FAQ

  • Sessions are 55 minutes long. Some clients have said sessions fly by. Others have said that they seem to drag on forever.

  • Some. I am in-network with Aetna PPO, Blue Cross PPO and Cigna PPO. If you have different insurance, I can provide documentation called a “superbill” which allows you to request out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance provider. I also accept private payment for people who do not have insurance or do not want to use their insurance.

  • The first step is to call me or send me a message. I will follow up with you as soon as possible. I will always respond within 48 hours. I’ll usually respond within 24 hours. Sometimes I can respond the same day. If you reach out and I don’t respond within 48 hours, please assume there was a technology problem and try again.

    When we first connect by phone, I will take the time to learn a little about why you reached out. I will also make sure you have time to ask any questions you might have.

  • If you cancel an appointment less than 24 hours in advance or miss an appointment, I will charge the full rate of the session.

    Late cancellation and no-show fees cannot be charged to insurance, so clients are responsible for the entire charge (not just the usual copay). I have no witty rejoinder about this issue.

  • I primarily work with individual adults. In the past I have worked with children, adolescents and couples.

    I work with males, females, and people whose gender identify is non-binary.

    I work with people dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, life transitions, relationship problems and many other concerns.

  • The first session is filled with my asking annoying questions. After that, it depends on you.

    I don’t have an agenda of tasks or topics. If you walk in and start talking before you sit down, I will be right there with you every step of the way. If you come in and don’t have much to say, I will typically ask how you’ve been since we last met.

    I’ll want to know if the concerns that brought you to therapy have reared their ugly head since our last session. If they have, I will want to focus on what we can do differently. If not, I’ll want to celebrate and figure out what we should continue doing. Or maybe you want to talk about something completely unrelated. Cool. Again, it truly is up to you.

  • Sometimes. It depends on whether or not it would be helpful based on the issue and based on your learning style.

    I will say this: mental health is a skill that requires practice just like every other skill. There, I said it.

  • No, but I do believe words matter. Words and beliefs have a relationship that is a two-way street.

    Our beliefs about ourselves are reflected in the words we choose in our “self-talk.” And… the words we choose have a real effect on our beliefs.

    Developing our mental health skills usually involves changing our “self-talk,” and changing our self-talk requires awareness and a lot of practice.

  • Probably. It’s usually not my goal, but it is definitely a common side effect of the hard work of therapy.

    Crying is good. Crying is just as important as laughing. And laughing is super important. Being able to experience and embrace the full range of emotions is a hallmark of good mental health.

  • Absolutely. I’m sorry… that’s all we have time for. Good night!!

  • Nope. But I got one. Usually people sit on it.

  • You can ask anything you want. There’s even a chance I’ll give you an answer.

    Most of my clients know I am married, have kids and have pets. Beyond that, I make the decision whether to answer personal questions on a case-by-case basis. It depends on many things, like the context in which the question is asked and whether I think the answer could be helpful. Sometimes I even volunteer personal information if I think it will be useful. Sometimes I decide answering a personal question would not have a therapeutic benefit.

  • It is entirely up to you. I’m pretty sure nobody tells me absolutely everything. I do think it’s fair to say that the more you tell me, the better I will be able to help you.

    It takes time and trust to share our most personal thoughts and feelings. I am very patient, and I am always interested in knowing more about you.

  • The only risk I can think of would be to start working on something difficult but not sticking with it long enough to change how you look at it. The benefits are endless.

    Therapy is all about getting to know yourself better. The better we know ourselves, the better we will be at everything we do.

  • YES!!! I love ‘em both!!! I’ve had many dogs and many cats throughout my life. My family currently has one dog. His name is Eddie and he is is a black lab mix. He’s funny, quirky, and so, so sweet! We also have a calico cat named Birdie. She is a very typical cat. She absolutely loves affection ON HER TERMS. 😜