My Approach to Therapy: Taylor Swift Bridges, Rocket Boosters, and What You Can Expect

(a sample of a ghostwritten piece)

Why Understanding Your Therapist’s Approach Matters

Think about it - you are a unique individual with likes and dislikes, patterns and problems, and opinions and beliefs that have shaped your entire life. Just like no one else has your exact path in life, therapy is the same way. Finding the right path for you is the key that can make all the difference. 

Maya Angelou once said, “When you know better, do better.” Do I feel like this quote applies to what I’m trying to tell you now within this context? No, actually. What I’m trying to say is once you have a better idea of what you can know you can expect in therapy, the better you’ll inevitably do. (It was an Olympic level stretch, but I’m just a girl.)

My Core Philosophy as a Therapist

Client-Centered and Collaborative

No one knows you better than you, and I will never try to convince you otherwise. Consider me… a cartographer, if you will. While you are exploring the depths of your own self, I’m just someone who happens to have a great sense of direction and is really good at drawing maps. 

Therapy is a goal-oriented partnership between a client and a therapist. You get to decide what we’re aiming for, and I use my smarts that I’m still paying student loans for to help you get there. It really is that simple - no need to overcomplicate anything. Your goal is my goal, and you get a huge say on ways you’d like for us to get there.

Emphasis on Compassion and Non-Judgment

I have had clients tell me before that they have never felt safer than they do when they’re in my office, and that is a compliment I hold near and dear to my heart - because that’s all I want to do. No matter where you’ve been or where you’re headed, I hope you’ll find that my office can be a nice rest stop on your journey where you are met with compassion and understanding for all of your life experiences and feelings - no matter what they are.

Shame and blame have no space in a safe space. Honoring your story and your experience is one of my highest priorities, making you feel seen and heard in all the ways that matter most to you.

Integrative and Flexible Approach

I am well-versed in many therapy practices, but my go-to starting point is usually Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) because it’s so individually adaptable, flexible, and goal-oriented. However, if you did your homework and googled different therapy techniques after looking up what else that one actor in that one movie you just watched was in before falling down a wikipedia rabbit hole about the various types of therapy offered, I hope I can assure you that I am all ears to hear your thoughts. 

My job is to find a therapy technique that works best for you - even if that means blending aspects of various techniques in a way that makes the most sense for you. Therapy is not a one size fits all operation by any means, and you get to try on whatever you’d like until we find something that feels right. 

What a Typical Session Looks Like

Building Rapport and Trust

I can promise you this - even though the couch in my office is extra cozy, I will never ask you to lie back on it so I can poise my pen thoughtfully above my chin as I take off my glasses to ask you, “And how does that make you feel?” While I care very much about how you feel, it’s something I’ll check in on you in a much more chill kind of way. 

When you are in my office, your comfort is a top priority for me. Soft lighting (no fluorescents - I see you, neurodivergents), a soft blanket on the couch, and a keurig with tea and coffee options are at the ready for you. 

Active Listening and Reflective Feedback

Listening and active listening are two different things, and I just so happened to win a silver medal in active listening back in ‘07. 

You get to set the pace, and there are no rules for progress. Healing and processing are not linear things, and we can mosey and meander to our destination if that’s what you’d like. (I know some of you more pragmatic ones might want rocket boosters, and that’s just better discussed in person, if you don’t mind.)

Practical Tools and Homework

I might give you homework to do in between sessions, but if that word sends you back to Mrs. Appleton’s class where she had no respect for your efforts to get all 120 stars on Super Mario 64 after school, we can find another word to use. 

Doing some internal work (jotting down notes as things happen, journaling, practicing mindfulness, etc) can add a lot of value to the sessions we’ll have together - but as with everything else, we’ll find what works best for you. Heck, one client I had once even used her favorite album to analyze her own grief while another related the people in her life to New Girl characters to help us understand them better. There really are no rules to your progress, here.

What You Can Expect from Working With Me

A Focus on Growth and Empowerment

You are an apprentice to navigating the ins and outs of your internal and external worlds, and I am the one who can show you what tools to use for what. You wouldn’t use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail, would you? I’m here to hand you a hammer. (Wait, actually -)

One thing you can count on me doing is encouraging you to treat yourself like you would your closest friend. Self-compassion leads to resilience in my experience, and I’d love to guide you in finding ways that you can care for yourself more meaningfully.

Support Through Life Transitions and Challenges

Look, life is a trip that none of us really know what to expect from these days. From anxiety and depression to relationship and identity work, I am here to support you through whatever life throws at you. 

If you have some things you really want to make sure we hit on in a session, just let me know at the beginning. Sometimes a good ramble session is just what you need to uncover some deeper things, but perhaps there are several pressing things you need us to budget time for. Don’t worry, either works. 

Final Thoughts: Therapy as a Journey We Take Together

If you’ve been thinking about therapy for a while and have been on the fence, I hope this post has helped you get a better idea of what it might look like if and when you ever do. There is no rush and no judgment - only steady support that you can count on. 

Your healing and growth are at the very heart of my work, and if you decide to book with me, you should know I don’t take your trust in me lightly. I will show up with my all each and every session for you, even on the days you cannot do the same. For a free consultation to check the vibes or ask me to rank my top three Taylor Swift bridges, feel free to shoot me a message or give me a call whenever you feel ready. 

Remember there is no right or wrong way to do therapy - and finding what works best for you is possible.