Support for Where You Are Right Now
Therapy isn’t just for crisis moments—it’s for anyone looking to navigate life’s challenges with more confidence and clarity.
Sometimes, simply knowing more about what counseling involves can help you decide whether it feels like the right step.
And if you’re still unsure or have questions, I’m always happy to help you explore what kind of support might be most helpful for you.
Session Details
Session Frequency
Session Length
Therapy is a collaborative journey, and your experience will be unique. But here’s a general idea of what you can expect:
What to Expect
- What’s bringing you to therapy?
- If you’ve been to therapy before, what worked for you and what didn’t?
Some people have lots of questions, while others don’t—that’s totally fine. If we decide to move forward, we’ll schedule your first session.
Phone Consultation (optional)
- The first email includes the basics—my office address, contact info, and other details.
- The second email invites you to create an account in the client portal, where you’ll fill out some paperwork.
Most of it is standard—policies, your rights, and general information. You’ll also get a questionnaire where you can share anything that feels important. How much you fill out is up to you, but the more you share, the better prepared I’ll be. Sometimes, I also send quizzes (called assessments) to get a clearer picture of what you’re dealing with.
Paperwork needs to be completed at least 48 hours before our first session. If it’s not done in time, I’ll reach out to reschedule so we can make the most of our time together.
Required Paperwork
Your initial counseling session is a chance to get comfortable.
We’ll start by going over key points from the paperwork. Then, it’s all about getting to know you—your story, what’s bringing you to therapy, and what you hope to get out of it.
But I get it—at this point, we’re still strangers! There’s no pressure to share everything all at once. We’ll go at your pace.
Some people like having “homework” between sessions—whether that’s journaling, practicing a skill, or trying a new approach. Others prefer to reflect naturally.
There’s no one right way—we’ll find what works for you.
- Practicing new ways of relating to thoughts
- Build new strategies for responding to challenges
- Developing coping strategies for stress, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts
- Role-playing conversations to set boundaries or express needs
- Setting goals that feel achievable and working toward them at your own pace
Developing Skills & Taking Action
- Exploring past experiences that impact your present
- Reframing fears or mental blocks
- Breaking unhelpful thought loops
Processing & Gaining Insight
- Learning to sit with difficult thoughts and emotions instead of avoiding them
- Exploring thought patterns and how they shape your emotions and actions
- Practicing mindfulness for grounding, focus, and stress relief
Building Awareness & Acceptance
Therapy isn’t just about talking—it’s about putting things into practice. That might look like:
There’s no set timeline for therapy—everyone’s journey is different. But usually, we’ll both recognize when we’re getting close to wrapping up.
At that point, sessions start to feel more like check-ins. You’ll be applying what you’ve learned, and therapy becomes a celebration of your progress.
When that happens, we’ll start meeting less often—maybe once a month—until you feel ready to move forward on your own.
And if you ever need support again, whether it’s one session or a longer stretch, you’re always welcome back.
Therapy is Whatever You Need It To Be
Most of my clients tend to approach counseling in one of two ways:
Goal-Focused Therapy
Some people come in with clear, specific goals. They want to learn skills, work through a particular challenge, and move forward with practical tools. These sessions are more structured and focus on learning, practicing, and applying strategies that help create real progress over time.
Process-Oriented Therapy
Others use therapy as a space to process whatever’s coming up in life—stress, relationships, emotions, or big transitions. These sessions tend to be more flexible, helping you navigate recent challenges while gaining insight, building resilience, and creating meaningful change in how you experience life.
You don’t have to fit into one category—therapy naturally shifts over time based on what you need.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Mary Katherine as a fellow therapist, and I am continually impressed by her calm and compassionate approach. She creates a supportive environment where clients feel safe to explore challenges while also being empowered to recognize their own strengths.
Mary Katherine’s presence brings both steadiness and encouragement, making her an excellent guide for those seeking meaningful growth and change.”
—Jacqueline Sasso, LMFT-A
(Jacqueline Sasso Therapy)
How Privacy & Confidentiality Work
Whenever possible, I document sensitive subjects (e.g., information about gender identity or sexual orientation, medical histories and choices) according to client preferences. I also stay informed about current best practices recommended by trusted professionals and human rights organizations.
If you ever have questions about privacy, confidentiality, or how I keep records, please ask.
