Therapy in Modesto CA

Counseling can provide the opportunity for a great experience. Therapy requests commitment, work, consistency, accountability, vulnerability, honesty, and openness. The experience of each individual in counseling is unique. Clients report experiencing a better understanding and gain of insight into the presenting issues.

Often clients report finding freedom in being a new sense of who they are – rooted in connection, understanding, and self-compassion and freedom. To aid healing and growth, we complete monthly assessments to check in on the process and progress and make adjustments if we need to.

Find out more about what this counselor wants you to know during your work together.

During the first counseling session, we spend time going over the process and procedures of counseling as well as answering any questions you may have.

The remainder of the time is spent focusing on exploring and discussing what brought you into counseling, and the intention, purpose, and goals for our time together.

More importantly, we spend some time connecting, easing any nerves you may have had about coming in and beginning this process.

This is all part of creating a safe and comfortable space for exploring, discovering, healing, and growing.

In the first few counseling sessions, we dive into getting to know you, understanding your journey in life, and your goal and or intention for our time together. This may be clear or it may be our beginning point.

We focus on gaining clarity and understanding of what is and has happened in your life and the impact on your experiences, and the way you live your life. We also discuss your current coping strategies (if there are any sometimes there aren’t any), adding more if we need to, and making sure we are a good fit.

We then continue with doing the deep work with compassion and support to help you cope, feel, understand, heal, and grow.

One of the questions that often comes to mind is, how long will I be in therapy? Doing healing work at the level that will sustain long-term change takes time. It’s a commitment. Most people wait to begin therapy and come in after they have been experiencing difficulties for some time. For that reason, it is very important that we create time to explore and create a foundation that allows you to move towards your ideal goals and intention. 

Therefore, we meet on a weekly basis usually on the same day and time. Want to find out more on weekly sessions here. From tracking outcomes from clients - I have figured out that weekly therapy sessions work best for my client’s unique needs. My clients find weekly therapy appointments allow for more accountability, the ability to reflect on stuck points, growth,  and progress. Weekly therapy appointments provide an opportunity to practice, implement, and maintain growth long-term – as there are more opportunities to implement changes and obtain support in fine-tuning as needed. What about graduation from therapy?

Preparing for termination/graduation begins during our first session. What? Yes, we begin by having clarity on what is bringing you into therapy, goals, and doing the deep work. The monthly assessments allow us to have a clear understanding of what is currently happening and what needs to be addressed. Preparing for termination/graduation is an ongoing conversation.

You know therapy is not for everybody even when we have the best of intentions. During my work with clients, we complete monthly check-in assessments to provide us with opportunities to discuss how things are going. If we find something is not working during therapy – we will discuss how we can address this matter. I integrate your feedback and take your needs into account in tailoring sessions to you. Even after we make changes we may find therapy is not working – in that case we discuss your options which may include changes in our approach, referrals to another therapist, health care workers, healers, or other members in the community, outside resources. 

Let’s be honest sometimes things just don’t work out. Having a good fit between therapist and client is important, as this is crucial in the experience of therapy and outcomes. Know if you or I feel we are not a good fit - let’s talk about it. I am happy to adjust what we can and provide you with referrals if needed.

If you are in an actively abusive relationship couples therapy is not appropriate. Here are some resources for you: National Domestic Violence Hot Line 800.799.SAFE (7233) Crisis Text Line 741- 741, Haven Women’s Center (Stanislaus County) (209) 524-4331, and 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.