Question 1

What can I expect with our first session?

Accepted Answer

Beginning therapy can feel exciting, uncertain, or even a little overwhelming. The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin building a therapeutic relationship that feels safe, collaborative, and supportive.
Using a person-centered approach, I believe that you are the expert on your own life. Rather than telling you what to do, I aim to create a space where you feel heard, understood, and accepted without judgment. Together, we will explore what has brought you to therapy, what challenges you may be facing, and what you hope to gain from the process.
There is no pressure to share everything right away. You are welcome to move at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Some clients arrive with clear goals, while others are still figuring out what they need. Both are completely okay.
During our first session, we may discuss:
What brings you to therapy at this time
Important experiences, relationships, or life circumstances
Your strengths, values, and sources of support
Any goals or hopes you have for therapy
Questions you may have about the counselling process
My goal is for you to leave the first session feeling understood, respected, and with a clearer sense of how we might work together moving forward.

Question 2

What can we expect from couples therapy?

Accepted Answer

Couples therapy is a space where both partners can better understand themselves, each other, and the patterns that shape their relationship. My approach is rooted primarily in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and informed by the Gottman Method.
Rather than focusing on who is right or wrong, we work together to understand the cycle that keeps you feeling stuck. Many couples find themselves caught in recurring patterns of conflict, withdrawal, defensiveness, criticism, or misunderstanding. Through therapy, we explore the emotions, needs, and experiences that exist beneath these interactions and work toward creating more secure and meaningful ways of connecting.
Emotionally Focused Therapy helps couples identify and change the negative patterns that create distance and disconnection. As partners gain a deeper understanding of their own emotions and attachment needs, they can begin responding to one another in ways that foster safety, trust, and closeness.
The Gottman Method complements this work by helping couples strengthen communication, navigate conflict more effectively, build friendship and connection, and develop practical tools to support a healthier relationship.

What Does the Process Look Like?
Session One: Joint Session
The first session is attended by both partners. This session provides an opportunity for me to learn about your relationship, understand the concerns that have brought you to therapy, identify strengths within the relationship, and explore what each of you hopes to gain from counselling.
Sessions Two and Three: Individual Sessions
Following the initial couples session, each partner will attend one individual session. These sessions allow me to better understand each person's history, important relationships, experiences, and perspective on the concerns being addressed in therapy. Information gathered during these sessions helps inform our work together as a couple.
Ongoing Couples Sessions
After the individual sessions, all future sessions are attended together. During these sessions, we will work collaboratively to identify relationship patterns, deepen emotional understanding, improve communication, and develop new ways of connecting with one another. Therapy will focus on helping you better understand yourselves and each other while building a stronger, more secure relationship.

Every couple's journey is unique. Some couples seek support navigating a specific challenge, while others are looking to strengthen their connection, improve communication, or rebuild trust. Therapy is tailored to the unique needs, goals, and strengths of your relationship.

Question 3

How often should I attend therapy?

Accepted Answer

There isn’t a single “correct” frequency for therapy—it depends on your goals, the stage of therapy, and what you’re working through. That said, there are some common clinical guidelines that can be helpful for clients to orient themselves.

For individual therapy, many people start weekly or biweekly sessions to build momentum, establish safety, and support consistent progress. As therapy progresses and goals are met, sessions may gradually space out to every 2–4 weeks or as needed for maintenance and support.

For couples therapy, more frequent consistency is especially important because the work is relational and process-based. Research and clinical models such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method both emphasize that progress is strongest when couples attend regularly and consistently, typically at least every 1–2 weeks in early stages, with some couples moving to less frequent sessions later in therapy once stability and new interaction patterns are established. Sessions spaced too far apart can make it harder to interrupt negative cycles and maintain new patterns in the relationship.

For this reason, this practice recommends couples attend a minimum of every 3 weeks, as longer gaps can slow progress and make it more difficult to build and sustain change between sessions.
Ultimately, therapy frequency is collaborative and can be adjusted based on your needs, capacity, and goals over time.

Question 4

Do you do consultations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer free 20-minute consultations to help you determine whether we’re a good fit to work together.

This brief conversation gives you an opportunity to ask questions, share a bit about what you’re looking for in therapy, and get a sense of how I work. It’s also a chance to explore whether the therapeutic approach and style feel comfortable for you before beginning ongoing sessions.
Consultations are not therapy sessions, but a space to connect, clarify practical details, and support you in making an informed decision about next steps.

Question 5

Never been to therapy before? That is okay.

Accepted Answer

That is completely okay. You do not need to know what to say or do. We start with what is bringing you in, what feels stuck, and what you want support with. I will guide the conversation at your pace. Your first session is a chance to get comfortable, ask questions, and see if therapy feels like a good fit for you.

Question 6

What if I don't know what to talk about?

Accepted Answer

That’s very common, especially if it’s your first time in therapy.

You don’t need to come in with a plan or know exactly what to say. If you’re unsure where to start, we can begin with simple things like what’s been feeling off lately, what made you consider therapy, or even how you’re feeling in the moment. I can also help guide the conversation with questions, reflections, or themes that may be helpful to explore.

Sometimes therapy starts with a sense of “I don’t know, I just know something isn’t working,” and we work from there together. There’s no expectation to have it all figured out before you begin.

Question 7

What kinds of concerns do you help with?

Accepted Answer

I help with the issues that often keep people feeling stuck. That can include anxiety, stress, relationship tension, communication problems, low mood, self-esteem, life changes, identity questions, and feeling disconnected from yourself or your partner. If you are not sure your concern “fits” therapy, that is okay. We can talk about it together.

Frequent Asked Questions