Why do I feel this way? This can be a difficult question for many clients. We all want to know why. Why do I feel anxious all the time? Why do I always react this way? For many physical health concerns, we’re used to getting clear, concrete answers. You can walk into a clinic and hear something like: “When you fell, you sprained a tendon in your ankle. Here’s the imaging showing the swelling, and here’s the plan for recovery.” Mental health doesn’t always work that way. In many cases, we don’t have a single, definitive explanation. Instead, we have informed theories . Even across broader areas of medicine, there are conditions where we understand contributing factors—but not a precise, predictable cause for each individual. Mental health is similar. The search for “why” When clients ask why , they’re often not just asking for information—they’re searching for something deeper: What caused this? Did I do something wrong? Could I have prevented this? If I unde...
What can I expect from Therapy? People often come into therapy unsure of what to expect—this is some real talk from a therapist. Therapy isn’t a quick fix There are no quick fixes in therapy. It’s a process. A journey. Sometimes a slow one. That can feel frustrating—especially if you’re coming in overwhelmed and just wanting things to feel better now. Therapy is less about instant relief and more about understanding patterns, experimenting with tools, and building capacity over time. Therapy works best when it’s collaborative Your therapist needs feedback. If something isn’t working, we need to know. Even when we’re experienced and attuned, we aren’t mind readers. Therapy isn’t something that happens to you—it’s something we do together. Your reactions, preferences, and “this doesn’t feel helpful” moments are important data, not inconveniences. It’s also okay to try therapy out and decide you want to see someone else, or try something different. That doesn’t mean you failed—or ...