FAQs about psychotherapy in Aptos

As we’re reducing the stigma around mental health and therapy, more and more people are going to therapy. That’s great! But when you’ve never been to therapy before, how do you know what to expect once you get started?

Like most people, you probably started searching something like “therapists near me” or “online therapy in California”. But those search results can feel intimidating- how do you tell which of the many options is going to be a good fit?

FAQs about therapy and counseling in Aptos

I know it can be rough and even start to feel discouraging. But don’t worry, I’m here to help! I’ve gone through this process with many people and helped them find their right fit therapist.

Question 1: How do I know if I need counseling?

You might need to see a therapist for anxiety if the day to day stress feels totally overwhelming nearly all of the time. Your thoughts are spiraling out of control and it’s getting in the way of your ability to work, be present with your family, do the things you need to do, and sleep at night. Or the only way to keep the thoughts at bay is to keep yourself so busy you never get time to relax until you crash. When you do have a moment to yourself, the anxious thoughts just come pouring in.

You might want to see a therapist for trauma if you notice that you have strong reactions to people, places, and events that seem like an overreaction to what’s happening in the moment. Or if people, places, and events bring up old memories, nightmares, or strong emotions. Trauma reactions can feel like our bodies are reacting on autopilot. You’ve probably heard of the fight-flight-freeze-fawn responses. These are ways our instincts kick in to try to keep us safe from a threat, but those instincts aren’t always helpful in our day to day lives.

Question 2: What should I ask a therapist before meeting with them?

Ask anything you want that would help you feel comfortable with them! With anxiety therapy and with trauma therapy, we’ll be getting into some of the deep parts of your inner world, so it’s important that you feel safe and like you can trust your therapist. Prospective clients usually ask questions about my training, the modalities and methods I use to treat anxiety and trauma, and about how therapy works.

Question 3: How long will therapy last?

This is such a great question and also one that’s hard to answer because everyone is different and makes progress on their own pace. Most of my clients stay in therapy for about 12-18 months. Some people feel they’re done in 2 months and others stay for several years. In the first few sessions, we’ll talk about what’s going on for you, create goals for our time together, and regularly check in on your progress.

Question 4: What is the difference between a counselor, therapist, social worker, and psychologist in Aptos, CA?

In California, licensed mental health professionals come in many forms. Some have a master’s degree in therapy (professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers). Others have a doctoral level degree (psychologists, psychiatrists). The state has very similar training and testing requirements for therapists regardless of which type of degree they have, so you can be assured that any licensed professional has a good foundation of education and training no matter which letters they have after their names. The main difference is that only doctoral level professionals can prescribe medication and do state disability evaluations.

As a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), I have a master’s degree in providing psychotherapy. I have additional training to specialize in helping people manage their anxiety and trauma. Even though my license says “marriage and family”, I work with individuals to help them make peace with their difficult thoughts, emotions, memories, and trauma reactions.

Question 5: How often will we meet?

I find that my clients get the best results meeting weekly. My ultimate goal is to get you to a point where you don’t need therapy anymore, and weekly sessions are usually the most helpful for you to reach your goals sooner than later. If you’re having trouble committing to meeting every week, therapy might not be the best fit for you right now. Sporadic sessions can do more harm than good!

Question 6: Do you have experience working with the issues I am looking for help with?

If you’re looking for help with anxiety or trauma, then the answer is yes! If you have a more specific question or concern, feel free to schedule a 15 minute consultation with me. I’m not here to pressure you into something that won’t be helpful for you! I want to make sure you get to the exact right therapist who can help you and your unique concerns.

That’s a lot! What’s next?

I hope this helps you find the right therapist in Aptos or online in California. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to contact me at (831) 531-2259 for a free 15-minute video consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are looking for help with anxiety and trauma, you can read more about how I can help here.