How long is a therapy session? What is the cost?

For individuals and couples, standard therapy sessions are 55-minutes. In experiential therapies like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the goal is to connect with your emotional experiences in session and practice new ways of relating in the here-and-now, either with yourself or your partner. I will guide the session to make sure our time is well spent and we stay focused on the important stuff. My standard session rate is $185, which is due at the time of service. Additional time beyond the 55 minutes is charged at a prorated rate if it is indicated.

How long does therapy take? How often do we go?

Unfortunately, there is no single answer to this question. It all depends on the problems you want to address, your treatment goals, and your preferences or limitations. Typically, people come to therapy once per week, especially in the beginning to understand their problem and develop a plan. It takes consistent contact to develop our working relationship and see results. Think of it as learning a new skill, like a language, sport, or musical instrument - practice makes the difference! Regular weekly sessions often also result in shorter treatment time overall (i.e. fewer total sessions), which costs less in the long run. My goal is to help you achieve lasting results in the shortest time possible so you are able to work through conflicts and challenges on your own. In terms of length of treatment and total number of sessions, some very specific concerns can be resolved in just a few sessions, while larger goals require longer. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples generally lasts 4-6 months (16-24 sessions), though added factors like trauma, infidelity, addiction, or longstanding conflict often require longer treatment periods. There is more variation with frequency/duration in individual therapy. I will honestly explain my treatment recommendations for your situation based on the research and my training and experience, but the decision is always yours.

Do you accept insurance?

For a variety of reasons, I do not work with managed care/insurance companies. My practice is dedicated to relationships and interpersonal health (i.e. couples & marriage counseling), and insurance companies do not consider this "medically necessary." They generally require one person to be given a mental health diagnosis to qualify for reimbursement, which changes the nature of my work with couples. Because of this policy, I am not able to offer "super bills" for out-of-network reimbursement; however, I can provide you with a summary financial statement that may be used for tax purposes.

Will I (or my partner/family member) be given a diagnosis?

As described above, my practice is dedicated to couples therapy and interpersonal wellness. While problems in relationships can certainly be related to mental health symptoms in one individual - either by causing them or being caused by them - my treatment focus is on the relationship. Because of that, I do not formally diagnose clients in couples with mental health disorders, as that changes the focus of therapy. This does not mean that we don't discuss mental and emotional symptoms; I will still complete detailed assessments with all clients as part of my intake process, as well as ongoing assessments throughout treatment. What it does mean is that I may refer you (or your partner) to another provider if an individual diagnosis with a specific treatment beyond the scope of my practice is needed. This may involve me collaborating with other therapists/providers as we continue treatment, or taking a break from relationship-focused counseling until the individual concern is sufficiently addressed.

Can I see you in individual therapy and later with my partner/family?

As a couples therapist, my success in helping clients is based on their trust and openness with me. Often, people come to relationship counseling feeling angry, hurt, and mistrustful - and rightfully so; they are not getting along with the person they depend on the most in life. When therapy becomes just another place to feel misunderstood, hurt, or blamed, it cannot be successful. I do not switch back and forth between individual and couples therapy because it can lead to mistrust or feeling left out for one person, which undermines my ability to help you. Once I begin with a client in individual therapy, then it must remain that way (though sessions with a partner or family member in support of your individual goals may occur). Similarly, if we begin working together in couples therapy, I do not also see members in individual therapy except for during planned one-on-one assessment sessions with each person at the beginning of treatment. In cases where a different mode of counseling is needed, I will make appropriate referrals to other providers and coordinate care with them.

What ages do you work with? Can you help my child?

I work with clients who are 18 years old or older, whether they are coming for individual therapy or as a part of a couple seeking counseling. While I do not work with children/minors, I am happy to refer to other providers in the area who can help.

What is your clinical approach? What kinds of treatments do you use?

After more than a decade of helping people in therapy, I have come to see that certain things work better than others. Clinical research on what makes counseling successful is clear: The therapeutic relationship (my relationship with you and your partner) is a key ingredient. In the spirit of Carl Rogers, the founder of Person Centered Counseling, I approach every encounter with genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard for my clients. I am here to collaboratively help you improve your life - not judge, criticize, or disempower you.

Individuals

Almost all models of counseling agree that our thoughts, feelings, physiology, and behaviors are interrelated. These connections are shaped early in life (like a blueprint), and create our realities - how we see ourselves, other people, and the world in general. People can get stuck in repeating loops (i.e. patterns), where the situations and cast of characters might change, but the thoughts, feelings, and problems stay the same. Some of these connections are outside our conscious awareness; therapy can shed light on them, giving people an opportunity to act and think differently. I also pay careful attention to attachment, our early bonds with caregivers and the important people in life now. A person's attachment style influences how they move about the world, whether they feel safe and secure or the opposite. Often, the problems people bring to therapy are related to attachment when we get to the bottom of the issue. This is true for individuals as well as for couples. When working with individuals, I will focus on the sources of their distress and how it shows up for them - in their feelings, thoughts, bodily experiences, and actions. Through understanding and expressing these experiences, they can begin to heal and access new ways of being with themselves and others. I have specific training in EFIT - Emotionally-Focused Individual Therapy, which is a version of EFT adapted for individuals.

Couples

As a relationship counselor, I keep the whole system in mind - whether I am working with one person or a couple. The systemic perspective focuses on how people are interrelated and, in a sense, balance each other out. Problems are seen as something that happens between people, rather than something that exists just inside of one person. I help my clients understand how their past and current relationships shape how they experience distress and cope with it, as well as identify interpersonal changes that will lead to individual health and wellness. When working with couples, I utilize Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) - one of the most well-researched relationship therapies around and considered the "Gold Standard" of treatment. Here, my "client" is really your relationship, rather than you or your partner. I take great care to make sure everyone feels heard, valued, and understood - and I'll help facilitate growing the connections needed so that you don't need to be in a therapy room to feel safe and understood when we're done. My goal is for couples to overcome their emotional blocks to connection and create a new kind of intimacy they can depend on when they need it most. It's never about finding the "guilty" person or holding court. I help my clients deescalate conflicts, put words to their experiences, and feel truly heard - all without sacrificing their self-respect or identity.

Substance Use & Addiction

For clients who have concerns about their own or a loved one's substance use, I work from a harm reduction and multiple recovery pathways perspective. This means that you are free to explore your relationship with substances without judgment or some predetermined goal like abstinence or identifying with a particular label. Addiction brings with it a lot of stigma and shame. With me, you will always receive respect and autonomy. I understand that substance use is often a perfectly logical solution to pain - and it works very well! Unfortunately, it can also cause a new kind of pain that builds over time and makes everything worse, especially relationships. I help clients gain awareness of their triggers so they can begin healing and find new solutions. Depending on a client's severity and risk, stabilization at another level of care may need to happen before individual or couples counseling can begin.

If your loved one is struggling with addiction and you are trying to determine how best to help them, you will not be shamed or told to abandon them. Often, partners and families are blamed for problems ("you are an enabler!") or told to practice "tough love" and "let them hit rock bottom." Harsh methods are not supported by research, and can in fact make problems worse. My work is based on relational (not moral) interventions. I will help you experience how to be more effective in relating to your loved-one, which can help improve your own individual health and wellness. Recovery is firmly rooted in our secure bonds with the people we love; counseling can help you strengthen that resource while also understanding the triggers that lead to substance use and relationship distress.

Good Faith Estimate (GFE)

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.