I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?

Yup. That is a very real and very normal feeling. It can be difficult to imagine the words around your emotions. Maybe you've experienced feeling tongue-tied when trying to open up to friends or loved ones in the past. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. It takes courage to start going to therapy. The fact that you are on this website, looking for help, and reading this right now shows that you are being brave and seeking help.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and come just as you are, including feeling nervous. I’m committed to finding a way to care for that nervous energy and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.

How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?

Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can email me to set up a free consultation.

During that consultation, you can ask me questions about my approach, what a typical session with me is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific to you. You’ll also be able to speak to what's bothering you and we can decide together how I can help.

I think of the first few times that I meet with someone as a trial run. During the sessions, you’ll be able to see how you feel working with me. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

What if I don't want to talk about something?

In internal family systems therapy, we have a saying: “slow is fast”. If something feels overwhelming or even terrifying to discuss, we might just need to take things slower. During our sessions, you never have to talk about something you’re not comfortable talking about. I'll be there to guide you towards discovering what feels comfortable for you to share. Working with pace, we can look at the tough stuff if you're ready.

You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whatever is present for you. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to session and we can explore that together.

I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m crazy.

Not at all. I will think you are courageous and human. Many of my clients have had that same fear, and I’ve never thought one of them was crazy. So you have nothing to be ashamed about. Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you.

I know many of us are overwhelmed, we might be emotionally drained from the ups and downs, we may have normal reactions to abnormally challenging experiences. Whatever it is you're going through, I provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported without judgement

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could "get out." So I want you to know that unless you are in danger or someone else is, your story is confidential and your time in the session is protected.

I highly respect your privacy and value your trust. You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.

If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask during your free consultation or anytime during our work together.

How long will therapy take?

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast. If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing positive effects after the first a few sessions. By that point, they they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find a few months to be enough to resolve immediate challenges, while other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy. We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

What can I expect during the first session?

Overall, you can think of the first session as a free-flowing conversation through which we start getting to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

• What brought you to therapy?

• What’s present for you in your life right now?

• Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?

You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about about my training or what sessions will be like.

The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel I’m a good fit for you. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

How can I get started?

I'm here to talk during a free phone or video consultation where you can speak to what's bothering you and we can decide together how I can help.

Email me today to schedule your first appointment at contact@kristinajoneslmhc.com.