Most people want to know...

... how long their therapy is going to take. There is no precise way to know the answer to this question, however, some clients report beginning to feel a sense of relief after the first few sessions. There are some clients who choose to stay in therapy over protracted periods of time, as they like the process of self-discovery. They find that therapy provides a context within which they grow. Many clients come to process current or past trauma (PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Others who were not nurtured as children or were neglected find therapy provides a sense of emotional connection.

Most clients find they are able to achieve appreciable results by attending therapy once or twice a week over a period of 4-6 months. Other clients have a short term goal or a pressing issue. They might come once a week between 6-8 times. These are highly generalized observations, not guarantees! Effectiveness of any kind of therapy is conditional upon a client's openness and honesty, commitment to change, and willingness to try new and sometimes uncomfortable actions.

When is the best time to start therapy?

It is better to begin therapy early rather than too late. Waiting for that elusive "better time" can result in therapy taking much longer. The support given in therapy can help you make changes before deeper damage is done, and allow you to maximize your growth during transitions. Some of the best times to begin therapy are:

• When you begin to notice that emotional pain is becoming recurrent, debilitating or constant
• Before, during, or after major life transitions
• When moods become troublesome and you are not able to shift them on your own
• When you continue to do the same things and expect different results
• When you are afraid to tell the people around you that you are hurting because you don't want them to worry or interfere
• When you don't want to ask the people who care about you for help
• When you need a safe, non-judgmental, private place to sort things out

It takes forever to get an appointment with therapists in Tucson or they are not taking new patients. How long will it take to get an appointment? 

By the time we make that first difficult call about therapy we really, really need to get in. Please be assured I will get you in absolutely as soon as possible. During busy times it can take up to 10 days to 2 weeks to get an appointment. However, if your situation is dealing with recent trauma, please say so. I will get you in. 

 When we are deciding whether or not we need therapy, we often really don't know if this is the right time. During our first phone contact, we often don't know what to say, we don't think we can make sense or put our pain into words. During your first free phone consultation I'll very honestly help you assess your situation and the urgency of your needs. 

Therapy can be the workshop in which we envision and create a better life for ourselves and others.