Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need therapy?
Maybe you are suffering from depression, anxiety, addiction, or another issue. Maybe you are finding that interpersonal relationships feel chaotic, stressful, or unfulfilling. Maybe you don’t identify with any of those struggles, but you just want to explore and understand yourself on a deeper level. In any circumstance, therapy can benefit you! We all have “blind spots” in terms of how we perceive ourselves, others, and the world. Identifying and understanding these blind spots can help us view ourselves and others in a more realistic and genuine way. We can also all benefit from learning coping skills to better handle painful emotions, and from learning interpersonal skills to make relationships more effective and fulfilling.
How long can I expect to be in therapy?
The length of therapy varies from person to person. My style of therapy lends itself to a more short-term, goal-directed process, although I do see some clients on a more long-term basis as well. Within the first couple sessions of therapy, we will develop a thorough treatment plan that encompasses your therapy goals and objectives. Since therapy is a process of ongoing and continuous assessment, we will often check in on your progress towards goals which ultimately determines the length and course of our work together. Ultimately, therapy is voluntary and you can choose to discontinue services at any time.
How often do I need therapy?
The frequency of therapy also varies from person to person, although I am aware of the financial investment of therapy and that this could affect how often we meet. As long as it fits in with your treatment goals, I am open to meeting weekly or bi-weekly. If there are safety concerns, I require weekly sessions to start.
I have found that meeting once a month is often not enough to see substantial changes. After you have been in therapy for some time, if you feel that you are getting to the point where you no longer need therapy, we will taper down the frequency to once a month before discontinuing completely.
Do you take insurance?
I do not take insurance at this time, although I can provide superbills upon request (see below). You can see my rates for services under the “Fees and Rates” tab in the menu. If you choose not to use insurance for mental health services, you have the right to receive a “good faith estimate” of what services could cost over time. Please review this information under the “Good Faith Estimate” tab in the menu.
What is a superbill?
A superbill is a document that you can submit to your insurance plan for possible reimbursement of services. Although you pay for services upfront, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement of services by your health insurance (depending on the out-of-network benefits associated with your plan). I can provide superbills after each therapy session or once a month based on your preference. The best way to inquire if you have out-of-network benefits that would result in partial reimbursement is to contact the number on the back of your insurance card.
Is therapy confidential?
As a mandated reporter, I am required by law to report any reported or suspected child or elder abuse/neglect. As safety is the number one priority, I am also required to take the necessary steps for emergency services if you are deemed to be an imminent risk to self or others. Other than those exceptions, therapy is completely confidential. If you wanted for me to communicate or consult with someone else regarding services, you would be asked to fill out a formal “Release of Information” form indicating exactly what is to be communicated.
I am seeking therapy for my child/teenager. How much will I be included in the therapy process?
The most important thing in working with kids/teens is safety. If there is a safety concern, you will always be the first to know. The second most important thing in working with kids/teens is trust. Although I understand the deep need and desire to know how your kids/teens are doing, I also understand the importance of providing a space that is truly their own. I take very seriously the trust you put in me to help your children. That being said, I like to implement a “team approach” when working with parents and children. Although you will not be in every therapy session, I encourage regular family sessions whether there are specific things to communicate or just to check in. I make it a point to discuss these sessions beforehand with the kids/teens to get an idea of exactly what they want to communicate in these sessions.
Will I have a diagnosis if I’m in therapy?
In general, diagnoses can be informative as we seek to better understand what we are experiencing and plan for a course of treatment. Sometimes, diagnoses can be limiting as they do not always capture the full picture. Unfortunately, I have also seen many people ascribe their identity to a particular diagnosis, which can often be detrimental to the therapy process as people begin to feel helpless that “nothing will ever change” or “I will always feel this way.” For these reasons, I tend to stay away from making diagnoses. In couples counseling, there may not even be a relevant diagnosis to be made! Insurance companies require there to be a diagnosis, which is one of the main reasons I have chosen not to accept insurance (as a diagnosis is not always needed or necessary). If you plan on submitting superbills to insurance, there will need to be a diagnosis on file and we will discuss this at-length, however I will never make an unjustifiable diagnosis purely to satisfy the insurance requirement.
How do you incorporate faith into counseling?
I understand that for some people, misused and misunderstood religion has been a source of contention and even trauma. Although I work with clients from all different faith backgrounds, I take great honor in helping others process where they stand with religion (specifically Christianity) if this is something they want to explore. If you already consider yourself a Christian, it would be counterintuitive to NOT rely on this in the therapy process. If this is something you are interested in, we will explore how faith impacts your life, how it can be incorporated more, and how concerns of faith and mental health intersect (beyond the typical “pray your problems away” mentality so often found today).
What if I don’t find therapy to be effective?
It would be a greater loss for you to discontinue therapy altogether than to discontinue therapy with me. If you feel that therapy is not helping after a period of time, I would encourage you to be transparent with me so that we can seek someone who would be a better fit for your needs. The types and styles of therapy are vast. Ethically, I am required to refer someone elsewhere if they have a presenting issue that is “outside of my scope of practice.” I would be happy to assist you in searching for a therapist that would be a better fit.