The first session

In our first meeting, we’ll spend time getting to know each other. You’ll share what’s bringing you in, and we’ll start an initial assessment to better understand your story, relationships, goals, and the larger context you live in. We’ll talk openly about what you hope to get out of therapy, and we’ll co-create a treatment plan based on your values, capacity, and readiness for change.

There’s no pressure to have everything figured out right away — therapy is a process of discovery, not a test. You can expect curiosity, respect, and honesty from us as we explore what healing and growth might look like for you.

Between sessions

Depending on your preferences and goals, your therapist may suggest homework, reflective practices, or relational experiments to try between sessions. We don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach — tools are only used if they truly support your work and feel right for you. Many clients find growth in noticing patterns, practicing new communication, or simply making space to reflect in everyday life.

A few other things to know:

• We don’t believe in pathologizing your pain. Many struggles are natural responses to relational wounds, identity pressures, or unjust systems.

• Therapy can be challenging. You may feel activated, confused, or vulnerable — and that’s not a sign of failure. We’ll move at a pace that supports safety and trust.

• You are the expert on your life. We’ll bring clinical insight, but we’ll never pretend to have all the answers. Our role is to walk alongside you as you find clarity, connection, and direction.

Standard practices:

• Confidentiality is a priority. Anchor to Elevate utilizes standard confidentiality practices. Everything you share stays confidential within legal limits (such as risk of harm to self or others). We use secure, HIPAA-compliant technology to protect your information during online sessions.

• Session length. Individual sessions are typically 55 minutes, while couples and family sessions run about 50 minutes. We aim to start and end on time to respect everyone’s schedule. That said, therapy is a human process — sometimes a session might go a little over to meet the needs of the moment. This means sometimes you might be the one waiting, and other times you might be the one needing a few extra minutes. We ask for your patience and understanding, knowing that this flexibility supports the best care for all clients.

• Telehealth. All therapy sessions are held online via secure video. This allows you to connect with your therapist from anywhere, making it easier to fit therapy into your routine. We prefer our clients to find a quiet, private space to minimize distractions, using headphones as appropriate. We do, however, understand if small children are kept close as needed.

• Preparing for sessions. You don’t need to prepare anything formal, but therapy tends to be most effective when you come with something specific to work on. If possible, take some time to reflect on the previous session and jot down thoughts, questions, or experiences you want to explore. This helps keep our work focused and meaningful — but if you’re ever unsure or come without a plan, that’s okay too. We’ll always work with where you’re at.

• Communication between sessions. You can email, text, or call us for scheduling or brief questions. We respect boundaries to keep your care focused and effective. For more in-depth communication or crisis support, there are several services available to you:

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text)

  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

  • Arizona Mobile Crisis: call 844-534-4673 or text 44673

  • Maricopa County Crisis: 800-631-1314

  • Local ER or urgent care

  • Local non-emergency police

  • Mind 24/7 (emergency psychiatric walk-in clinic)

• Ending therapy. When you feel ready, we’ll talk about how to wrap up or pause therapy. Ending therapy is a process, not a one-time event, and we’ll support you in making it a positive step. We’ll also discuss signs it might be helpful to return to therapy.