Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions not covered below, please reach out to me via the Contact Me page. I will do my best to answer your inquiry and can talk about next steps should you be interested in pursuing therapy.
How long does therapy typically last? This is a difficult question to answer prior to doing an initial session. The duration and frequency of sessions depends upon the type of work you are looking to do. That said, work that engages deeper personality shifts, behavior change, and lasting relief from suffering (be it anxiety, depression, etc.) often takes longer than a few months because we will be working to restructure long-held patterns, beliefs, and narratives. However, you get to be in the driver's seat and can always decide to take a pause, stop altogether, or shift to a new therapist at any time.
How often do we meet? It is my preference to meet on a weekly basis because it promotes traction and deeper work. However, ultimately, we will determine the frequency of our sessions in consultation together following the initial session. There are times where someone's schedule limits the ability to meet on a weekly basis. I am usually able to accommodate biweekly sessions in those instances. More traditionally, we will meet weekly and only when you are ready to transition out of therapy do we then taper down to biweekly and eventually once-a-month sessions. I do not accommodate once-a-month sessions outside the taper away from therapy. If you prefer once-a-month or less frequent therapy, I would schedule you on an ad hoc basis.
What if I don't know what I want to work on? In our initial session, I guide you through a process of self-inquiry designed to help you identify why you are seeking therapy and what some goals might be for our work. After that initial session, I will take everything I have learned about you to create a treatment plan, which I will review with you in the second or third sessions. This will then become the template for our work together. As the work progresses, we may find that the goals need to shift or become further clarified. The treatment plan and our goals are flexible and breathe together with the work.
Is therapy confidential? Yes, therapy is confidential. The therapy room is designed to be a place where you can talk about whatever you want, free from judgment, shame, fear, or guilt. However, there are instances in which I would need to break confidentiality. These include a reasonable fear that you will be a harm to yourself or someone else as well as any disclosure of abuse to the elderly, minors, or individuals with disabilities. In the case of the former, I would need to contact emergency services, and in the later, I am a mandated reporter to the state. Outside these instances, you can share whatever it is you want with me, and I will not discuss it with anyone else. Beyond this, there are also circumstances in which it may be helpful for me to collaborate with another of your providers--be it a former or current therapist with whom you are separately working (e.g. like a couples therapist), a psychiatrist, or a medical doctor. Together we would determine whether my collaboration with another provider would be helpful. If so, I would ask you to sign a Release of Information that would allow me to talk with these individuals. That Release of Information would outline specifically what I would share. Finally, to facilitate my own growth as a professional, I will at times seek supervision and/or learning from external sources. These might include case consultations, continuing education training, or collegial support. In these settings, I may share elements of sessions or information pertaining to my work with an individual. I will never include you name or any identifying information, and the focus of such dialogue would be entirely focused on improving my own technique and skill.
Do you provide diagnoses? In order to submit claims to insurance, a diagnosis is required. Based on information I gather from the initial session, I will formulate a best-fit diagnosis based upon your symptoms and presenting problem. I will always use the least stigmatizing diagnosis possible that fits your presentation. However, I am not a medical doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. If you are seeking a more formal diagnosis, it would be best to complete a more thorough evaluation from one of these providers. This is especially the case if you are looking to be assessed for autism, psychosis, ADHD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or severe substance use disorders.
How do you handle cancellations? If you need to cancel a session, I ask that you do so with at least 24 hours notice. Cancellations received within the 24 hour window will incur a fee of $100, which cannot be charged to insurance. On occasion, an illness may make it impossible for you to provide 24 hours notice. In those instances, I will be flexible with the cancellation fee. However, if it is the case that you are needing to cancel sessions frequently, we will have a conversation about whether it makes sense for you to continue therapy at this time. My time, like yours, is valuable, and I cannot hold a session time for you without a commitment to consistent attendance.
How do I find the right therapist? Research consistently shows a few common elements are most predictive of successful therapy. At the top of that list is the therapeutic alliance itself, which centers around your comfort with the therapist and a felt sense that they see, hear, understand, and respect you. Practically speaking, this means you should feel comfortable in the room such that you are able to open up and engage. I typically encourage individuals to commit to 2-3 sessions with a therapist before taking a step back to reflect on how the experience is feeling. I make this a standard part of my engagement with new clients. You do not need to worry about hurting my feelings as it is my goal to get you matched with a best fit therapist, and I recognize that sometimes that may not be me. In those instances, I will do my best to provide you additional recommendations.
Do you offer telehealth? Yes. I offer telehealth sessions, as well as the option to switch between in person and telehealth as your schedule demands. I understand modern work and life make it difficult for many adults to attend in-person therapy sessions, and research shows telehealth sessions can be as effective as more traditional in-person therapy. That said, I do have a preference for working in person, especially if and when the focus of the treatment is around interpersonal dynamics like anger management or emotional vulnerability. I will not impose my preference on you, but I may explore any resistance to in-person work if it seems to be representative of part of your unconscious defense.