individual therapy
anxiety | perfectionism | ADHD | immigrant & first-generation families | relationship issues
individual therapy
[focus on your individual needs]
1. understand how anxiety, perfectionism, and/or ADHD impact your sense of self
2. process how your family has shaped the person that you are today
3. get insight into relationships topics that you don't know how to address with your partner
types of
individual
therapy
what kind of individual therapy do you offer?
I work with men and women who are motivated by learning. If you are interested in diving deep, taking notes, and trying to apply new ideas to your everyday life, then you're in the right place! You may want to address challenges with ADHD, anxiety and perfectionism, or venture into the relationship territory by unpacking frustrating dynamics with your parents or spouse.
All cultures are welcome, and I find that my background as second-generation Jamaican-American allows me unique insight into those who are immigrants, multicultural, or first/second gen. There are some elements of culture (norms, values, family dynamics) that need a different approach and understanding in comparison to traditional therapy. I love being able to add that extra layer of care for my clients.
how does individual therapy work?
the process
Step 1: The Download
We'll start with an in-depth exploration of your history. We'll cover everything from your family of origin (who raised you?), to your experience of your schooling years, to the present issue that you'd like to work on. This helps provide a holistic picture of who you are as a person so that we can identify unique variables that may contribute to your area of concern. You'd be surprised to learn how some "unrelated" parts of your story are actually very connected!
Step 2: Set a Goal
Therapy happens on your terms. We'll work together to clearly specify what you want to accomplish in therapy. For some, this may mean having a place to speak about topics that are difficult to address with your spouse or significant other. For others, this may mean wanting tips and tools to feel less anxious on a daily basis. Or, you may feel confused about your goal, and are looking for therapy to help you gain clarity.
Step 3: Begin the Work
Our internal issues don't occur in a vacuum. If you are struggling with anxiety, perfectionism or ADHD, there are likely physical, psychological, and relational components that are creating challenges for you. Our work together will dig under the surface with therapeutic tools like narrative, CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) and IFS (internal family systems) to help you understand the roots of your issues
graduation
how will I know when I am finished
with therapy?
Our therapeutic is complete when you feel ready to tackle the issue you've brought up on your own. In other words, you'll know that you have graduated when you feel that your goals are complete, and that therapy is no longer needed as a supportive tool.
However, the therapeutic relationship can also be long-term. Some clients will choose to pop in and out of therapy as-needed through different seasons of life. You may choose to do weekly sessions for a few months, then transition to once-a-month or once-per-quarter check-ins as your life begins to feel more stable.
It can be especially helpful to continue a long-term therapeutic relationship because it allows for a unique continuity of care. As your therapist, I'll be able to recall parts of your story from years prior, and highlight specific ways that you have grown and improved from when you first started therapy. Or, I'll be able to point out specific challenges that are cyclical for you. For example, "hey, we had trouble with this problem last year as well. What is similar between then and now?"
Individual Therapy FAQ
1 / How long will therapy take?
Depending on your goal, we may be able to conclude our therapeutic work in as few as 6-8 sessions. For long-term therapy, you may find that after resolving one issue, you feel ready to continue with a new goal/issue. In this case, therapy does not have a set number of sessions.
2 / How often should we meet for individual sessions
I recommend weekly sessions for those who would like attentive, consistent support during a challenging season of life. For those who would like to more casually explore a topic, biweekly or monthly sessions should be just fine.
3 / 50 minutes doesn't feel like enough time. Do you offer longer sessions?
Yes, double sessions (90-100 minutes) are available for individuals who want additional time. This is great because it gives you space to fully explore a topic, rather than feeling that the flow is interrupted. Please note that double sessions are only available in-person, not online.
4 / Can I start with individual therapy, then invite my spouse to attend later?
Yes and no. Once transitioning to ongoing couples therapy, we would not be able to return to an individual format. I would also recommend only 2-4 sessions individually if you intend to transition to couples work. This makes sure that the overall couples format remains balanced, and allows your spouse to also feel seen and heard in sessions. However, if you really prefer individual work, you may choose to stay with the individual format and invite your spouse in as a "guest" participant for one or two sessions. We can talk more about how this plays out once we meet!
5 / Do you offer trauma therapy like EMDR or brainspotting?
My therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, and trauma (family, emotional, physical, sexual) is often a topic that I work with. However, I do not provide EMDR or brain-spotting as interventions. During our first session, we'll be able to collaborate on a plan of best approach for your treatment. If it seems that EMDR or brain-spotting will be most beneficial, we'll talk about therapeutic referrals that will be able to provide this service while we either pause our work or continue addressing the trauma from another angle.
