Do you take insurance?
I am not on any insurance panels, so you would pay me directly, and I can offer you a receipt to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Prior to meeting with me, you can call your insurance company and ask how much they reimburse for an “out of network” provider.
Do you have a sliding scale?
I have several slots per week that I reserve for clients who need to pay on a sliding scale. Feel free to ask if I have any reduced fee availability when you contact me.
Are you just going to sit there and listen?
No, not most of the time. I believe that therapy is about developing a relationship. If a client feels alone, abandoned or frustrated during a therapy session this doesn’t bode well for the relationship. My style is engaged and collaborative, but not intrusive or controlling.
How do I decide if you are the right therapist for me?
I offer a free half hour consultation for you to come into my office and get a sense of the space, and how I work. For many clients, this is helpful for them to determine if we will be well matched. I believe that a client should feel some sense of connectedness and understanding from their therapist within the first few sessions, and have some experience of progress within the first few months.
How long will this take?
Although it is understandable that many people have a sense of urgency about their problems and want a quick fix, my experience is that most “fixes” are like a band-aid on a wound that is much more than skin deep. For this reason, I find it much more effective to work with most people long term, as it takes time to discover the root of the wound, grieve losses, and practice new ways of being in the world. While the time and financial commitment can be daunting, I believe it is one of the most important investments you can make.
I’ve done successful short term work with a handful of clients who were wanting to focus on specific, simple issues, but usually a client who enters therapy with the intention of just coming a few times finds that with each session, surface layers are peeled back to reveal deeper and more complex issues requiring more attention. Also, as the therapeutic relationship develops, a client feels safer, more supported, and more prepared to enter these depths. My clients who have achieved a deep sense of freedom and peace have met with me for 2 years or longer. Having said that, it is not my intention to have clients dependent on me for life! My goal is to help clients find themselves, feel whole, and move into the world without the need for therapy.
How often do I need to come in?
It is my experience that once weekly sessions tend to work best for most clients for the majority of time they are working with me. This frequency helps maintain continuity, keeps the work progressing, and helps me keep the client fresh in my mind from week to week. A few people require more intensive biweekly work. Toward the end of a stint of psychotherapy, it is not unusual for a client to taper down to twice or once per month.
How do I know I need therapy?
There are a myriad of reasons why people choose to work with a therapist. People seek counseling when they are struggling to make major life decisions regarding relationships, careers, education, etc. They may also seek guidance when they feel lost, depressed, or anxious. Many people begin to realize that the coping mechanisms (such as compartmentalizing, intellectualizing, avoidance, addiction, to name a few) they have been using are beginning to become more problematic than helpful. I have helped clients with the following issues:
- chronic shame, self-doubt, self-loathing
- a feeling of living in your head, being disconnected from your body
- a sense of isolation, lack of community or significant relationships
- a frequent or constant feeling of constriction, tightness or tension in your body
- a constant struggle to establish or maintain relationships, or relationships that are marked by power imbalances
- frequent feelings of being taken advantage of or used
- an addiction to worry, substances, video games, shopping, eating, starving, etc.
- tremendous difficulty making decisions
What can I expect from therapy, and what does healing look like?
While the process of healing is different for everyone, there are some universal traits that healthy, well balanced people share, which are often the results of a successful therapeutic relationship.
- a strong feeling that you are worthy and loveable
- integrity and emotional honesty
- relationships that are mutually satisfying
- having a purpose and the motivation to follow your dreams
- a sense that your inner self matches what you present to the world
- a strong feeling of being embodied
- increased capacity for intimacy
- increased resilience or sturdiness in the face of difficulty
- a feeling of expansiveness and empowerment
- increased capacity for decision making
- a feeling of being openhearted and accepting toward the self, others, and the difficulties of life
