Not Sure What to Expect from Therapy?

A lot of first-time callers tell me they're not exactly sure what counseling is — or what to expect. For many, it's the first time they've ever done something like this. That's completely normal.

And just so we're clear right away: I'm not Freud. You won't be lying on a couch while I sit beside you with a clipboard saying, "Hmm... interesting, tell me more."

Here are some common questions people ask before getting started, so you can walk in feeling a little more prepared.

What is therapy?

Therapy is simply a space for you to talk about what's going on in your life — things that feel overwhelming, confusing, or just hard to sort out on your own. It's a chance to work through what's weighing on you with someone who's objective and trained to help, whether that's mental health struggles, relationship problems, or everyday stress.

How can therapy help me?

Therapy gives you a supportive space to talk things through and learn new ways to cope — whether you're dealing with anxiety, grief, or just the general chaos of life. A lot of people start out unsure exactly how it'll help and leave with real, practical tools they didn't have before.

Do I have to talk about my feelings?

Well… yes, you do. Talking about emotions can feel uncomfortable at first, but it's a key part of the process — it builds self-awareness, helps you work through tough experiences, and even improves how you communicate during conflict.

That said, I get it. Most of us aren't walking around with a full range of emotions ready to go. If your go-to words are "happy," "sad," and "angry," you're in good company — depending on your background, culture, or life experience, opening up emotionally can be genuinely hard. That's where we start: through regular conversation, we build emotional awareness and expand your "feelings vocabulary" (yes, that's a real thing — I even have a laminated sheet of feeling words clients pretend to hate but secretly find helpful).

How long are sessions, how often do I come, and for how long overall?

Sessions typically run about 50 minutes. How often you come and how long you stay in therapy depends entirely on you — I usually start clients off every two weeks, then adjust based on how things are going, what you're working through, and scheduling on both ends.

As for the big picture: some people wrap up in a few months (around 6 is common), while others stick around longer, sometimes checking in monthly once they've hit their main goals. There's no one-size-fits-all timeline — just what fits you.

What's the difference between a counselor, a psychologist, and a psychiatrist?

Great question — it trips people up constantly. Here's the breakdown:

• Counselor/Therapist (me): Master's degree in counseling. Helps you work through challenges, explore emotions, and build healthier coping skills. Doesn't prescribe medication or run formal psychological testing.

• Psychologist: Doctorate (PhD or PsyD). Also provides therapy, but is additionally trained to run psychological testing and evaluations — think ADHD assessments or learning disability evaluations.

• Psychiatrist: Medical doctor (MD) specializing in mental health. Primarily diagnoses and treats conditions through medication. Some do therapy too, but most focus on medication management.

In short: I do therapy. Psychologists do therapy and testing. Psychiatrists mostly handle medication.

"Kelly, do you take anything seriously?"
Absolutely—I take what I do very seriously. I’m passionate about this work and deeply care about the people I support. I know that when someone walks into therapy, they might be carrying the weight of anxiety, grief, trauma, or just feeling completely overwhelmed.

While I do bring humor and a laid-back style to sessions, it’s always with respect and awareness of what you’re going through. I believe healing doesn’t always have to be heavy 100% of the time—but your experiences, emotions, and story are always taken seriously.

I take light of things in my FAQ page because they can be boring and yes I have been asked if clients have to lay on a couch or “are you like Freud and just ask about my mother and the past?”