How would I know if I need therapy?

The answer is always different for every individual. Some signs that you may need professional help are when the way you feel begins to negatively impact various areas in your life such as sleep, appetite, your job, relationships with friends and loved ones, or your decision-making abilities. If you find that you always feel sad, or things are just not getting better or they even seem hopeless – these are also pretty strong indicators that it is time to seek out a trained professional for help.

Why shouldn’t I try to work through these feelings on my own?

It is easy to put off seeking out help for something that’s negatively impacting the way we feel. In fact, the decision to get help can actually be extremely difficult for many people. Often times we dismiss feelings of anxiety, emotional pain, relationship stress, or depression as a regular part of everyday life – even to the point of encountering real difficulty in normal day-to-day functioning. Deciding to take responsibility for your mental well-being is an empowering first step. It takes courage, but it puts you back in control of your feelings and overall welfare. 

What does professional therapy provide?

Professional counseling gives you an opportunity to share, but also to gain new understanding and perspective. Life can be hard at times, and difficult circumstances are sometimes beyond our control, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Therapy helps you set achievable goals, and begin to make lasting changes by getting to the root of the issues and learning techniques for changing your unhealthy behaviors, you become equipped to both regain control and practice healthy patterns for long-lasting improvement.

What happens in a distance therapy session?

Since the needs and goals of every client is different, distance therapy sessions vary in format and approach.  Via a HIPPA compliant telephone, video or chat session, clients usually come with an agenda or specific things they would like to talk about. Other times, individuals may have a success story, an emotion that’s bothering them, or just a vague feeling or thought they cannot get rid of. Sessions progress based on the needs of the client at the time, but active participation and collaboration is extremely important. In addition to in-session discussion and activities, I may encourage an outside activity or assignment that we discuss like reading a book, or keeping a journal. Ultimately, the goal is to identify the areas where change or help is needed, set realistic objectives, and to equip you with resources and strategies for both near-term and long-term success.

Do I have to share things I don’t want to?

You don’t have to share anything that you do not want to, or what makes you uncomfortable.  Certain topics or stories can be difficult to share, and that is completely normal. 

It is important to build a trusting relationship between the clinician and client, but our sessions will always progress at a pace that you are completely comfortable with.

How long does it take?

Every therapy session is tailored specifically for each individual so there is no predefined period of time for a session.  Sometimes incredible progress can be made in mere minutes, but it is not uncommon for therapy to span several sessions over a period of weeks or months. 

Individual sessions are generally about 50-60 minutes in length.

Is this covered by my insurance?

I am an out of network service provider.  Services rendered may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan. 

However, you must self pay for services provided before the time of a session.  Any coverage of mental health services provided by your insurance company will be sent to you after services are rendered.

You can check your coverage by asking your insurance provider the following questions:

·         Do I have out-of-network mental health (outpatient) insurance benefits?

·         What is my deductible and has it been met for this year?

·         How many outpatient sessions per year does my health insurance cover?

·         What is the coverage amount per therapy session (i.e., reimbursement  rate)?

·         Is approval required from my primary care physician?

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

Please make contact at least 24 hours before your session if you need to cancel your appointment.  No shows and sessions canceled with less than 24 hours notice will not be refunded.

Are therapy sessions confidential?

Yes. Your privacy is important to us, and you can trust that our sessions, as well as any of your personal information, is always held in the strictest of confidence. Additionally, anything you transmit over this website is secure, and stored data is HIPAA-compliant.

Confidential information disclosed in private therapy sessions is legally protected. However, there are some exceptions to this, including instances of suspected child or elder abuse, or when a client presents a serious danger of violence toward himself or herself or another person. If you would like to learn more about current ethical standards and privileged communication exceptions, additional information will be provided upon request.