Frequently Asked Questions

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues, and creative blocks. Many people also find that therapists can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the stressors of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include: Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your values Developing skills for improving your relationships Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures Improving communications and listening skills Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced there is nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you are at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.

Sessions are booked by appointment only. Currently I see clients Monday through Friday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm, usually seeing my first client at 5:30p and my last client at 7:30p. I also see clients on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm or on Sundays from 12:00p to 4:00pm.

It is well established that mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. It is not a long-term solution. Instead of just treating the symptoms, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that interrupt our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor, you can determine what's best for you. In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.

Couples often think that their relationships must be close to destruction before they start couples therapy, but this simply isn’t true. It’s never too early to start couples therapy, as it can be a great tool to help you build your relationship and work through differences as they arise. Many couples like to utilize couples therapy as they enter new phases of their relationship (moving in together, getting married, starting a family) to process how the new phase might shift their relationship dynamic. Couples therapy can also be used as a relationship check-up when things are going well and you want to make sure they continue to head in that direction.

This depends on the nature of the personal problem and how it is affecting your relationship. Give me a call. We’ll talk about what’s been going on for you and which type of therapy would best meet your needs.

A typical therapy session last 50 minutes. However, longer sessions can be arranged to accommodate specific needs and therapeutic goals

Yes, currently I am a contracted provider on the following insurance panels: Kaiser Permanente United Healthcare Beacon Health Options Magellan Behavioral Health To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them: What are my mental health benefits? What is the coverage amount per therapy session? How many therapy sessions does my plan cover? How much is my co-pay? Is prior authorization required before scheduling an appointment with the therapist?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent.” Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission. State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality, except for the following situations: Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders must be reported to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement (as appropriate), based on information provided by the client or collateral sources. If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person, this is also occasion for reporting.

The short answer is yes, therapy does work! The long answer is that how well it works depends on a couple of factors, including how open and patient you feel you can be to the process, as not every problem has a “quick fix” solution. How comfortable you feel with your therapist; problems cannot be resolved if you don’t feel comfortable and safe to share them, so making sure your therapist is a good fit for you is crucial for therapy to work.

Yes. I see clients in-person and via telehealth. Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, at this time, all services are offered virtually through a HIPPA compliant telehealth platform.

I require a 24-hour notice to cancel or reschedule. Missed or late cancellations will incur my regular session fee. Insurance companies will not pay for missed appointments or late cancellations.