Question 1

How will you know if therapy is for you?

Accepted Answer

If you are feeling stuck and you feel that the way that you are trying to cope with a problem is not working…then therapy might be good for you or you and your partner(s).  I provide a free 15-to-30-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit. However, most clients report that they know whether they wish to continue therapy within the first two to three sessions. I have done my best to provide you with information about myself on my website on my personal blog and Psychology Today blog.  Hopefully reading these blog entries as well as the information on my website will give you a good sense of who I am and how I practice.

Question 2

Do you provide in person counseling?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I offer in person sessions to clients if they request them. I also provide therapy through a HIPPA virtual platform (ex. Zoom and Doxy).  Also, teletherapy works for individuals who are comfortable with utilizing technology and have a private space for sessions.

Question 3

Who do you work with?

Accepted Answer

I work with youth ages 14 years old and up, and clients 18 years old and older. I work with individuals (adults) and couples. However, I work with more adults and individual clients than couples. I also work with clients struggling with addictions. My niches in therapy are trauma, men’s issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, and intimacy issues. I am a culturally sensitive, body positive and sex positive affirming therapist who believes in validating and affirming my clients’ experiences.  I don’t provide mental health services currently for eating disorders, psychotic disorders, schizoaffective disorders, etc.) I hope to expand working with clients with these diagnoses as I expand my private practice within the next three years.

Question 4

What can I expect from therapy?

Accepted Answer

Once you have decided to engage in therapy, you may feel apprehensive or nervous. To be honest, I feel nervous at times too. Yes, you are sharing intimate parts of your life with me, and I am honored to hold space for you to share your lived experience. I may not have insight and answers for all your questions or concerns. However, this is where the magic is in therapy.  We will work together to collaboratively explore the issues that you present and the information that you will provide me in session will direct our work. This is ultimately your journey, and I will respect always your thoughts and feelings as I navigate us in engaging in our therapeutic work.

Question 5

How much do you charge, and do you accept health insurance?

Accepted Answer

I provide a sliding scale rate of $85 to $130 for individual and couple’s therapy. The sliding scale is based upon the income of my clients, and clients choose what works for them within this price range. Please discuss with me about your financial needs to engage in therapy.  I also accept  Blue Cross/Blue Shield/Highmark health insurance.

Question 6

Do you accept private pay?

Accepted Answer

Yes I accept private pay.  This may be a good option as it can allow you access to specialized care that you may not have access to otherwise.  This also offers more privacy and confidentiality.

Question 7

How long does a therapy session last?

Accepted Answer

In the beginning, I recommend that we meet at least once a week or every other week, depending on the severity of the client’s situation. Once some or all of your goals are met as a client, we will meet less often. From that point on, some clients come back to engage in therapy when something arises in their life that needs to be explored or processed. Each therapy session is 50 minutes.

Question 8

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

I require 24 hours’ notice of cancellation, or you will be required to pay the full fee for the appointment.  An occasional exception may be made for emergency situations. It is important that me meet consistently, and I want us to respect both of our time.

Question 9

What is your theoretical approach?

Accepted Answer

I am an eclectic therapist. This means that I pull from a variety of therapeutical approaches in therapy, because there is no one size fits all model for clients.  My therapeutic foundation is called Relational Cultural Therapy, and it is based on the foundation of mutual empowerment and empathy for all individuals. This therapeutic foundation also looks at systems in society and how systems (family, societal, etc.) impact our behaviors. I also have a foundation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Acceptance Therapy, EMDR and so much more.  Please let me know if you had a good experience with a specific therapy model in the past that you would like to continue utilizing in session.

Question 10

Do you prescribe medication?

Accepted Answer

No. I do work with clients by providing psychoeducation around medication management as well as holistic medicines and medical marijuana to help clients cope with their mental health issues. In addition, I do believe in consulting with doctors to support my clients’ medication management needs to ensure that clients are receiving the best quality of care.

Frequently asked questions