Adult Individual Therapy

Why go to individual therapy?

People come to individual therapy for different reasons. Perhaps you are seeking relief from negative feelings like sadness, anger, stress, worry, or regret. Or maybe someone you care about has expressed concern and asked you to go. Perhaps you feel a bit lost or find yourself doing things you promised yourself you would never do. Many people do not come to therapy with a “problem” to solve but rather see therapy as an opportunity for personal growth. Individual therapy is a tool to help you become the best version of you. Similar to a person seeking a massage, you may have an injury or specific areas causing you pain, or you may simply want to promote overall wellness and stress reduction. Therapy does not have to be problem focused.

Research shows that therapy can be extremely effective in producing positive results, especially when the person is committed to thinking about and working on ideas discussed during therapy in between the therapy appointments. It is common to have mixed feelings about going to therapy. Although we have made great strides in reducing stigma about counseling, fear and misunderstandings still exist. Initial therapy sessions can be a place to explore these mixed feelings and to get more information before deciding whether or not to commit to additional sessions.

We know from research that the sooner a person seeks support, the better the prognosis.

Does therapy work?

Therapy can be highly effective; between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and experience improved quality of life.

What should I expect from Dr. Johns?

Dr. Johns’ approach to therapy is informed by research about what works given the individual, couple, or family goals and concerns. Dr. Johns’ approach intentionally varies depending on the client, couple, or family needs and goals. That being said, defining qualities include:

Non judgmental style
Meeting you or your family where you are at
Background in family systems and solution-oriented approaches
Integrative approach
Goal oriented
Informed by motivational interviewing techniques
Informed by knowledge of what works for various conditions
Consultation with other providers (if, of course, permission and release are given)

If I am considering therapy, what are the first steps?

1. Call or email Dr. Johns to ask questions and/or schedule an initial appointment. During this brief telephone call, Dr. Johns will ask for some basic information about why you are considering therapy. This information will be used to ensure Dr. Johns is a good match for your needs. In some situations, Dr. Johns may suggest that your needs would be better served by a different provider with a different type of expertise. In these situations, Dr. Johns will do her best to provide referral options.

2. Schedule an appointment by calling Dr. Johns or texting her at 410-212-2522.

3. Read the information provided on the website under Practice Info.

4. Read and complete the forms shared via the Client Portal. This saves time during the first appointment, protecting time to ask questions and cover other important aspects of orientation to therapy.

5. Attend a first session and determine whether Dr. Johns seems like a good match for you/your family.