Frequently Asked Questions

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Currently, I only accept private pay out-of-pocket clients. I do have some sliding scale slots. In the future, I will offer superbills or courtesy bills, wherein folks pay out of pocket and, if you have out-of-network (OON) benefits, you can be reimbursed by your insurance based on what your benefits allow.

I can help you with a wide range of issues including trauma, developing a sense of self, people pleasing, intellectualizers, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, stress management, and more. My specialties are related to working with any kind of attachment trauma (how our relationships have hurt us), especially with parental/child estrangement, adoption and foster issues, couples and families issues, military and veteran family issues, etc.

The short answer is that we are relational creatures and when we connect with others, especially over painful emotions, our brains actually can rewire to function in ways that feel better to us. Therapy is A LOT more than just talking to someone about our problems. The longer answer is that often times we have learned adaptive ways of handling stress that usually no longer serve us and to relearn new ways of coping takes time and a felt sense of safety to do. For an even longer answer than what can be posted here, I recommend you read Emotional Agility by Susan David to explore more how emotional processing works. 

In our first session (which is an intake), we explore your needs and expectations around coming in. We co-develop what helps you feel safe to share and process the things you are coming in with to process. I work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your unique needs and goals. I also leave space to ensure that I feel like the right fit for your needs or explore if I have the unique tools to help you reach your goals. The most important part of therapy is finding someone you feel safe with and trust their competencies around your therapy needs. 

The frequency of counseling sessions will depend on your individual needs and goals. Some clients may benefit from weekly sessions, while others may attend bi-weekly or monthly. Sometimes access to funds or resources impacts a client's ability to attend as well. If there are financial issues, I work with you to see how we can best support you. Something to keep in mind though, if sessions are too infrequent, usually the session is spent catching up and there is limited time for processing. In that case, we may pause treatment, or consider a three month on or three month off. 

Finding help can be an act of huge mental and emotional effort. Telling your story to a new person can feel like a lot. The most important part of finding help is finding someone you feel like is safe and gets you. In our first few sessions and throughout treatment, I ensure we do check-ins to make sure we are progressing towards your goals and you feel supported. Questions to ask about therapist fit: Do you feel heard, seen and understood? Do the times offered really work for your schedule to work with this therapist? Does the cost of therapy work in your current budget with your preferred therapist?  Has the therapist treated the issue you are coming in with and can they share how they work with that issue? Do you need a more direct approach? Empathetic presence? Love outside session assignments? Hate them? If important to you, does the therapist share your values/religion/ social concerns, etc?  But, if it ever feels like you need a different approach, it is our ethical duty as therapists to connect you with care that is right for you.

A therapy intensive offers a prolonged amount of processing time than the usual standard 50 minute session covered by most insurances. Some issues or trauma are better served with a longer time to process, especially relational hurts or trauma. Sometimes it can be multiple hours in one day or multiple days in a row. The benefits of an intensive can be: 

• A faster reduction in symptoms 
• Possibly a more cost-effective alternative to one hour a week talk therapy that may take longer and cost more over the course of treatment
• Many folks report a decrease in treatment time
• May be more convenient to schedule one week devoted to therapy than one hour a week for several months or years

Most insurances, unfortunately, do not cover intensives. You may be able to get partial coverage, depending on your out of network benefits.

Yes! I offer free 15 minute consultations about services to explore how to best serve you and your needs via phone or telehealth video.