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

Therapy can be vulnerable and new, so it's natural to be nervous. It can be difficult to imagine finding the words for what you've been feeling. Maybe you've experienced being tongue-tied when trying to open up to friends or loved ones in the past. The fear around starting a new personal growth process can feel overwhelming. Even taking the step to reach out to a therapist for help is a huge step. It takes courage to realize we can't face our issues alone. 

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and come just as are, including feeling nervous. I'm committed to finding a way to care for all your feelings and ensure that your 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, call, or text me. During a free phone consultation, you can ask me about how I have helped other people like you before, ask how I work as a therapist, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to share what’s going on for you and we can determine how I can best be of service to you.

It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as trying out the waters together. During the sessions, you’ll be able to start seeing what therapy with me is like. 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? 

If something feels overwhelming or even terrifying to discuss, that's actually very normal. During our sessions, it will always be up to you if you feel ready to talk about something or not. We will collaborate and together we will work through the difficult stuff only when or if you are ready. 

You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. I'm here to help you with whatever is going on for you.

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 small amounts of growth after the first few sessions.

By that point, they feel a little more confident in themselves and more equipped to handle day-to-day challenges. 

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 5-6 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate issues, while other clients feel more supported by longer-term therapy.

Of course, we work together to find the length of time that works for you.

I'm afraid that if I open up about something, you'll think I'm "too sensitive." 

If you open up to me, I will not think you are too sensitive, I will think you are courageous and human. Through the many years of working with people like you, I know that what you are going through is very common. You're not being dramatic or "too much." Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you.

I know nobody's perfect, we all struggle, and we may end up feeling emotionally drained from the ups and downs of life. 

Whatever it is you're going through, I provide a calming space where I will respect you and and listen to you with focus and compassion.

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 and emotional well-being in the past. You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about my background or training. 

The most important part of a first session is to notice how you feel during and after the session. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

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 there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else, everything you share with me is completely confidential. 

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 phone consultation or anytime during our work together.

How can I get started? 

I'm here to talk during a free phone consultation where you can share what’s going on for you and we can determine how I could best be of service to you.Email or text me today to get your free consultation at fabricant.elise@gmail.com or 720-663-9702.