More than half of people with mental health or addiction challenges do not receive help for their conditions - often due to concerns that they will be treated or viewed differently, or will lose their jobs or livelihood. This is because stigma, prejudice and discrimination about mental health are major barriers to people getting well. Stigma leads to reduced hope, lower self-esteem, increased symptoms, increased difficulty with relationships, and reduced likelihood of completing treatment.

I believe in talking openly about mental health, educating yourself and others, and choosing empowerment over shame. In our work together, I’ll help you explore and identify your strengths and how to implement them to reduce the influence of the problems you are facing.

Many traditional therapists hold the opinion that a client should not know much about the therapist. I agree that a therapist should never make a session about themself or their issues, and should never allow the focus to be removed from the client; however, to reduce shame and stigma surrounding mental health conditions and addiction, I speak openly about my story to instill hope for clients. Click “About Me” to learn more about my journey.

Medication is an effective and sometimes necessary component for some mental health conditions. However, medicine alone is only about 25% of the equation and cannot solve all issues alone. In many cases, medication is needed in conjunction with counseling. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing and expand on your strengths that can help you accomplish your personal goals. Some conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders and major depressive disorder may require long-term medication.

I am not a medical doctor. Many clients find that medication is helpful, but many of them also achieve the results they were looking for with therapy alone without medication. If you want to be evaluated for psychiatric medication, I can provide referrals for psychiatric professionals who are addiction-informed and do not prescribe “feel-good” medicine for problems in your life. Clients will also be encouraged to contact their primary care physician or their own psychiatrist. If you are already taking medication, I can coordinate care with your providers.

Because each person has different issues and goals for counseling, it will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs. You can expect that our first session will be largely getting to know each other and making sure that you feel like we’re a good fit to work together. In this session, I will ask some questions about your best hopes for what you wish to achieve and transform in your life with therapy, your background - including who is in your family of origin and current household, previous experiences with therapy, medical conditions/mental health conditions and medicine you have taken or are taking, drug and alcohol history, reviewing stressors and your available supports. 

As I learn more about you and “what makes you tick”, I will draw from several different therapeutic frameworks to provide the appropriate tools or interventions for each presenting problem. Clients will be presented with tools for their inspection and are under no obligation to use or apply anything that they believe will not be helpful for them. Take what you need and discard the rest. 

Everything that you discuss in therapy is confidential between you and the therapist. Nothing will ever be disclosed to anyone without your explicit written consent. However, there are some limits to confidentiality that are important to discuss.

1) Therapists have a responsibility to keep people safe. If a client discloses that they have a plan and the means to hurt themself or someone else, therapists are ethically responsible to make notifications to ensure safety.

2) Therapists are bound by State Law that they must disclose if a child, elderly person, or vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected or exploited. The goal is not to complicate a client's life, but again to ensure the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable populations.

3) In some rare cases, a court (judge) may order the release of medical records. Therapists must comply with court orders; however, therapy notes are often intentionally written to be vague and without specific details in order to gauge progress and establish a timeline. Clients are welcome at any time to inspect therapy notes if they are curious about clinical documentation.

4) Court mandated clients may have limited confidentiality. This does not mean that the topics they discuss are not confidential. Often the only information reported to the court is whether a client has been treatment adherent.

This is done at client a client’s request. I have worked with many mandated clients and found “homework” to be ineffective, or sometimes met oppositionally. You can expect that in most sessions you will learn a new skill or have something to put into practice. I explain to clients that this is similar to a personal trainer showing you how to use a piece of equipment at a gym. I can teach you how it works, the appropriate intensity, and proper form, but only you can decide to go to the gym and use the equipment. Similarly, life will give you many opportunities to practice the tools you will be empowered with.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions and unfortunately, there is not a blanket answer. Each client’s circumstances are unique and the length of time that counseling can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your motivation for change, desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek counseling in the first place. Some clients learn a few tools that are specific to their presenting issue and discontinue therapy after three or four visits; some clients with severe and persistent mental health conditions benefit from long-term weekly therapy for several years. I would estimate that the average number of visits for many clients where they feel confident in making the changes they want to is usually around 12 to 16 sessions - the length of time varies, as some clients do therapy weekly for a month or so, and then may decrease services to bi-weekly or monthly. The goal is for a client to be autonomous and empowered. 

I provide therapy both in-person and virtually. Clients are encouraged to start therapy in person if possible. Counseling sessions are also available via a secure and easy-to-use HIPAA compliant telehealth platform, or Zoom. Established clients can also hold some sessions by telephone, if needed. 

I charge $150 per 50-minute session. Payment will be collected at the time of service. Appointments are 50 minutes. This is the standard length of a counseling session. If you are interested in a longer session please contact me regarding availability and pricing.

No, I do not accept any insurance. I will collect payment in full from you at the time of service. If you have an insurance plan that allows you to submit claims for out-of-network reimbursement, I can give you a receipt or “SuperBill” for services that specify the health billing code. 

Involvement with insurance, whether in-network or out-of-network, necessitates assigning a mental health diagnosis code to your permanent medical record. This could potentially affect you in the future if an insurance company decides to increase premiums based on past medical care, including mental health services. If pursuing a career in certain government-related fields, your diagnosis might be considered, and records may be requested. Insurance companies may also seek additional clinical information, such as treatment plans, summaries, or your complete mental health record for payment purposes. Insurance companies often impose limits on the number of covered sessions or require pre-authorization for additional visits and can be very  “hands-on” with their management because they are footing the bill. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (2008) seeks to prevent insurers from imposing excessive limitations on certain mental healthcare-related benefits, yet this continues to be a national problem.

Couples Counseling is not covered by insurance. Mental health parity laws treat mental health conditions as a medical diagnosis. The need for couples counseling is not viewed by insurance companies as a medical diagnosis, so it is not analogous to a physical health issue.

If you are not able to afford the fee for services, I reserve a few slots for clients who qualify for a reduced rate on a sliding scale based on their income.

The Practice requires 24 hours notice of cancellation or you will need to pay for the appointment, as the time could have been used to help other clients. An occasional exception may be made in the case of an emergency. We must meet consistently to make progress.