question_answer Frequently Asked Questions

Therapy is beneficial to anyone looking for a supportive place to process their experiences with a neutral party that is completely confidential. It is now recognized that therapy can be beneficial for just about anyone. However, factors which often drive people to therapy include:

• Depression symptoms : feeling sad, empty, or hopeless, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, irritability
• Anxiety symptoms: feeling on edge, difficulty sleeping, irritability, worrying that is difficulty to control
• Bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression)
• Personality disorders
• Recovery from narcissistic abuse
• Life changes: difficulty coping with life transitions such as going to college, moving, getting married, starting a family, seeing children leave the nest, adapting to retirement, etc.
• The loss of a loved one or the loss of something significant (such as a job or important relationship)
• Trauma
• The post-partum period
• Couple’s therapy (including premarital counseling and discernment counseling)
• Family therapy
• Communication between co-parents
• Helping children and families navigate through divorce

The most important factor for success in any therapy session is the relationship between the therapist and the client. Look for a therapist who you can connect with. Personalities vary among therapists, just like clients, so it is important to feel that you and your therapist are a good fit. Signs of a good fit include:

• Open communication
• Feeling heard
• Feeling valued
• Feeling safe
• Feeling respected

In addition, always verify the credentials of your therapist. This can help you understand their experience level, and their areas of expertise.

I will work with you on your goals such as decreasing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or traumatic responses. We will discuss what your end goal is when we first meet, and this will help us define when you are ready to end therapy. Most often, the goal is not to completely eliminate negative feelings, but to learn how to cope with them more effectively. We will often have a discussion about graduating from therapy when the time is near. This will allow us to revisit skills learned in therapy and make sure you’re ready.

Sessions are either 45 minutes ($100) or 55 minutes ($125). Prices are approximate and may vary depending on insurance/self-pay and other factors.

During the first session, I will review confidentiality and other office policies, and then spend most of the session asking questions about presenting issues. We will review your mental health history and assess for any risk factors. I will work collaboratively with you to establish goals for therapy, and we can define what success in therapy means for you personally.

Often, clients say that they want to feel better about themselves, feel less stressed, learn coping skills for anxiety and depression, find a supportive place to vent, work through deep feelings of grief, or process trauma. Many clients are also looking for help with relationships such as a significant other, family member, friend, or even co-worker. I am a specialist in attachment theory and would love to help you find the root of your attachment issues contributing to relationship difficulties.

Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging symptoms. Click here for more information.