change that if it's harmful rather than helpful).
Clients often find that the changes we make in therapy are foundational, rather than just 'baind-aids.' This means that the positive shifts you see are sustainable, not just a basket of skills that work for a while and then drop off like an old habit. We work from multiple angles at the same time to create lasting change that fundamentally shifts the way you relate with yourself, others, and the world.
You can expect increased clarity, confidence, boundaries, energy, and hope as we work together.
I am transparent in my work throughout, so I'll teach you 'why' we are doing what we are doing, the science behind it, and how to walk through it in a way that engages neuroplasticity for lasting, safe, and automatic changes in operating. I also deeply value adaptability- there are multiple routes to accomplish goals- I will never treat you like you 'have to' do anything a certain way to reach success, we will collaborate to identify what truly works best for you.
Your 'job' in individual therapy:
- Be honest; about how you feel, think, what works for you, what you like and don't like.
- Be willing; to explore the 'why' and the 'value' behind things that come up in sessions
- Be open; we may explore sensitive areas and different coping skills that can initially trigger some discomfort. I will be tracking with you your stress levels to make sure we are mindful of the intensity given your current needs and situation. I will never push you to explore or do anything you are not ready for. A resource used in this is called "pendulation," where we carefully 'swing' from mild to moderate stress responses back to groundedness, to start teaching your nervous system security, control, and confidence.