After you schedule your appointment, you will be sent paperwork to complete online before the first session. At the initial assessment, we will discuss: your health history and symptoms; identify your challenges, obstacles, and strengths; and collaborate together to develop specific personal goals of what to accomplish so we can measure your progress during therapy. In therapy sessions, we will work together on your goals using various evidence-based treatments based on developing new skills and healthy coping strategies. In between sessions, you get will handouts and journal prompts to practice these skills, and during session we will review how it was to use these skills in real life. I will listen non-judgmentally, help you problem solve the obstacles to using the skills, and cheer you on when you use them to improve your life.

Therapy is a process and the time it takes to feel better depends on the person and situation. Everyone is different. For those whose issues have been going on for years, have a history of childhood trauma, and these have greatly impacted their quality of life and their relationships, the process will take longer. Typically, we will start with weekly sessions. Generally it can take 10-12 sessions for clients to start to notice improvements in their life and the benefits of our work together. For some, once everything is stabilized (you are consistently using skills learned in our therapy sessions to address challenges in your life), we can transition to maintenance sessions that are every couple weeks or monthly. Eventually, you may find that you are able to more successfully navigate your feelings and relationships, as well as handle problems that arise in life. At this point, we would end therapy with a session celebrating your achievements.

As is the case with other extensively trained and highly qualified therapists with many years of experience, I am not on any health insurance panels and most of my clients pay privately (also known as self-pay, direct pay, out-of-pocket pay) for my services.

This gives my self-pay clients several important advantages including protecting your privacy. Also, we control our work together (you and I decide on the length of therapy, what you want to cover in therapy, and what type of therapy works best for you, not the insurance company).

I am able to provide you with documentation to file for out-of-network billing. There are also companies including Mentaya and Thrizer (I am not affiliated with any of these and cannot guarantee their results) that file for you for a fee.

Confidentiality begins at your first appointment after your have signed written guidelines on confidentiality. I will not reveal that you are participating in therapy or what is discussed in therapy, with a few exceptions. Your safety is very important. If there is an immediate threat to your safety or that of others, then I am required to follow federal and state laws to disclose information.

Yes. A good therapy relationship is one of the most important factors for successful treatment. That’s why I offer a free, confidential 15-minute online video consultation. This is to answer any questions you have about the type of therapy I provide and to see if we could work well together towards building you a more meaningful life.