The Therapist Diaries

Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries,  This weekend I was assisting in a training with a co-worker who I admire tremendously. I've known her for a few years, and her work fascinates me. She is a certified Geek Therapist and a Therapeutic Game Master... and in all honesty, I (someone who favors more traditional therapy) had no clue what that meant.  She explained that you can use strategies from your favorite video game to develop real-life coping mechanisms, analyze character archetypes from a beloved fantasy series to better understand your own identity, or apply world-building principles from tabletop gaming to envision and create a more fulfilling personal future. By linking therapeutic concepts to things that you already love, we create powerful and lasting connections for change. I was fascinated. So, I thought I’d do some more research and share my findings with you. Welcome to the heart of Geek Therapy . At its core, Geek Therapy is a strengths-based approach...

 Hello and welcome back to the Therapist Diaries!  Last week on the blog, we explored how to find the right therapist and choose a therapy approach that fits your needs. This week, we're diving into a question almost everyone asks before they begin:  How long will I be in here? You’ve found the right therapist, and maybe even picked a modality that feels like the right fit for you, you’re off to a great start, but now you start thinking about the logistics of it all… How long is this going to take? How many sessions? How often do I go? Will I be in therapy forever ? The short answer? Therapy doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all timeline. But there is a roadmap and from the very first session, your therapist should be planning for your exit. Sounds odd, right? You just started, and we’re already talking about goodbye? Let me explain. If I do my job properly then eventually we’re going to get to a point where I never have to see you in my office again. #sorrynotsorry! But ...

Hello, and welcome back to The Therapist Diaries!  Not long ago, I was chatting with a friend who is smart, thoughtful, and deeply self aware. As we were talking she said something that stuck with me. “I’ve thought about therapy,” she told me, “but I don’t know… I feel like it’s only for people who are really struggling. Like, something has to be seriously wrong.” I hear this kind of thing all the time. And honestly? It breaks my heart a little. Because while we’ve made huge strides in how we talk about mental health, a lot of myths about therapy still linger in the background—quietly shaping how we see it, and whether we feel “allowed” to seek help. So today, I want to shine a light on some of the most common therapy myths I hear as a therapist. And more importantly, I want to offer a gentler, more accurate picture of what therapy can really be. Myth #1: “Therapy is only for people with serious problems.” Truth: Therapy is for everyone—not just those in crisis. Here’s the thing: ...

Hello there and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries!  So, you’ve made the leap and booked a therapy session. Whether it’s your very first time in therapy or you’re trying again with a new therapist, that first meeting can bring up a lot of feelings—nervousness, curiosity, hope, or maybe even a bit of dread. All of it is valid. A question people often ask is: What actually happens in the first session? The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every therapist has their own approach, depending on their training and modality. But no matter the method—CBT, psychodynamic, somatic work, EMDR, or something else entirely—there’s one central goal in that initial hour: to begin building a relationship . Getting to Know You (and Letting You Know Them) Think of the first session less as a deep dive into your biggest trauma and more like the first chapter of a book. The therapist is starting to get a sense of your story—where you’ve been, what’s bringing you in, and what you hope...

Hello there!  Welcome to The Therapist Diaries , where we spill the tea (ethically, of course) on all things therapy. Today, let’s talk about something that’s been floating around in my head lately — the things I wish my clients knew before (and during) therapy. Not because you’re doing anything wrong (you’re not), but because if I could wave a magic wand and make therapy feel a little less intimidating and a lot more empowering, I totally would. Here’s what I’d say:  1. You don’t need to “have it all together” to start therapy. Actually, if you did have it all together, we’d just sit in silence making awkward eye contact. So many people think that therapy is something we do AFTER, and sometimes it can be- after a crisis, a shift in life, or emotional distress. But therapy is also for people who are CURRENTLY messy, confused, tired, overwhelmed, hopeful, heartbroken, healing — or all of the above. You don’t need to rehearse your “life story” before you walk in. You just ...