Frequently Asked Questions

My fee is $250 for a standard 50 minute counseling session.

Extended sessions are also available (please ask about current rates).

I am an out-of-network therapy provider, meaning your insurance may reimburse a portion of my fee, reducing your overall cost.

Insurance plans that reimburse for therapy include PPO's and HSA's. They usually cover a percentage of your fees, but not the total amount. 

Contact your insurance provider and ask if they cover out-of-network psychotherapy services.

Read more about insurance vs private pay.

I currently do not offer a sliding fee scale. If you are looking for a lower fee for therapy, a resource some people like is Open Path Collective.

All you need is a private location and a laptop, phone, tablet or other device capable of video conferencing. We meet using a private, HIPAA compliant video platform.

Most people connect with me from their home, but other locations also work, as long as you're in a private space where you won't be interupted or overheard.

No. All therapy sessions are conducted online via a secure video platform. We can also talk by phone.

Online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for most issues. 

For certain situations, in-person therapy is preferable. For example, if a client is in crisis, it's better for the therapist to be in the same location.

There are pros and cons to both in-person therapy and online therapy. You can read more about how they compare on my blog post.

We'll start by discussing some initial goals for therapy. Then I'll ask you some standard health history questions. You can also ask me as many questions as you want. 

My aim is to be as transparent as possible about the therapy process. By the end of your first session, you'll have a good idea of how long it will take to reach your goals.

Learn more about how you can make the most of counseling.

Counseling is goal oriented, and we regularly assess your progress.

We won't end therapy before you're ready. Likewise, I won't create a dependent relationship where you never feel ready to end counseling. 

Once you achieve your goals, you may be ready to move on, or you might choose to taper off sessions until it feels right for you to end therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a goal-oriented style of therapy that focuses on changing the way you think about, and react to, challenging events. 

CBT empowers you with the "observer mind" so that you can examine your own automatic thoughts and reactions that keep you stuck.

By replacing your reactive thoughts and behaviors with informed, positive responses, you gain more control over your life, which leads to more satisfaction and less stress. 

Learn more about how CBT works in my blog post.

No, I only provide online counseling to individual adults. 

If you are looking for a couples therapist, or a child, teen, or family therapist, I may be able to suggest someone for you. Feel free to give me a call.

If you feel that your primary issue is drinking or substance abuse, then I would not be able to help.

Instead, I would suggest contacting a specialist who has specific training in substance abuse counseling.

LMFT stands for licensed marriage and family therapist. That's the license I hold. It means I'm able to provide psychotherapy to individuals, not just to couples and families. 

Other professionals who can provide therapy include licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), licensed professional counselors (LPC), and psychologists who hold a PhD or a PsyD.

Each kind of licensed therapist is trained in slightly different ways, but all can provide psychotherapy.

Under the No Surprises Act, health care providers need to give clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for health care services, including psychotherapy services.

Clients have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

Clients can ask their health care provider, and any other provider they choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before scheduling a service, or at any time during treatment.   

If a client receives a bill that is at least $400 more than the Good Faith Estimate, the client can dispute the bill. It is recommended clients save a copy or picture of their Good Faith Estimate.

While it is not possible for a psychotherapist to know in advance how many psychotherapy sessions may be necessary or appropriate for a given person, the No Surprises Act requires that a Good Faith Estimate be provided to clients.

The total cost of services will depend upon the number of psychotherapy sessions the client attends, client’s individual circumstances, and the type and amount of services that are provided.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or how to dispute a bill, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises