FAQs
What is therapy about?
Therapy helps people deal more effectively with a variety of issues. There may be problems with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, stress management, anger management, substance abuse, body-image, self-esteem or other psychological problems. Ongoing issues such as dealing with a chronic illness, chronic pain, or ongoing caregiving may benefit from therapy focusing on effective coping strategies. A major change in life may be occurring and causing stress. Relationship and interpersonal problems such as communication problems, being stuck in a conflict or avoidance of issues are common as well as relationship enhancement. Many people want a safe place to go for personal exploration and growth
What are the benefits of therapy?
Therapy can:
Provide new perspectives and insights into your problems.
Teach and guide effective techniques for enacting positive change.
Provide self-affirming strategies to build self-confidence and self-acceptance.
Help you grow and feel more fulfilled in your life.
Provide helpful resources outside of the therapy session.
What types of therapy do you use?
The type of therapy used depends on the problem or issue being addressed, the background and experience of the therapist and the preference of the person seeking therapy. I use evidence-based therapies: cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, emotion-focused therapy (such as dialectical behavioral therapy), motivational therapy, relapse prevention therapy and brainspotting. Psychoeducation is also an integral part of therapy and often helps clarify issues and provide answers and resources for clients to use at their fingertips.
How does therapy proceed?
Therapy is tailored to each individual and their specific goals. Therapy is an active, collaborative process from the outset. The first session is an assessment. Prior to this session, I will send assessment questions for you to fill out and return; this saves time (and money) and allows you to think about what it is you most want from therapy. Then a treatment plan will be developed together to prioritize what is most helpful to you as well as to frame a direction for therapy to proceed.
Often a client will be asked to engage in actions outside of therapy session, such as doing exercises targeted to their problem, reading a relevant book, or tracking behaviors. I use ongoing assessment and feedback from the client each session to ensure that we are on track and getting the most from each session; this is called Feedback-Informed Care and is associated with better outcomes and greater client satisfaction.
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You can also expect that you will be treated with compassion, respect, understanding and according to the highest professional ethical standards.
FAQs
You Ask - I Answer
Do I need to be in therapy for a long time?
Therapy can be short-term and specifically target an issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex problems. The expected length of time can be discussed at the initiation of treatment.
What about medication?
Medication may be helpful for some people. The combination of medication and therapy is sometimes the most effective therapy; sometimes just medication or only therapy is the best course. It is important to work with your medical doctor or psychiatrist about what is best for you.  It is also strongly recommended to get a full medical work-up to ensure that certain issues (such as depression or anxiety) are properly diagnosed and treated. Some physical disorders can cause what appear to be psychiatric problems. Other times, psychological issues can be at the root of physical problems (such as stress-related symptoms). We will review that at the assessment session.
Insurance Considerations
I do not directly accept insurance, but may be covered as an out-of-network provider. To determine this, you should contact your insurance carrier and check your coverage. The following questions will be pertinent:
What are my mental health benefits?
What is my deductible (if any)?
What is the coverage amount per session?
How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
How does my plan determine medical necessity (so that you do not receive any unexpected rejection of a claim).
How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
What approvals are necessary?