FAQ

Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

hannah-bretz-counseling-bozeman-MT-hannah-photo-FAQ

I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is that normal?

When starting therapy, it's very common to feel nervous. It can be scary to think of opening up or crying in front of someone new, perhaps fearing that it will be awkward and uncomfortable. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Getting the counseling we need can be challenging. And although it's normal to be nervous, that doesn't make it feel great. It takes courage to continue towards getting the help you need.

Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and feel safe from judgement, 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.

How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?

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, ask how I work as a therapist, 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 I will let you know how I can help.

It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as trying out the waters together. 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.

What if I don't want to talk about something?

If something feels overwhelming or even terrifying to discuss, that's actually very normal. It can often feel difficult to talk about some things. During our sessions, you never have to talk about something you’re not comfortable talking about. The first few sessions focus on building safety and understanding, not immediate deep disclosure. Together, we’ll establish a foundation of regulation and trust, setting the stage for deeper work at your pace.

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.

I’m scared that if I open up, you will think I’m a bad person.

If you open up to me, I will not think you are a bad person, I will think you are someone who went through a lot. Many of my clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are a bad person).

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 all struggle, 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 judgement.

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

You may be concerned that your friends, family, or work colleagues could learn what you have said during therapy. So I want you to know that unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else, everything you share with me is completely confidential.

There is nothing more important than your privacy.

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 your free phone consultation or anytime during our work together.

How long will therapy take?

You might be asking about how long therapy will take because therapy is hard to fit into your busy schedule.

If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing positive effects after the first 3-5 sessions.

By that point, they they feel a little more calm and hopeful that healing is possible.

The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 8-16 weeks to be enough to feel less reactive, a greater sense of calm, better sleep, and easier breathing. While other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.

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

What can I expect during the first session?

Overall, you can think of the first session as a free-flowing conversation through which we start getting 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 brought you to therapy?
Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?
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 training or what sessions will be like.

The most important part of a first session is that you see if you feel I’m a good fit for you. If you feel supported, seen, and at-ease with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

How can I get started?