Question 1

How can therapy help me?

Accepted Answer

Therapy is most definitely not one size fits all. Much of how it can help depends on your willingness to show up…both literally and figuratively! Talk therapy is helpful in developing insight into the origin, development and function of all the things you seek help for. Therapy can help you understand yourself better and potentially expand your perspective of the world around you and of other people. Once that insight is there, it’s time to build a bridge to actual change “in real life”. This usually requires willingness and acceptance of allowing yourself to feel discomfort in real world situations. When we have done things the same way over and over again for many years, it takes time, trial and error, regressing and messing up for a new way to exist in the world to take hold.

Question 2

What is therapy like?

Accepted Answer

The first couple of sessions I ask a lot of concrete questions to get to know you and your history. After that, I put any agenda aside and allow you to lead me where it’s important for you to go. You can come with a prepared list of topics or you can just freely associate with whatever is top of mind. I will follow where you go with questions, feedback, sometimes recommendations but I won’t tell you what to do. I am not here to fix you or change you because I don’t believe anyone is broken. I am here to expand your experience of the world, to strengthen who you are already and hopefully help you cope, accept the difficulties of life.

Question 3

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes! With the following exceptions:

If you’re in danger of harming yourself or someone else

If there is suspected abuse or neglect of vulnerable individuals or dependents such as children, elderly or anyone protected under similar laws.

Question 4

What about medication vs. psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

I will never push or force anyone to take medication. Medication can definitely be helpful in regulating any organic underlying cause for significant depression and anxiety. However, medication will not make you happy, it will not fix your problems. What medication can offer is to stabilize the biology so that you feel better equipped and open to psychotherapy and behavior change.

Question 5

How long will I be in therapy? Do I have to go forever?

Accepted Answer

That is completely and totally up to you! Some people arrive in therapy in an acute state of crisis and once that crisis is resolved they choose to move on. For others, therapy is more explorative and supportive. Intended not for crisis situations per se but to have a person to speak to on a regular basis, to expand their understanding of themselves and others. This is your personal journey and you decide when it starts and when it ends.

Question 6

Do I have to talk about my childhood?

Accepted Answer

You will never be pressured to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about. 
However, by understanding how you started out in the world, the situations, circumstance and the relationships that contributed to who you are today, definitely help me understand how/why you see yourself, how you interact and react in your environment and what your general experience is with people in your life.  I am always open to exploring what makes certain topics feel too difficult to talk about and believe in giving you the space and time to get there when you’re ready.

Question 7

How Does Out of Network Payment Work?

Accepted Answer

My practice partners with an experienced, reliable and secure billing company that handles all the billing for insurances which means:

You do NOT have to pay my full fee out of pocket then wait to be reimbursed for the fees by your insurance.

Here is how it works: You provide me with your insurance information, the billing company confirms your out of network coverage (another thing that you do not have to worry about doing), you and I agree on how you'd like to pay off the deductible (in one or several sessions, I offer flexibility with this). Once your deductible is paid off,  your co-insurance steps in and that's what you owe per session going forward (until your deductible resets). The co-insurance is based on your insurance plan but many insurance companies pay 60/70/80% of my fee and you are responsible for the remainder (payable by your FSA Card/Credit Card/Zelle/Venmo.