Frequently Asked Questions

My office is located at 95 Allen's Creek Road, Building #1, Suite 301. I am seeing clients who have been vaccinated in person. (I have missed this!) I will also continue to see clients via Zoom.  

My general hours are Monday-Friday from 9-6, but I am happy to work with folks who need evening or weekend hours. Let me know your schedule needs, and it is more than likely we will be able to arrange something that works for you.

Sessions are "a clinical hour" which means 50 minutes long. We’ll start on time, we’ll get right to work, and we’ll end on time – I respect your time and your schedule. In case you’re wondering what the deal is with those last ten minutes, that’s when I begin to digest the work of our session and take notes lest brilliant insights get lost. You are invited to do the same on your end.

There are as many reasons as there are people who contact me.

Overall, when something inside you builds up and you finally realize it is more painful to stay the same than risk a change for the better… that’s when you call me.

And it is different for everyone. People come to me with mid-life crisis issues, quarter-life crises, loneliness, or vague dissatisfaction even though on the outside everything looks fine. Exhausted caregivers come to learn how to put themselves back into the equation of their own lives.

I have worked with mothers who are learning to cope with a special-needs child, people who experience chronic pain, yet their doctors can find no organic cause, and survivors of sexual abuse and other childhood traumas.

I see people who don’t know how to make friends or keep friends and people who surround themselves with so many people that they have lost sight of who they really are.

I help people navigate career changes or retirement as well as end-of-life issues. I help people learn to communicate with more clarity and compassion.

People come to learn how to live a happier, more productive, more meaningful life.

Trust your intuition. Life happens in relationship, in the space between people. That’s what makes the initial 15-minute consultation valuable. During the consultation, I will ask you a little about yourself, what’s going on in your life, and why you’re currently seeking therapy.

This will give us an idea of how we might work together. If it seems like a good fit, we’ll make an appointment and look forward to meeting each other in person. Well, I will look forward to it. It’s possible you might feel a little nervous. There you go being human again.

I am glad you brought that up. Yes, it would be cheaper, depending on where you had lunch, but there is an enormous difference between therapy and advice.

It’s that "Learning to Fish" vs. "Being Given a Fish" scenario…

Friends often like to tell you what you should do. Or they commiserate by taking your side regardless of the situation. If you’re lucky, they’ll try to make you feel better by buying you dessert.

Don’t get me wrong… having lunch with a friend who wants to solve your problem, make you feel better, and sweeten the end your meal on top of it is a marvelous gift!

But it’s not therapy.

Therapy helps you find your own strength, your own answers, and your own new and improved questions that lead to ever-increasing growth. You come away with skills and insight that you can apply throughout your life.

That this happens within a safe, compassionate, and authentically caring therapeutic relationship serves to underscore the value of good therapy.

I get that spending money can be scary when you don’t have a lot of disposable income… or simply don’t like to spend it. Overall, your inclination may be to spend it on other areas of your life rather than your psychological and emotional health and well-being.

But at what cost? 

A lot of us spend significant amounts of money on short-term fixes that we hope will make us feel better… but ultimately provide only temporary relief (if that). In fact, unhealthy attempts to feel better can even lead to addictions such as drugs, alcohol, food, or "retail therapy."

Therapy provides the opportunity to change your life in a positive and lasting way. You’ll learn life-skills that will last a lifetime.

In my experience, when increased happiness, productivity, meaning, and purpose come first, the question of whether or not to invest in therapy tends to become a moot point.

Seven long-term benefits (I could list way more, but I like the number 7):

• Therapy provides support, compassion, and reflection from someone who is objective.
• Therapy helps reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and other distressing symptoms.
• Therapy helps you process and heal underlying causes of suffering so your current life is not dictated by negative past experiences.
• Therapy helps you release self-destructive thoughts and behaviors.
• Therapy strengthens emotional intelligence and provides a sturdy foundation for healthier, happier relationships.
• Therapy teaches life-long skills that enhance all areas of your life: personal, family, social, emotional, creativity, work, and play.
• Therapy helps you increase your sense of self-awareness, worth, confidence, and acceptance… as well as your compassion for self and others.

So… good therapy might be the most important long-term investment you’ll ever make.

Absolutely not. But you are welcome to. I provide tissues.

The relationship between a client and a therapist is protected by law. Written consent is required in order for me to disclose any information about our sessions.

The only limitations are as follows:

1. If I have cause to suspect abuse or neglect of children and/or vulnerable adults, I am required by law to report this to the appropriate social service or legal authorities.
2. If I have reason to believe you are in danger of seriously harming yourself, I am mandated by law to call 911 and ensure your safe transport to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
3. If I have reason to believe you are in danger of seriously harming another person, I am mandated to notify the appropriate legal authority as well as any intended victims.

I am considered an "out-of-network" provider, and I do not take insurance directly.

I can provide an itemized receipt with the required medical codes that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. I highly recommend that you call your insurance company to learn about your out-of-network benefits.

I cannot prescribe medication, so that is something to discuss with your Primary Care Physician who might refer you to a psychiatrist.

Many of us want a "magic pill." There is abundant research, however, that medication without therapy is far less effective than both together and, in some cases, less effective than therapy without medication.

If you do not show up to your appointment or cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, you will be billed for the cost of the session.

Exceptions include snow and ice storms as well as the unlikely event of an earthquake or tsunami. Other dire circumstances can be discussed.

The reason is that your appointment time is blocked especially for you and without notice I am unable to give that spot to another client.

I take cash, checks, and credit cards using a HIPAA-compliant, confidential platform developed specifically for therapists. I can also take HSA and FSA cards.

Payment is due at time of service.