Every question is a welcome one

That's completely okay. You don't need to arrive with a perfectly organized list of problems or know exactly where to start. You don't have to figure out how to do therapy before you come to therapy. I have a great memory and can help you pick up where we left off last time, or we can explore something new.

Then you cry. I don’t charge extra for tissues. :)

That's okay too. Therapy doesn't have to look emotional to be meaningful. You might talk, laugh, intellectualize, sit quietly, or realize something you've never noticed before. There isn't a “right” way to have a therapy session.

You don't have to wait until things fall apart to ask for help. You can be functioning well and still feel disconnected from yourself, your relationship, or the life you've built. Therapy isn't reserved for people in crisis; sometimes it's a place to understand yourself before you reach one. Think of it as gently pushing your brake at a yellow light, instead of waiting for the red.

I'll probably notice. And that's not a failure on your part—it's information. Sometimes talking in circles is a sign that there's something underneath the story that we haven't found yet, and part of my job is to help you slow down enough to notice the pattern.

You are not coming to therapy to impress me. You don't need to have a breakthrough every week, follow every suggestion, or arrive feeling motivated to change. If something isn't working, if you're frustrated, or if you're not ready for something, I want you to be able to tell me—that information is part of our work together. My job isn't to judge where you are; it's to understand what's happening and help you make sense of it.

I'm not here to decide who's the problem. I am here to be honest with you, including helping you look at the parts you may be contributing to a pattern, but I'll do that with curiosity rather than judgment. Understanding your role in something doesn't mean you're to blame for everything.

You don't have to be on the verge of breaking up to benefit from couples therapy. Maybe you still love each other deeply but have noticed you're having the same fights, feeling less connected, or struggling to understand each other. Couples therapy can be a place to address those patterns while there's still plenty of love and goodwill to work with.

This is way more common than you might think. You can't force someone to participate in therapy, but you can start by getting curious about what's making them hesitant. And if your partner isn't ready to come, individual therapy can still help you understand your own patterns, needs, and responses within the relationship.

You don't need to. Sometimes the first goal is simply understanding what isn't working and why you keep feeling the way you do. We'll figure out what you want from therapy together rather than forcing a neat goal onto something that doesn't feel clear yet.

Then I want you to know that's okay. Therapy is deeply personal, and finding someone who feels like the right fit matters. Both to you as a client, and me as someone who wants to help you. I won't take it personally, and I would love to help you identify what you're looking for in another therapist. I have a great network of professionals I would be happy to refer you to.