The relationship between a person and their therapist is special and unique. Everyone deserves to have a good match with their therapist.

Like any relationship, though, not everyone is a good match.  I often hear from people that therapy is not for them because they had poor experiences with clinicians who were not well matched for them.  From the perspective of my core values, I believe that both the client and the clinician in these situations wanted to do well and were doing the best they could, but for some reason they weren’t able to connect.  Maybe this is true for you?

If you relate to that scenario, I’m really sorry you had a bad experience and wow!  I’m really impressed that you’re here!  If you don’t relate, I’m so glad that you’ve had the opportunity to have a good therapeutic relationship or are looking to start one now!

All relationships evolve over time, and a therapeutic relationship is no different.  In the beginning, clients want to know that their clinician is trustworthy and has their best interest at heart.  Here are some commitments I make to my clients:

  • I will be available to you during our scheduled appointments.  I will communicate with you if an appointment needs to be rescheduled or cancelled, and will make an effort to give you as much notice as possible.
  • I will make every effort to be open to your feedback and responsive to your needs to the best of my ability.
  • I will check my email and voicemail daily unless otherwise noted [in an outgoing message or auto-response].  Unfortunately, I cannot always respond immediately, and recommend that you access other supports or call 911 if you are having an emergency.
  • I will respect your privacy by maintaining confidential records and not disclosing information without your authorization.  The only reasons for me to break confidentiality are in the case of safety or a court order.
  • I will not discriminate against you based on your age, socioeconomic status, ability, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, or any other way you self-identify, within my ability as a practitioner.
  • I will be honest with you.

I think it’s important to communicate about these commitments and how they will impact our work together.  Being in therapy requires vulnerability, and in order to do that you need to feel safe and know what to expect from your clinician.

With time and trust, a lot of growth can happen in therapy.  It doesn’t always happen the way we expect, it’s rarely linear, and requires both client and clinician to work hard, but it’s beautiful and sacred and worth it.