Finding a Therapist Who Actually Helps

Logo for Heart Centered Therapy, LLC, offering telehealth therapy for high-functioning adults in Maryland and DMV. Logo shows a heart inside a tree with practice name underneath.

Maybe you tried therapy and stopped going. Maybe you've tried more than one therapist and nothing quite clicked. Or maybe you haven't started yet because you don't know where to begin.

You're not alone. When people find out I'm a therapist, this is what they bring up most: the frustration of searching, starting, and starting over.

Is It Normal to Switch Therapists?

Yes. Fit matters, and not every therapist or approach will fit you. Stopping doesn't mean therapy can't help you. More often, the match, the method, or the timing wasn't right.

Starting over also takes real energy. I know that firsthand, which is why I created this consultation.

What Good Therapy Looks Like

Good therapy won't always feel easy, but over time you should notice that:

  • You feel safe enough to be honest, including about what isn't working

  • You're working toward goals you helped set

  • Things start to shift in your life outside of sessions

  • Hard sessions leave you feeling supported, not dismissed or more confused

Therapy Isn't the Only Kind of Help

Sometimes therapy is one piece of a bigger picture. Depending on what's going on, it can also help to look at:

  • A check-up with your primary care doctor

  • A psychiatrist, if medication might be worth exploring

  • Trauma-informed bodywork or somatic practitioners

  • Group therapy, 12-step groups, or other support groups

  • Trauma therapy intensives, for focused work over a few days

The goal is what's grounded and actually helps, not wishful thinking.

Why I Offer This

I've been a therapy client for over 15 years. I've worked with several therapists using different approaches, and I've been in group therapy, 12-step groups, intensives, many kinds of bodywork, and spiritual practices. Some helped a lot. Some didn't.

With a graduate degree in counseling, I've worked as a clinician in college counseling centers, inpatient and outpatient addiction programs, and group practices. I've seen therapy from both sides of the room, in many different settings. I know what to look for, what questions to ask, and how much it costs you to keep starting over. Read more about my approach.

The Next Step Consultation

One 45 to 50-minute session. $175. A standalone service.

Together we'll:

  • Talk through what you've tried and what did or didn't help

  • Sort out what to look for in a therapist, and what to avoid

  • Explore other types of support that might fit

  • Outline a few specific goals

  • Leave you with clear next steps, usually a few things to try and some research to do

This consultation isn't about getting you into therapy with me. Over the years, I've built a long list of trusted referrals: therapists with different specialties, trauma reprocessing practitioners, intensive programs, support groups, and other providers. If one of them is your right next step, I'll point you there. You can also browse my Resources page.

Not sure yet? Book a free 15-minute call to ask questions and decide whether a Next Step Consultation or ongoing therapy with me is the right fit.

Ready When You Are

You don't have to figure this out alone, or start from scratch again.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to talk. Contact me to schedule.