Frequently Asked Questions

Online video therapy involves sitting at a computer or tablet so we can see each other as we talk. While you can video chat on a smartphone, it’s not as beneficial because the screen is so small. You’ll need to find a place that is quiet, with a good internet connection, and where you can be alone and undisturbed. To learn more about how to set up your space and computer to get the most out of online video therapy, visit this page.

Most likely, yes. Research shows that therapy can be very helpful for people with chronic illness. It’s important to note that therapy may not help you reduce your pain. Instead, therapy can help you improve the quality of your life and your ability to interact with your own body, other people, and the world at large.

Therapy can be vulnerable and new, so it’s natural to be nervous. It can be difficult to imagine the words around what you are feeling. Maybe you’ve experienced feeling tongue tied when trying to open up to friends or loved ones in the past. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Going to therapy even when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. You reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and welcome all of the feelings you might have, including feeling nervous. I’m committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.

I’m here if you want to talk about it during a free phone consultation.

Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can Schedule yourself in my online scheduler.

During a free phone consultation, you can ask me about how I have helped other people like you before, what a typical session with me is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to share what’s going on for you and we can determine how I could best be of service to you.

The first sessions are like an experiment to see how things go. During the sessions, you’ll be able to see how you feel working with me. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

It’s natural to not want to share some of the painful or difficult things we’ve been through. During our sessions, you never have to talk about something you’re not comfortable talking about. We will collaborate on understanding what you feel ready to open up about. Together we will work through the difficult stuff.

You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whatever is present for you. Whatever you are going through. Bring that to session and we can explore that together.

If you open up to me, I will not think you are broken, I will think you are courageous and human. Many of my clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are broken).

Through my own life journey and working with my clients, I know how “normal” your experience is.

You have nothing to be ashamed about. Nothing you can say will cause me to judge you.

I know many of us are overwhelmed, we might be emotionally drained from the ups and downs, we may have normal reactions to abnormally challenging experiences.

Whatever it is you’re going through, I provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported without judgment.

It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do in therapy could “get out.” So I want you to know that unless you are in danger or someone else is, your story is confidential and your time in the session is protected.

Your privacy and trust are of utmost importance.

You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.

If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask during a free phone consultation or anytime during our work together.

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because you are currently struggling and want relief fast.

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 8-16 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges. While other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.

We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

Overall, you can think of the first session as a two-way interview where we can ask each other questions so we can begin to know each other. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

• What’s present for you in your life right now?
• What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?
• What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?

You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about my experience or how future sessions work.

The most important part of a first session is to notice how you feel during and after the session. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

I’m here to talk during a free phone consultation where you can share what’s going on for you and we can determine how I could best be of service to you.

Schedule yourself in my online scheduler today to get your free phone consultation at https://calendly.com/doctor-peter/free-15-consultation.