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!

Look at you, 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?

Exhale. Now, breathe.

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.”

See? Talking. Talking about your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors — how they’re currently troubling you, what change you want to experience, and how we believe we can facilitate that change. 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.

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, Shameka is licensed to work with clients across the states of Louisiana, Texas, and Washington.

Let's talk.

What will happen after I decide to schedule?

If, after your free 20-minute consultation, we decide to work together, I will send you information about my policies and procedures and about the assessment and psychotherapy process.

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

Please carefully read the documents that I send you in their entirety, as you will need to provide informed consent to begin our therapeutic relationship. You may 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 your scheduled 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, what your experiences have been, and what you hope to achieve. 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 interventions and monitor 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 am not sure it is 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.

While I am competent at working with a variety of issues, I am primarily a relational therapist for individual clients who want to increase self-awareness and learn self-advocacy so that they can experience healthier emotional intimacy with Self and others. If your concern is not relational in nature, I may not be the best therapist for you.

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!

When I sit with clients who feel worn down by people-pleasing, self-doubt, or relationships that never seem to give back what they put in, something in me recognizes the weight they are carrying. This is the work I care deeply about, and my clients often tell me that I get them even when they struggle to find the words. They feel understood without having to brace for judgment or worry about saying the wrong thing.

I believe that every person has worth and deep potential. My approach brings warmth, humor, curiosity, and genuine respect for you as an individual, and I want to help you find the courage it takes to show up authentically.

If you are still feeling stuck, schedule a free 20-minute consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help you consider next steps. I wish you the best in finding a relational trauma therapist in Baton Rouge or a trauma-informed New Orleans therapist!

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