Therapists answer…

What is therapy like? What does a typical session with you look like?

Christy Phelps

What do therapy sessions with you look like?

During the initial appointment, I will gather information about your presenting challenges, past and current stressors, and what you hope to accomplish in therapy. I also utilize an eclectic approach, but I often find myself defaulting to humanist theories and dialectical behavioral therapy.

I am a licensed professional counselor with 17 years of experience. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and wannabe philosopher. When I am not in the office, I am probably reading, bird-watching, or laughing at my own jokes. In the profession I've chosen, my specialties are couples and trauma. I also employ a compassionate yet evidence-based approach to help you achieve the goals that matter most to you. My clients say I am easy to talk to, and my sense of humor makes therapy a little easier during the 'hard' moments. I understand that the problems you bring to me are significant to you, and I will treat them with the importance they deserve. I honor that you are ready to explore what healing might feel like. We will go at your pace because what matters to you matters to me. In case you need to know, yes, I am LGBTQIA2S+ friendly, do see couples, and celebrate diversity in all its forms.

View Profile (573) 370-1178

Caroline Rucker

LMFT-Associate

Online & In-Person

What does a typical session with you tend to look like?

At the beginning of the session (after intake), I love to talk about my client's week. I want to know what was amazing or horrible. Even if their wasn't anything exciting or good, I want to hear about it. We'll check in on homework if it was assigned, and how you feel about therapy is going. If you're wanting something more or less of me, I want to hear it. I balance directness with empathy, because I want to help my client's meet their goals. We can go off on tangents, talk about the episode from your favorite show, and anything that's causing you distress. I'm here for all of it.

Hi! My name is Caroline, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate. I went to Texas Tech University from August 2017-May 2020, and completed my graduate school education at Oklahoma State University from August 2020-August 2022. I am passionate about providing a safe space for growth and freedom. I work from a collaborative perspective, and believe that all individuals are the experts in their own lives. I am of the opinion that I am not above you as a therapist, but side by side with you as we work through whatever you bring to therapy together. Some fun facts about me: I have a pandemic pet, I will drink iced coffee in ANY weather, and I have 3 tattoos!

View Profile 214-310-0417 ext. 703

Julia Dawoud

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Online Therapy

What does a typical session with you tend to look like?

1) We begin with an assessment over our first 1-2 sessions, whose purpose is to identify the presenting problem(s) and any relevant history that may have affected them. It is during this time frame that a full bio-psychosocial evaluation will be conducted on an as-needed basis. 2) Once the assessment is complete, we develop an informal treatment plan to determine our goals for subsequent sessions. Typically we develop 1-3 realistic, time-bound goals for the coming weeks or months. 3) During the treatment phase of therapy, goals are addressed in steps through various modalities at your desired pace. 4) Over time, we conduct a reassessment to determine if services need to continue, increase, or decrease frequency, or if we need to change the approach altogether. A typical patient experience lasts 3-6 months, reassessing as needed, as patients make their journey toward a more independent, functioning, stable life. However, it is also common to return months or years down the road if a trigger resurfaces. Above all, my services are holistic and solution focused, utilizing CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) techniques while gently guiding and challenging patients to make progress in their lives with regular check-ins to ensure a satisfactory therapy experience.

Harp Counseling provides individual, family, and couples therapy services to adolescents, adults, and their families going through a variety of mental health challenges. These include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, grief, cultural integration issues, academic pressures/stress, substance abuse issues, etc. At Harp, we believe that for an individual to make progress, they must address their struggles holistically. The mind, the body, and the spirit are important aspects of a human being. I will work with clients utilizing an integration of modalities to address destructive thoughts that may be causing extremes in emotion, while identifying invaluable supports such as socialization, exercise, nutrition, and faith for the best management and prognosis.

View Profile (813) 358-7487

Danielle Weeks

MS, LAC

Online Therapy

What do therapy sessions with you look like?

They are collaborative. Ultimately, you’re the expert on yourself… I’m here to guide you and provide feedback. I can’t enter a session with an individual knowing exactly what they need to do, otherwise I’d just tell you, you’d do it, and that’d be the end of that. Sessions are truly about exploration, exploring what has happened, what has not worked, how that has impacted you and those around you, etc. You are the writer of your own story, I’m merely someone to help you find the resolve to change how it goes and the ending.

Where there is judgment, there is no space for growth. I offer a safe and nonjudgmental space for clients to explore, heal, and thrive without fear of criticism or bias. My approach is client-centered and strength-based, focusing on empowering individuals to achieve their goals and overcome obstacles. I have training in various therapeutic modalities, including CBT, DBT, REBT, MI, and REBT; specializing in the treatment of mental health and addictions. I provide unbiased and non-judgmental support to all my clients, creating a safe and welcoming space for exploration and growth. My telehealth-based services offer convenience and flexibility for those seeking therapy from the comfort of their own space. If you are looking for a compassionate therapist to support you on your journey towards healing and self-discovery, I am here to help

View Profile (623) 252-5960

Amy Read

Board Certified Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Online Therapy

What does a typical session with you tend to look like?

An initial visit with me involves a medical history review, physical examination, and possibly diagnostic tests to evaluate a patient's health, identify issues, and develop a treatment plan.

My name is Amy Read and I am an Adult & Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. I have specialized my interests in health & wellness after years of struggling with my own symptoms ... symptoms of pain, brain fog, IBS, difficulty with focus, no ability to concentration, a very forgetful memory, and so many more. Luckily, I was cleared of anything life threating. Because of my personal challenges, I found functional medicine. I found a way to "cure" myself and reclaim my life. It was hard. It took a lot of time. It took work. It took family support. Now I am able to live again and I have many roles and titles, the best of which is being a mother to 6 beautiful children. I love the sun and the beach, if I have a day off that's where you'll find me! The water is mesmerizing and the sun enlightens my soul! I am now a functional medicine practitioner nurse practitioner and bring over 25 years of experience into my practice. Functional medicine has saved my life and become my passion for helping others. My own triumphs and trials with depression, anxiety, ADHD, food sensitivities and fibromyalgia allow me to have a deep understanding of what my clients are going through and what they need to have in order to achieve the life of their dreams. Through my programs, clients who are committed and ready for change, are able to obtain optimal health and wellness.

View Profile (269) 230-5811

Andressa Little

Clinical Therapist

Online Therapy

What do therapy sessions with you look like?

Therapy with me is a safe, supportive space where you can explore your challenges at your own pace. We’ll work together using a blend of evidence-based approaches like CBT, ACT, and mindfulness, tailored to your unique needs. I focus on empowering you to understand your patterns, build resilience, and create lasting change. You'll leave each session with new insights and practical tools to navigate life's challenges.

Hi, I’m Andressa—a therapist passionate about helping people reconnect with their inner strength and navigate life’s hardest moments with clarity and compassion. I specialize in working with individuals facing anxiety, low self-esteem, perfectionism, grief, and relational struggles—even when there’s no formal diagnosis involved. My approach is warm, direct, and insight-driven. I create a supportive space where you can reflect deeply, experience emotional breakthroughs, and start seeing yourself—and your patterns—more clearly. Clients often tell me they finally feel understood and experience “aha” moments that shift how they relate to themselves and others. As a bilingual, first-generation immigrant, I bring lived experience to the work I do. I understand the complexity of holding multiple identities, navigating transitions, and finding your voice. Whether you're unpacking emotional pain, processing trauma, or simply trying to feel more grounded, I’m here to walk beside you.

View Profile (281) 826-2459

Spotted Rabbit Studio .

Licensed Creative Arts Therapist

Online & In-Person

What does a typical session with you tend to look like?

Spotted Rabbit Studio specializes in "therapy that doesn't feel like therapy". We don't work in a stale clinical space, or one that's filled with positivity cliches. Our therapists are real people, who will treat you as an equal on your journey toward emotional wellness. Therapy sessions are held at a table, so that you may engage in art making during your time with us. Our space is colorful and homey feeling, and is a place where you're free to make a mess or kick your shoes off. We aren't here to "fix" you so sessions generally begin by you deciding what you'd like to talk about or work on and then we go from there. Often we'll provide you with an art making prompt while we chat, but that's ultimately up to you. Through out the session we'll focus on creating a space for you that's grounded in trust, support, and validation, all the while gentle challenging beliefs and behaviors that keep you stuck.

We all want to love, be loved, do something meaningful, and have purpose in our lives, yet all too often prior relationships and life experiences have left us with coping skills that are unhealthy, ineffective or just downright baffling. As a practice, Spotted Rabbit Studio specializes in working with adults who have a history of childhood emotional abuse and/or neglect. Those we work with often find that they have difficulty with relationships, struggle to relax, and wish they were in more control of their lives. For clients with disordered eating, we work from a HAES and intuitive eating approach. Additionally, several of our therapists are LGBTQIA+ and we work with clients to explore and develop their gender and sexual identity. We also specialize in teens and adults with neurodivergence (autism, ADHD, OCD). Some of our therapists are in network with Cigna and MVP commercial plans. We offer sessions in-person at our Studios in Brighton and Pittsford NY, or online.

View Profile 585-430-9877 x1

Marissa Skipper

MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Intern

What does a typical session with you tend to look like?

Our first session together would be an exploratory session so this is where you get to know me and I get to know you and I come to understand your reason for seeking therapy. And that could be a variety of reasons. It could be anger issues, depression, anxiety, parenting, marital conflict, areas of past abuse, neglect, trauma, just whatever the case is. And once I have a good understanding of what you're seeking treatment for, we would together come up with two or three goals for treatment and these would be what things do you want to see changed by the time our relationship is over, we would discuss how frequently you want to meet, and we would discuss about how long you know, do we think that this change is possible and do you want to see this change in two months, three months 90 days what, you know what your parameters are. And then I would just get some background information from you just on just who you are as a person. Do you have any medical problems are you on medication. Do you have a family history of mental illness. What are your spiritual and religious beliefs, what's your culture like, how do you, how have you handled problems in the past so just that kind of things I can get an idea of who you are as a person. And then the subsequent sessions that we have would generally be from 15 minutes to an hour, and we would just be working through to meet the goals that you have and that could look a variety of ways, depending on what your problem is, so we might do some mindfulness exercises and I can teach you coping skills and relaxation techniques, or we could process, verbally through trauma or we could do some yoga. I mean, it just can look a million different ways and so every session is really tailored to you and to what your needs are. And if at any point in the process, you felt that it was headed in the wrong direction. You know, you would have full freedom to speak up. And I could also make referrals to other professionals for you if that was something that you felt like you needed.

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