Therapy for adults navigating psychosis related experiences in Columbus, OH
Support FOR perception shifts, CONFUSING thoughts, & moments that feel unreal
When you’ve tried to tell yourself it is nothing, but it feels too real to ignore.
Maybe you’ve noticed changes in your thoughts or ideas that feel confusing or hard to name. It may seem like your mind feels unfamiliar or like it’s no longer your own. You might question what is real or not. You may be trying to make sense of what is happening or wondering whether to tell someone. These experiences can feel isolating and frightening, but they can be explored together in therapy.
At the end of the day, I want you to know:
Psychosis doesn’t have to keep holding you back. Your experiences can be understood. You can move forward.
Psychosis doesn’t have to keep holding you back. Your experiences can be understood. You can move forward.
MERIT (Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy) is a type of evidence-based treatment. It works to help you understand your thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a clearer and more organized way, especially when things feel confusing, vivid, or hard to explain. MERIT gives you a steady place to explore these changes and how they fit into your life story. Instead of telling you what to think or trying to “correct” your experiences, we explore them together at your own pace. This helps you reconnect with your identity and move toward reclaiming your life. MERIT is human-focused. It's not symptom-focused. You are seen as a whole person with your own strengths and values. It assumes that change is possible and that recovery is self-directed. MERIT integrates cognitive, humanistic, interpersonal, and psychodynamic therapy, but in a way, that’s uniquely individualized and built for people who struggle to put their experiences into words.
Many people find that MERIT helps them feel more confident in understanding their inner world, more able to navigate moments that once felt overwhelming, and more connected to themselves and the people in their lives. Once you start to understand yourself more clearly, you naturally are able to understand others and build stronger connections. Learn more.Here’s what we’ll do together.
Therapy can help you better understand your experiences & move toward recovery.
Psychosis in everyday language
Psychosis can affect how you see, hear, or understand the world around you. You may notice things that feel completely real to you, even if others do not share the same experience. You may feel pulled into your inner world, unsure how to talk about what is happening or how to make sense of it on your own. You might notice a flurry of new ideas and beliefs, and a change in your perception of others and the world. Psychosis is a human experience that can feel vivid, confusing, or frightening.
You may have any of the following experiences:
notice things others do not
feel watched or singled out
have a sense meaning in things that used to feel ordinary
have an odd sense of time or space
Receive subtle messages from media and other platforms
feel your thoughts speeding up or tangling
struggle to trust what is real or not
feel unsure of what is real
feel disconnected from yourself or the people in your life
Experiences of psychosis are more common than people realize.
Many people experience psychosis at some point in their lives. It can happen to anyone across identities, cultures, families, and communities. These experiences can come and go, and many people move through them without ever needing formal treatment. Sometimes people have experiences that are more disruptive and interfere with the life they want to lead. It can be helpful to reach out when these experiences begin to feel intense, confusing, or hard to manage on your own. If you notice that these moments are becoming more frequent, more distressing, or are starting to affect your daily life, relationships, or sense of safety, support can make a meaningful difference. You do not have to wait until things feel unbearable to get help. Experiences of psychosis do not define who you are or who you will become. With the right support and treatment, many people can reclaim a sense of clarity and connection. Learn more.
What are the early signs of psychosis?
You don’t have to wait when you feel something shifting inside you.
Before things become overwhelming, people often describe early changes like:
feeling more alert or on edge
trouble focusing or keeping track of thoughts
difficulty concentrating
pulling away from friends or family
sudden change in thinking or behaviors
feeling suspicious of others
feeling like the world has shifted
feeling confused or unsure of what is real
sleeping less or feeling disconnected
sensing things others do not
These experiences do not automatically mean someone is developing psychosis. They simply mean something might be happening internally and it could be helpful to reach out.
IS MERIT THERPAY a good fit for me?
Imagine a life where…
your experiences feel clearer and less overwhelming
you feel more settled and safe
the hurt from past experiences no longer defines your story
you trust your own perceptions and choices
you build stronger connections with others
you move through life with more intention and direction
you reconnect with the people in your life
Change is possible.
Change is possible.
Questions?
FAQs
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There is no single cause. There are a few ideas about why psychosis can emerge:
stress or major life changes
genetics or family history
trauma
Interpersonal difficulties
sleep disruption
alcohol or substance use
emotional overwhelm
physical or medical factors
For some people, it shows up once. For others, it may come and go over time. What matters most is understanding what your experience means for you.
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schizophrenia
schizoaffective experiences
bipolar disorder with psychosis
major depressive disorder with psychosis
substance-induced psychosis
trauma-related psychosis
brief psychotic experiences
first episode psychosis
catatonia
delusional experiences
hallucinations
paranoia
dissociation
thought disorder experiences
schizotypal personality disorder
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Yes. Therapy can help you understand what you’re experiencing, feel less overwhelmed by it, and build more trust in yourself. You don’t have to push your experiences away. We will work at your pace.
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There is no judgment here. Many people seeking support for psychosis have been through moments that were misunderstood or handled in ways that left a mark. This is a space where your experiences are taken seriously, without shame or judgment. It can be a scary experience to go to the hospital. We focus on healing, understanding, and helping you feel more steady moving forward.
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Private therapy can be a good option for people who want intensive support but do not want to receive care in a hospital system or a coordinated specialty care program. Some clients come to me after an IOP when they no longer need that level of structure but still want steady, individualized treatment. Others prefer private care because they want privacy, flexibility or a therapist who can offer specialized ongoing work without groups or multiple weekly appointments.
My practice provides weekly or twice weekly sessions for people navigating complex mental health concerns. I value collaboration and a treatment team approach, and with your consent, I can coordinate with prescribers and other providers to keep your care connected and consistent. If it at any time we believe that you might need more support, we would plan that step together and ensure a smooth referral to a more intensive program so there are no gaps in your care.
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Yes. You don’t have to start medication to be in therapy. Many people come in unsure about meds, not wanting them, or wanting space to think things through first. Therapy is a place where you can explore your experiences, any concerns, and what feels right for you without pressure from me. If you ever do want to talk about medication, we can sort through your questions together, and you can make decisions with your prescriber.