Therapy for Adults
in Grand Rapids

Here's a truth that might surprise you: you don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. If you're asking this question, chances are something in your life feels off, stuck, or harder than it needs to be, and that's reason enough to explore therapy.

Sometimes the signs are obvious: panic attacks that leave you gasping for air, depression and that makes getting out of bed feel impossible, or trauma that hijacks your nervous system without warning. But often, the indicators are subtler. Maybe you're functioning fine on the surface: crushing it at work, maintaining relationships, keeping all the balls in the air, but inside you feel disconnected, exhausted, or like you're performing a version of yourself rather than actually being yourself.

Watch for these patterns: the same relationship dynamics playing out over and over, emotional reactions that feel disproportionate to the situation, or coping strategies that used to work but now create more problems (looking at you, third glass of wine every night). Maybe you grew up with emotionally unavailable parents—something I specialize in—and you're noticing how those early experiences still shape your relationships and self-worth today.

Here's what I want you to know: therapy isn't just for fixing what's "broken." It's for anyone ready to understand themselves more deeply, shed the layers of conditioning that no longer serve them, and step into a more authentic version of themselves. Some of my clients come because they're curious about their patterns, want to improve already-good relationships, or simply refuse to pass their unhealed trauma onto the next generation.

In my practice here in northern Grand Rapids, I've worked with people navigating everything from severe PTSD to general life transitions. What they have in common isn't the severity of their struggles, but their readiness to explore their depths and embrace change. You don't need to wait until things get "bad enough." If you're feeling stuck, curious, or simply ready for something to shift, that's enough. Your desire for growth and healing is valid at any stage.

I wish I could give you a neat, tidy number here, but that would be doing you a disservice. Asking how many therapy sessions you'll need is like asking how long it takes to heal from a broken heart or grow into the person you're meant to be. It's deeply personal and depends on so many factors.

Some folks come in for a specific issue and find relief in 8-12 sessions. Others are here for the long haul, doing deep trauma work that unfolds over months or years. Research suggests that about 50% of people see improvement within 15-20 sessions. But statistics don't capture the full picture of what healing actually looks like.

Here's what influences your unique timeline: the complexity of what you're working through, how long you've been carrying it, your support system outside therapy, and how ready you (and your nervous system) are to dig into the uncomfortable stuff. If you're addressing recent anxiety, we might make significant progress relatively quickly. If we're untangling developmental trauma or patterns from growing up with emotionally unavailable parents—work I specialize in—that journey typically needs more time and space to unfold safely.

Through approaches like Brainspotting, we can sometimes accelerate healing by accessing the deeper parts of your brain where trauma is stored. This somatic approach can be more efficient than talk therapy alone, but even then, your nervous system sets the pace. Pushing too hard, too fast isn't healing, it's retraumatizing.

What I can promise is this: I won't keep you in therapy longer than necessary, but I also won't rush you through a process that needs time.

Most people start with weekly sessions, and there's good reason for that: it creates momentum, helps us build a strong therapeutic relationship, and gives you consistent support as you navigate change. But like everything in therapy, frequency isn't one-size-fits-all. Your needs, life circumstances, and where you are in your healing journey all play a role in finding the right rhythm.

When we're in the thick of it—processing trauma, managing crisis, or dismantling deeply rooted patterns—weekly sessions provide the continuity your brain needs to create new neural pathways. Think of it like learning a new language or instrument; regular practice helps things stick. With approaches like Brainspotting, which I use to help your brain process trauma at deeper levels, having that weekly touchpoint allows us to build on the previous session while the work is still fresh in your nervous system.

On the flip side, if you're in maintenance mode or working on longer-term growth, biweekly or monthly sessions might feel just right.

Life also happens between sessions: financial shifts, schedule changes, or simply feeling ready to test your wings. We'll adjust frequency as needed, always keeping your wellbeing at the center of that decision. The goal isn't to keep you in therapy forever; it's to provide the right amount of support for sustainable healing.