If you've never been to therapy — or it's been a long time — you may be carrying ideas about what it's supposed to look like. Here are some of the myths I hear most often, and the truths I'd offer in their place.
Movies, family stories, and even well-meaning advice can paint a picture of therapy that doesn't match what actually happens in the room. Naming those myths can make the first step feel less mysterious — and a little more human.
"Therapy is only for people with serious mental illness."
Therapy is for anyone navigating life — stress, relationship patterns, identity questions, transitions, or simply wanting to understand yourself better. You don't have to be in crisis to benefit.
Many people come to therapy because they're high-functioning on the outside and exhausted on the inside. Others come because a relationship keeps looping the same conflict, or because a transition — graduation, a move, becoming a parent, leaving home, changing careers — stirred up more than they expected. Wanting support is enough of a reason.
"The therapist will judge me or tell me what to do."
My role is not to evaluate or direct you — it's to walk alongside you. This is your space, and you lead. I ask questions, reflect back, and help you access your own wisdom.
You don't need to perform insight or say the "right" thing. Awkward pauses, half-formed thoughts, and "I don't know" are all welcome. If something feels off in how we're working together, we can talk about that too. Therapy works best when it feels collaborative — not like you're being graded.
"I should wait until things get really bad."
Early support often makes change easier and more lasting. You don't need to reach a breaking point to deserve care.
Waiting until everything falls apart can leave you with fewer resources when you finally reach out. Coming sooner — when you're curious, stretched, or quietly worn down — can help you build steadiness before crisis arrives. Prevention is still care. So is maintenance. So is wanting a place to think out loud with someone who isn't in the middle of your life.
"Therapy means talking about my childhood forever."
We work on what matters most to you, in the present. We may explore the past when it's relevant — but every session is shaped by what you want to focus on that day.
Sometimes the past helps explain a present pattern — why a certain tone of voice lands so hard, why rest feels unsafe, why closeness and distance both feel complicated. Other times, we stay close to what's happening this week: a hard conversation, anxiety in your body, a decision you're circling. You don't have to excavate everything to make therapy useful.
"If I need therapy, it means I'm weak — or that I failed at handling life on my own."
Asking for support is a form of strength. Most of us were never taught how to hold big feelings, set boundaries, or unlearn patterns we inherited. Therapy is a place to practice those skills with care — not a referendum on your character.
"One good conversation should fix it."
Meaningful change usually unfolds over time. Some people feel relief early; deeper shifts often come from consistency, trust, and practicing new ways of relating — to yourself and to others — between sessions.
What the first steps can look like
If you're curious but unsure, a free 15-minute consultation is a low-pressure way to ask questions and get a sense of fit. From there, we can talk about scheduling, in-person sessions in Ballard or virtual care anywhere in Washington, and whether individual or couples therapy makes sense for what you're carrying.
You don't have to arrive with perfect words. You just have to arrive.
"You don't have to be in crisis to deserve support. You don't have to have it figured out. You just have to be willing to show up."