Frequently Asked Questions

Is therapy right for me?

People come to therapy for all sorts of reasons. A person may simply want to learn more about themself, or they might be facing a stressful situation requiring help with their coping. Therapy is about healing, growth, and thriving. Oftentimes, stress comes from work, school, family life, cultural and ancestral burdens, or a change in physical health. Some people have had chronic stress and want to cope more skillfully or simply have a listening ear. Therapy is a dedicated time where you can process complicated emotions, practice new coping strategies, and learn more about yourself.

If you think therapy might be a next step for you, and you live in Massachusetts, I can offer a free 15-minute consultation.

How long does therapy take?

Typically, at least 8-15 therapy sessions are needed to provide a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan. If you’re unsure about it, try 3 sessions or a free 15-minute exploratory call. Many people say they begin feeling better after even just the first couple of sessions. Each person varies in how much time it takes to complete meaningful counseling. This depends, in part, on the stressors that bring you to therapy, including the onset and severity of the distress (i.e. anxiety, loss, depression, fatigue, irritability, loneliness, etc.). The length of therapy may also depend on other factors such as your specific goals, existing strengths, social supports, environmental circumstances, previous treatment in counseling or therapy, and even early childhood experiences. While some come to therapy to do a brief episode of targeted work, others may benefit from deep emotional processing over a longer time period.

How often will we meet for therapy?

I tend to find it’s best we meet once per week starting out, so we can build a strong working relationship. After a few sessions, we can discuss the best pace to continue our work together. Outside some extenuating circumstances, I’m not able to meet more than once per week.

How do we decide what to do in therapy?

We will spend a lot of time in our first few sessions figuring this out together. My clients are always the experts of their own lives and needs. I will interview you about this early on. While we rely on conversation in talk therapy, it’s also my job to provide feedback and evidence-based recommendations.

What does evidence-based mean?

Evidence-based practices are the many types of talk therapies that have been thoroughly researched, reviewed by expert peers, and proven to be effective in helping with specific problems. I mainly practice in motivational interviewing (MI), contemporary psychodynamic therapies, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). My counseling style is active, engaging, and relational. The therapy is a journey in which I have the privilege of joining with my clients around what feels most meaningful.

How can talk therapy help with chronic pain?

When combined with other treatment team recommendations, talk therapy can be effective in improving quality of life and reducing symptom burden for people with chronic pain. Physical pain also affects the mental, social, and emotional aspects of life. A therapist can help you explore your values, strengths, and challenges, so that life may be lived with greater clarity, ease, and purpose. Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy researched to help people with chronic pain and other medical conditions. It works by exploring the relatedness between our actions, feelings, and thoughts or perceptions.

For further reading, the Beck Institute offers an overview of CBT for chronic pain: https://beckinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Coping-With-Chronic-Pain.pdf (Chernoff & Fleming, 2024)