The Work Between the Sessions

There's something that I love about a quiet moment in my office before the day begins.

A book in hand. A few minutes to think. A chance to reflect on the people I have the privilege of sitting with each week.

Therapy is often thought of as the 50 minutes spent in a counseling room, but so much of the work happens outside of that hour.

It happens when someone chooses a different response during an argument.

When they finally set a boundary they have been afraid to set.

When they practice a new ADHD strategy, reach out instead of isolating, or make one small decision that supports recovery.

Those moments may seem small, but they are where change begins.

One of the things I value most about being a therapist is continuing to learn. I read, study, teach, and reflect because every client who walks through my door brings a different story. There is no single technique or perfect piece of advice that fits everyone.

Good therapy should be personal.

It should help you understand yourself more deeply, but it should also help you figure out what to do with that understanding once you leave the office.

Sometimes that means learning a new skill.

Sometimes it means looking honestly at an old pattern.

Sometimes it means grieving something you can't change.

And sometimes it means realizing that you are ready to create something different.

I don't believe therapy is about becoming a completely different person.

I think it's often about becoming the person you already are- and learning how to live your life in a way that feels healthier, more connected, and more aligned with what matters to you.

So yes, there are a lot of books in my office.

But the most important stories are always the ones carried through the door by the people who sit across from me.

And it remains a privilege to be invited to them.