FAQs

How do I know if I need therapy?

I believe that we all need help at different times in our lives, and therapy can help. You do not have to be at rock-bottom to get help or benefit from therapy. Therapy can be an effective treatment for a wide range of psychological disorders including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, low self-esteem, trauma resolution, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, career burnout, and more.

If you are struggling with any of the following, you may be a good candidate for therapy:

• Excessive worry

• Anxiety

• Sadness

• Depression

• Addiction

• Compulsive behaviors

• Low self-esteem

• Panic attacks

• Grief

• Low motivation

• Poor body image

Sometimes people think that you only “need” therapy if you have a mood disorder, addiction, or have experienced a horrific trauma. This is not true. Therapy can be helpful in building your self-esteem or changing the negative thought patterns that are limiting your joy and satisfaction in life. Often my clients have everything they need on paper and feel that they “should” be happy but find that for some reason they aren’t. This is something that therapy can help. Together we will dive into this to understand the “why” and learn how to find your happiness.

What is therapy with you like?

My style of therapy is warm, inviting, and supportive. I will work with you to identify your goals for therapy and will adjust my therapeutic techniques to ensure that we meet those goals. In therapy with me, you can expect to understand and resolve the core issues that are fueling any unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is my goal to get you back to functioning on an executive level in all spheres of your life. I use evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy techniques, and EMDR therapy.

If I am in Recovery, are you going to make me go to 12 step meetings?

Therapy is voluntary, and so is working a recovery program like a 12-step support group. My goal in therapy is not to make you do anything but to help inspire you to meet your needs in a healthy way. If you are in recovery, having a sober support network can be incredibly helpful to maintain recovery. We can explore ways for you to receive these support benefits in a way that is inclusive of all of the different available recovery groups including SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery, and faith-based recovery groups. Ultimately it is your choice whether you engage in any recovery group.

How long is therapy?

The length of therapy depends on many different factors and can range from brief to long-term. Some of these factors include your individual goals in seeking therapy and the complexity of your concerns. I will work with you to design a therapeutic treatment plan that is sensitive to your needs.

Why don’t you accept insurance?

I do not accept insurance because I do not want to allow an insurance company to dictate the diagnosis and treatment for my clients. When insurance is involved, they dictate what therapies and diagnoses they will pay for and can also dictate the length and course of treatment. The length, content, and duration of treatment is a decision that my clients and I make together.

Can my loved one do therapy with you, too?

It is not ethical for me to see both you and your loved one for individual therapy at the same time unless we are only engaging in family therapy, in which case I would see both of you together for each session. However, I am open to doing family therapy sessions when appropriate, and can include a loved one via phone, telehealth, or in person if you and I both believe this is important in your treatment.

What is the difference between Individual Therapy and Recovery Coaching?

Individual therapy will utilize specific evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on exploring, understanding, and processing psychological pain, from both the past and present. We will explore the “why” and seek to heal any open wounds that are impacting your functioning today. Recovery coaching will focus on the present and future. We will explore specific behaviors and specific goals to support and strengthen your recovery and will not dive into the past in the way we would with therapy.