My Approach

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The Path to Therapy Success

This is what the therapeutic process is going to look like so that you feel a little bit more prepared for your first session. 
 

1. Complete Initial Forms 
   Opening paperwork will be sent to you to complete before your first intake session.  After you send it back, and your verification is complete, you will be assigned a date and time to meet with your therapist. 
    

2. Gather Information
   In your first session, I will review your paperwork with you and inform you about your client rights and responsibilities. The first 1-2 sessions are more question heavy because I want to get a sense of who you are (identifies, values, history, and culture) and how your concerns are impacting your goals and day-to-day functioning. We will also discuss the therapeutic process and your expectations for therapy. 
   
   If you are someone who has gone through the process of therapy before and prefer presenting information in timelines, power points, or any other creative ways you are welcome to provide those during our first appointment. 
    

3. Create a Safety Plan
   This is a priority fallback plan for any “what ifs” that may occur in our lives and how to prevent them from becoming a crisis. 
    

4. Identify Goals and Create a Treatment Plan
   What does therapy success look like to you and how will you know that you have achieved it? By doing this, we hold one another accountable in the therapeutic process to stay on topic and recognize growth along the way. There are some common goals that frequently come up:
    

   1. Addressing problem behaviors. Behaviors are neither good nor bad, however some behaviors are barriers to effective change and therapy success, such as lack of motivation or lifestyle circumstances. For example, if you are struggling with maintaining a schedule or time management, you may struggle with showing up to therapy appointments. 
       

   2. Life skills and Life preparation for therapy. Ensuring that your lifestyle and circumstances are safe and conducive to a positive therapeutic process. If you are struggling with sleep or taking care of your physical needs, you will be more susceptible to triggers, and addressing these needs is key before processing trauma. 
       

   3. Locating resources. Finding the right health agencies, career opportunities, doctors, information, etc. to meet your needs.
       

   4. Learning to Love the Real You. Creating or maintaining a healthy connection/relationship with yourself that decreases unwanted pressure and emotional distress by breaking cycles and setting boundaries of how your past enables your present and future, and how you can start showing up authentically. You are defined not by your experiences, but how you persevere and overcome the challenges life throws your way.
       

   5. Living with Gender Dysphoria. Discover ways to decrease gender dysphoria or provide emotional support through the process of transitioning. 
       

   6. Discovering Sexuality. Understand your feelings about sexual (or non-sexual) attraction and move towards accepting your authentic self.
       

5. Learn Coping Skills
   We must ensure that you have the tools to identify and manage emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations that will arise through therapy, and techniques to mitigate the stress of processing. Experience less shame, guilt, or a sense of intimate inadequacy and allow yourself the ability to experience your full pleasure potential as a sexual human being. Processes the way you think about kink and reflect on the kind of relationship you want to have with a fetish or interest.  Learning acceptance and becoming more flexible as the world changes around us. Process previous trauma to reduce severity of triggers, flashbacks, nightmares, shutting down, isolating, or somatic sensations. 
    

6. Effect Meaningful Change
   Throughout the counseling process we will be working to change behaviors, find self-acceptance, and learn to give oneself permission, combining all previous points to reach a happy and successful self-image. We will never be able to change what has occurred in the past; however, through therapy, we can change what lies ahead.
    

7. Aftercare Plan
   Once we have reached a point where you feel like you no longer need routine therapy, we can discuss options of maintenance (similar to check-ups with the dentist), resources that we need going forward, or options to refer to another program or therapist that suites your needs.