This is a great question, and your concerns make sense; it can be difficult to trust people, especially strangers! However, the difference between talking to a family member, friend, or another person and talking to a mental health professional is that mental health professionals are legally and ethically obligated to maintain your confidentiality. In other words, what we talk about remains between us.

That being said, as a mental health professional, I am a mandated reporter; this means I am required to report instances of abuse, plans to harm others, and plans to harm yourself. If any of these topics come up in our work together, we will discuss what the reporting process looks like.

Hot take: therapy is not for everyone. That being said, engaging in therapy can provide you with a unique opportunity to get to know yourself better, identify your strengths, and learn new skills to navigate through life. As a result, therapy allows you to invest in yourself so that you can live more authentically, create and maintain fulfilling relationships, and lead a more meaningful life overall.

Nope! Don’t get me wrong; some folx on the brink of a breakup or divorce do seek therapy with the intention of saving their relationship, and - in this case - therapy can offer each of the partners an opportunity to come together or to intentionally un-couple from each other.

BUT, there’s an endless number of reasons that partnered folx may choose to engage in therapy, including (but not limited to): intentionally recommitting to and enhancing their relationships; getting to know each other again (after all, we all grow and change throughout our lives!); opening up a relationship or exploring sexual fantasies with each other in a neutral environment; strengthening communication skills and functioning as a team again; and addressing obstacles that may be getting in the way of their connection with each other.

I practice from a sex-positive, kink-affirming, trauma-informed, and multicultural lens, and I pride myself on being open-minded and accepting of every client that comes into the therapy space.

But let’s be honest – I’m a human being just like everyone else, which means that my perspectives (which are based on my personal and professional experiences) may sometimes be perceived as judgments. If this occurs, I encourage my clients to name it so that we can work through it. Please be assured that my intention is never malicious, and I consider any missteps that I may make to be opportunities for growth.

Like any other relationship in our lives, sometimes the connection between therapist and client(s) is there… and sometimes it isn’t. A great way to test whether or not you think we will be a good fit is to schedule a free consultation with me.

I will always be honest about the clients and issues that I feel comfortable working with, and – if we’re not a good match – I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.

Great! Once we are scheduled for an intake session, you will receive an email with a link to a secure client portal, where you will be asked to complete intake paperwork.

The paperwork can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to complete, and will ask you about your background, current stressors, and goals for therapy (among some other relevant questions). You will also be asked to sign consent forms, which outline my practice policies, provide you information on your rights as my client, and details regarding confidentiality and limits to confidentiality.

Additionally, in preparation for the initial session, some people find it helpful to create a list of questions or journal about some of their concerns. Please note that this is a suggestion – not a requirement – and may not be a good fit for everyone.