Why start therapy?

I find that people decide to reach out for many reasons; some common things I hear are that people feel empty, deflated, numb, flat, highly anxious, unable to focus, all over the place, or simply completely overwhelmed! I find that when the pain of staying the same outweighs the fear of change, people reach out to try something different. Often times people have recently been through a major life change, and simply could use some support.

How long does therapy take? & When will I start feeling better?

This varies per individual. Some people come in with a set number of specific issues they want to address and a session or two per issue is enough to find resolve. Others who are struggling with deeper pain, who are dysregulated and struggling to function ‘normally’, or who have experienced recent grief or long past trauma, can expect to feel better in anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, while others choose to remain in contact for years. Often, individuals will start on a weekly basis for some time (a few months), then drop down to bi-weekly or monthly sessions, and then come in for maintenance sessions (as needed a few times a year). Each client’s needs are different, and no two are the same. The key is to simply show up for yourself, try, and be patient. Healing does not happen over night, this is the honest answer. I have worked with some clients for years, while others felt better in a matter of weeks.

What is the difference between therapy and coaching?

Therapy is typically longer term (though not always), and the work goes deeper. Individuals tend to be suffering from more severe issues, and are on average, dysregulated when they start. They are suffering from specific problems usually impacting everyday functioning and relationships. They present with anxiety, depression, trauma, or a host of other disorders, and are seeking long term change through therapeutic support and techniques. Therapy is also a regulated field with licensed clinicians who follow legal and ethical guidelines.

Coaching is typically goal-oriented and shorter term. Coaching is often times performance based, or seeking a specific outcome for one’s life or relationships. Individuals coming in for coaching are primarily regulated and seeking specific directions or skills for how to show up in their lives, to achieve the results they are looking for. Coaching is not regulated by the same legal and ethical standards that therapy is. Licensed clinicians uphold ACA standards, no matter if they are engaged with counseling or coaching clients. Coaching can cross state boundaries, counseling cannot (unless the clinician is licensed in the state that the client is in).