looking for a sign, starting therapy, psychotherapy, therapy in Baton Rouge, New Orleans therapist, trauma therapist, breakup therapist, online therapy, virtual therapy — A sign that it’s time to start therapy!

So, you’re thinking about starting therapy.

Maybe you just realized that therapy might be a good option for you. Or maybe you’ve wondered for years if you should talk to someone, but you were scared it wouldn’t make any difference, or worse, you’d leave the therapy session with confirmation that something really is wrong with you.

What the hell is therapy even?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) refers to a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.”

While therapists may use specific tools and approach concerns from a variety of perspectives, the process often centers around talking. You will talk about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors — how they’re currently troubling you, what change you want to see, and how we believe we can facilitate that change. You will also talk about the experience of implementing change, both your successes and your challenges. The magic is in talking about these things with someone who won’t judge you for them and who has only one agenda, which is to support your mental wellness and personal growth.

Therapy through Tech

One major benefit of online therapy is that it makes the support you need more accessible! While The Chrysalis Center, LLC is located between the Greater Baton Rouge and Greater New Orleans Metropolitan areas, I am licensed to work with clients across the states of Louisiana, Texas, and Washington.

If you’re considering therapy and would like support clarifying what kind of work might be most helpful, we can begin with a dedicated Clarity Session to explore fit and next steps.

My areas of focus include people-pleasing and boundary work, attachment and relational injury, emotional disconnection, and breakup or relational loss.

Let's talk.

What will happen after I decide to schedule?

I will send you information about my policies and procedures and about the assessment and psychotherapy process. You will need to review the documents and provide your consent to begin our therapeutic relationship. Please complete the intake paperwork via the client portal within 48 hours of receiving it. Your appointment is considered tentative and will not be held unless the intake paperwork is completed within the specified timeframe.

What do I need to do to prepare for the first session?

Please carefully read the documents that I send you in their entirety, and ask me any questions that arise before or during your first session. Please check your email, including your junk or spam folder, if you have not received the documents within 48 hours of scheduling your appointment.

You will also need to check your email and/or text messages for the link to join your online therapy session. Please note that you must be physically located in either Louisiana, Texas, or Washington state to engage in an online therapy session with Shameka.

online therapy, virtual therapy, teletherapy, therapy session — A laptop on a sofa preparing for a virtual or online therapy session

What happens in the first session?

During the first session, we will review and discuss my policies and procedures with an emphasis on confidentiality. You may ask any questions that come up for you. We will then begin the assessment process by discussing what brings you in, your experiences, and what you hope to achieve. If you and I have already held a Clarity Session, we will deepen our discussion of your concerns and continue working on identifying areas of focus. You set the pace. There is no pressure to share anything before you are ready.

Will I have homework?

Maybe! It will depend on what you and I decide is appropriate. Applying insights and implementing skills between sessions helps assess your response to the process and track progress toward your goals. I may offer psychoeducational and practical worksheets, but if completing them feels like a stressor, we can explore that concern and adjust our approach accordingly.

When will I have my next session?

When starting therapy, I have found that meeting on a weekly basis allows for fuller and more continuous assessment and treatment planning. Once we note satisfactory progress toward your goals, we can discuss moving to biweekly or monthly maintenance sessions.

What if I don’t like what happened in the first session, or I’m not sure it’s a good match?

As much as possible, you should like and trust your therapist so that you can feel comfortable saying and hearing the hard things. The quality of the therapy relationship (i.e., therapeutic rapport) has consistently been shown to be one of the strongest predictors of successful treatment outcomes. So, if something feels off, let’s talk about it! We may be able to adjust our approach, or we can discuss what type of clinician might better fit your needs and preferences.

If you’re primarily looking for short-term, skills-based support for concerns that are tied to relational or emotional patterns, my approach may not be the best fit. I’m most helpful when we focus on understanding and processing what’s underneath, rather than relying on tools and strategies alone.

therapeutic rapport, black therapist, BIPOC, relational therapist, trauma therapist, breakup therapist, attachment therapy — A client consultation with a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) to start individual therapy

Let’s get you started!

Therapy can be a place to reconnect with your voice and your values. We can get started with a free consultation or a paid Clarity Session. If that’s already happened, what are you waiting for? Check your email (including junk and/or spam) for your paperwork!

I look forward to (re)connecting with you!

If you are looking for guidance on deciding how to pay for therapy, check out this post.

What to Expect from Your First Online Therapy Session with Shameka