The questions most often asked.

Getting started

i. — How do I know if I need therapy?

Sometimes it's hard to tell. It can look like emotions showing up out of nowhere, or maybe you find yourself thinking about the same thing over and over again without any resolve. If you experience any new behaviors or symptoms that interfere with your daily life, therapy could be a good next step for you. But if you're wondering whether you need therapy, that question itself is often a good sign to try it.

ii. — What should I expect in our first session?

Our first session won't look like the sessions that follow. We start with some paperwork — the standard intake and consent forms. From there, we'll spend time talking so I can gather your history and customize our work to your needs. I want to know more about your story and who I'm working with before we dive into the deeper work you came here to do.

iii. — How long does therapy usually take? Will I be in therapy forever?

This is a hard one to answer, because it really depends on the person, the frequency of our sessions, and what we're working on. I've seen people for five months and I've seen people for five years. We can expedite your treatment if you want to move through it more quickly, but I tend to see people for around the year mark.

You won't be in therapy forever. The analogy I like to use with my clients compares people and cars: when we drive our cars we have to bring them in for regular maintenance, oil changes, and the occasional tune-up. Humans need that too. After we taper from regular sessions, you might come back three months or a year down the road for a tune-up — that's healthy, not a setback.

iv. — How often do we meet?

When I start with a new client, I recommend weekly sessions for four to six consecutive weeks. After that, we'll check in and decide whether weekly is still the right pace for you. Most of my clients come weekly.

v. — Is everything I tell you confidential?

Yes, with a few legally required exceptions. Everything we talk about in session stays confidential unless I have reason to believe you intend to harm yourself or another person, or if I suspect child or elder abuse or neglect — in those cases, I am required by law to act. The same applies if a court of law orders the release of records. If that last situation ever comes up, we'll involve attorneys and I'll always assert therapist-client privilege before any paperwork is released.

EMDR & Brainspotting

vi. — What is EMDR therapy and how does it work?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a type of therapy that uses eye movements to help reprocess traumatic experiences. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation which can look like horizontal eye movement, tapping, walking in place, and auditory tones. This therapy helps us heal past trauma by helping us view the traumatic experience in a healing way. Upon completion of EMDR therapy, instead of traumatic memories taking over your life, they are reprocessed and filed away and can now be pulled out when you need them to be.

vii. — What is Brainspotting and how is it different from EMDR?

Brainspotting is closely related to EMDR — sometimes called its cousin. The difference is in how we process. In Brainspotting, your eyes stay on one specific spot in your field of vision and we work with that single point. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — which can look like horizontal eye movement, tapping, walking in place, or auditory tones — to process trauma in a different way. For both, we build stabilization skills first so we're always working within your window of tolerance.

viii. — Is EMDR right for me? How do I know?

EMDR could be a good fit, and the only way we'll know for sure is to start working together. When we meet, I'll do assessments to make sure EMDR is right for your nervous system. If you have a dissociative disorder or experience frequent dissociation, we'll take a closer look to determine the right approach — sometimes that's EMDR with extra stabilization, sometimes Brainspotting, sometimes another approach first.

ix. — Do EMDR and Brainspotting actually work? What does the research say?

Yes. EMDR has a strong evidence base — decades of research supporting its effectiveness, particularly for PTSD. Brainspotting is newer and the research base is actively growing, with strong clinical results so far. Beyond the research, I've watched both approaches do remarkable work for clients in my own practice.

Fees & logistics

x. — What are your fees? Do you offer a sliding scale?

Individual therapy is $200 per 50-minute session. Couples therapy is $250 per 50-minute session. I do not currently offer a sliding scale.

xi. — Do you accept insurance?

No, I do not accept insurance. I'm happy to provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement. I can't guarantee what your insurance will reimburse — that's something you'll want to confirm with them before we begin working together.

xii. — What's a superbill and how does out-of-network reimbursement work?

A superbill is a detailed receipt I provide. It includes your name, your address, where and how the therapy took place, and the procedure and diagnosis codes your insurance needs to process a claim.

Out-of-network reimbursement works like this: I provide the superbill, you submit it to your insurance (usually through their member portal or by mail), and they verify the information and decide whether to reimburse you based on your plan. If you'd like to pursue out-of-network reimbursement, call your insurance before our first session and confirm they reimburse for therapy with out-of-network providers.

xiii. — How do I check if my insurance has out-of-network mental health benefits?

Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask: "Do I have out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits?" Some plans reimburse close to 100%, others a much smaller percentage. Ask specifically what your reimbursement rate is, what your out-of-network deductible is, and how much of that deductible you've already met this year.

xiv. — What is your cancellation policy?

I have a 72-hour cancellation policy. If you need to cancel or reschedule, I need at least 72 hours of notice. Cancellations with less than 72 hours of notice are charged the full session fee.

Couples & family

xv. — We've never done couples therapy. What should we expect?

Couples therapy is different from individual therapy because the work involves both of you. I explore what each person has to say, hold space for the relationship as a unit, and make sure both partners feel heard. We typically begin by working on communication skills, and from there we move into the issues that have caused resentment or distance in the relationship.

xvi. — Should we both come to the first session, or just one of us?

I think it's important for both of you to show up to the first session. It gives me a more complete picture of the relationship and of the people I'll be working with.

xvii. — Can therapy save our relationship if we're talking about separating?

Yes and no. What saves a relationship is the work you both do — inside the therapy room and outside of it. I work with couples who are trying to save their marriage, and we focus on the skills and conversations that help them stay together. I also work with couples who have decided to separate, and we focus on doing that with care and integrity — especially when there are children, shared finances, or a long history together. Both paths can be done thoughtfully.

Schedule

xviii. — Do you offer evening or weekend sessions?

No, I don't currently offer evening or weekend sessions. My office hours are:

• ·  Monday · 10am – 2pm
• ·  Tuesday · 10am – 5pm
• ·  Thursday · 10am – 2pm
• ·  Friday · 10am – 2pm

Still have a question? Reach out.