How Does Psychotherapy Work? A Therapist’s Honest Answer About Online Therapy
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably wondered what actually happens in therapy. Maybe you imagine sitting on a couch, a therapist quietly nodding, asking, “And how do you feel about that?” Maybe you picture awkward silences. Or maybe you’re curious—can talking to someone through a screen really help?
Let’s get honest about it.
As a therapist, whether I’m meeting with someone virtually or in-person, I’ve had the privilege of sitting with people navigating everything from fresh heartbreak to old childhood wounds. Here’s what I know for sure: therapy is rarely what people expect, and it is almost never just “talking.” At its best, it’s a living, breathing relationship where change actually becomes possible.
More Than a Conversation
When someone logs into their first online session with me, they might feel nervous, uncertain, relieved, or even excited—sometimes all at once. Some people have been looking forward to finally having a space to talk. Others feel skeptical or unsure what to expect. All of those feelings are completely normal. Therapy isn’t magic. It’s a real, collaborative process that meets you wherever you are—in your doubts, your hopes, or even your “I have no idea what I want but I know I need something to change.”
We explore patterns—sometimes the ones you know about, but often the ones you don’t. You might notice the same old story popping up in your relationships, work, or the way you talk to yourself. My job isn’t to “fix” you. It’s to help you notice, get curious, and gently challenge what isn’t serving you anymore.
If you’ve experienced trauma, for example, you already know it’s not just a story from your past. It can show up in your body, your sleep, your self-worth, or your capacity for closeness. Good therapy honors that complexity, and helps you reclaim the parts of yourself that have been pushed aside.
How Does Online Therapy Actually Work?
Online therapy at Eudaimonia isn’t “therapy lite.” It’s the same honest, confidential, and human process—just with the bonus of being able to bring your coffee, your blanket, or your nervous dog to the session if you want.
We connect on a secure video platform. I meet you wherever you are in Ontario or Canada. You don’t have to dress up, drive anywhere, or sit in a waiting room. And yes, research shows that online therapy is just as effective as in-person sessions for most issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship concerns.
Read more about my approach and specialties on the Services page.
What actually happens? We talk, but we also notice—how you feel in your body, how your nervous system responds, what’s really underneath the anxiety, sadness, or “stuckness.” Sometimes I’ll offer practical tools, sometimes space to just be. Always, it’s a process that unfolds at your pace.
What Can Therapy Help With?
People come to therapy for all kinds of reasons:
Untangling anxiety or stress that just won’t quit
Moving through grief, loss, or old heartbreak
Understanding trauma’s impact and finding a new way forward
Navigating sex, intimacy, or relationship challenges
Wrestling with self-worth, perfectionism, or identity
Making sense of major life transitions
There is no “wrong reason” to reach out. Your pain, confusion, curiosity, or hope are all valid starting points.
You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out Alone
Here’s what I want you to know—therapy isn’t a linear journey. It’s sometimes messy, sometimes boring, sometimes surprising. It can be challenging, but it can also be life-changing. You don’t have to come in with the right words, or even with a clear idea of what you want. All you need is a bit of willingness and the tiniest spark of hope.