FAQ
Starting Therapy
You don't have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy.
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Therapy can be helpful if you're feeling overwhelmed, navigating a difficult season, struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, grief, or simply wanting to better understand yourself. Many of my clients begin therapy because they want to grow, build healthier patterns, or create a more intentional and fulfilling life.
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You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. You simply need a willingness to take the next step.
The first session is all about getting to know you.
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We'll talk about what's bringing you to therapy, what life has been like recently, your relationships, your support system, your current coping strategies, and what you're hoping will feel different through our work together.
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This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and decide whether I feel like the right fit for you.
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Before we end, I'll always provide at least one practical takeaway—whether that's a reflection question, coping strategy, mindfulness exercise, or a small action step. These are encouraged, never required, because much of the growth in therapy happens between sessions.
That's completely okay—and it's more common than you might think.
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You don't need to come to therapy with an agenda or the "right" words. If you're not sure where to begin, I'll help guide the conversation through thoughtful questions based on what we've discussed in previous sessions and what I know about your goals.
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You never have to carry the conversation alone.
First, I want you to know that it's completely normal.
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One of the first things I often tell new clients is that I recognize we're essentially complete strangers. I'm going to be asking you personal questions, and some of the things we discuss may be topics you've spent years protecting or hiding from other people.
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I don't expect trust to happen overnight.
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Trust is something we build together over time.
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I also encourage you to tell me how you're feeling throughout the process. If you're nervous, overwhelmed, unsure, or even uncomfortable, I want to know.
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I believe the most meaningful work happens when you feel safe enough for your walls to slowly come down.
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The more honest you can be with me—and with yourself—the more meaningful our work together can become.
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At the same time, if there's a topic you're not ready to talk about, please tell me. I won't push you before you're ready. I'll respect your boundary, meet you where you are, and we'll get there together when the time feels right.
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Your comfort, safety, and well-being are always my priority.
The Therapy Process
Sometimes, but I prefer to think of it as intentional practice rather than homework.
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I'll often provide reflection questions, worksheets, coping strategies, mindfulness exercises, or small practices to try between sessions.
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These are always encouraged, never required.
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Why?
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Because meaningful growth doesn't only happen during our sessions. It happens as you begin applying new insights to your everyday life.
There isn't one answer that fits everyone.
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Some people come to therapy for support during a specific season of life. Others choose to stay longer as they continue working toward personal growth and deeper self-understanding.
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We'll regularly check in about your goals and make sure therapy continues to meet your needs.
Fees & Logistics
I do not accept insurance directly.
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This allows therapy to remain focused on you rather than the requirements of an insurance company. Insurance companies often require a mental health diagnosis and ongoing clinical information to determine coverage.
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Choosing not to contract with insurance helps protect your privacy while allowing greater flexibility in your treatment.
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If you have out-of-network benefits, I'm happy to provide a monthly superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Yes.
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I believe therapy should be as accessible as possible, and I offer a limited number of sliding-scale appointments for clients experiencing financial hardship.
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Please don't hesitate to ask if you'd like to discuss current availability.
Life happens, and I understand that plans sometimes change.
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If you need to cancel or reschedule, I ask for at least 24 hours' notice.
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Appointments canceled with less than 24 hours' notice or missed appointments are charged the full session fee. This policy helps honor the time reserved specifically for you and respects other clients who may have benefited from that appointment.
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Whenever possible, I'm happy to work with you to reschedule within the same week.
All sessions are currently held virtually through a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform called SimplePractice.
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SimplePractice is where you'll complete paperwork, access billing, join video sessions, and securely communicate with me when appropriate.
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While I prefer video sessions because they allow us to better connect, phone sessions are available when needed.
I offer both 50-minute and 80-minute sessions.
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For most individual clients, I recommend beginning with 50-minute sessions. This provides plenty of time to build insight, develop practical tools, and create meaningful progress.
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Eighty-minute sessions are available for clients who would benefit from additional time to explore deeper topics, as well as for couples or family sessions when appropriate.
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You'll be able to view appointment availability through the client portal, and you're always welcome to reach out if you need help finding a time that works best for you.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Yes.
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Your privacy is extremely important to me.
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In general, what you share in therapy stays between us. During our first session, we'll review confidentiality together, and I'll make sure you understand exactly what it means so you always know what to expect.
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There are a few legal exceptions where confidentiality may need to be broken to help protect your safety or the safety of others. These situations include concerns about imminent harm to yourself, imminent harm to another person, or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving vulnerable individuals, including children, older adults, or adults with disabilities.
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If a situation like this ever arose, my goal would always be to approach it with transparency, compassion, and your safety in mind.
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You're always welcome to ask questions about confidentiality at any point during our work together.
Finding the right therapist is important.
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Research consistently shows that one of the strongest predictors of successful therapy is the relationship between the client and therapist.
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My hope is that you feel comfortable, supported, understood, and appropriately challenged throughout our work together.
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If, for any reason, you feel I'm not the right fit for you, that's okay. Therapy is a deeply personal experience, and finding someone who feels like the right match matters.
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If that happens, I'm more than happy to help guide you toward other therapists or resources that may better meet your needs. My priority is helping you receive the support that's right for you, whether that's with me or someone else.
