iWhat about Covid?
Is therapy right for me?
Do I really need counseling? I can usually handle my problems.
How can therapy help me?
What is therapy like?
What about medication?
How does insurance work?
Is therapy confidential?
We have had so many unexpected twists, and issues around safety have been delicate. Since covid is only one airborne challenge, I rely on science throughout my counseling practice and trust recommendations from local hospitals and reliable healthcare scientists to keep you and me safe in sessions. For us to do our best work together, we need to feel comfortable with one another. If you have any concerns about health safety while in session, please let me know.
Adjusting to society with COVID, long-covid, flu, RSV, and other infectious diseases and medical conditions is a challenge for all of us. If you are struggling, this is a safe place where you can explore the impact medical trauma has had on you and your family and ways you can live a life that feels comfortable to you.
Counseling is right for anyone who wants the most out of their life by developing greater self-awareness and by embracing personal opportunities to change. Seeking therapy is an individual choice. People come to therapy for many reasons. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues and patterns of behaviors. Other times it is to sort out the best way to cope with a crises or an unexpected change such as a traumatic experience, a death, a divorce, a medical crises, a crises of faith, or a challenging work transition. Entering counseling does not mean you are weak or crazy. People seek counseling to regain their balance and to stay as healthy as possible. Counseling is a good choice for understanding and resolving depression, anxiety, trauma, shame, stress, conflict, grief, poor body-image, existential crises, emotional dysregulation, general life transitions, or just feeling stuck.
Counseling might be an ideal opportunity for you if you are going through a major life transition or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Perhaps counseling is your opportunity to work through a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, shame, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts or creative blocks. Maybe you've decided you are ready to learn more about yourself or want to be more effective in your life goals. In our work, you can expect encouragement and help with skills to get you on your way.
In short, people seeking counseling are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and to make changes.
Do I really need counseling? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone faces the unexpected from time to time, and while you may have successfully navigated other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking extra support. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is admirable. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and seeking help to change. Counseling brings long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, change self-defeating patterns, overcome distress, and live healthier.
How can therapy help me?
The many benefits of counseling are well established. People who develop self awareness and good problem-solving skills are generally healthier. In our work, you can expect to find compassion, problem-solving tools, and effective coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, unresolved childhood injuries, shame, grief, stress, poor self esteem, emotional dysregulatio, and creative blocks. Counselors can be a tremendous asset in personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective or point you in the direction of a unique solution. The benefits you obtain from counseling depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. So jump right in. Some of the benefits awaiting you from therapy include:
- Understanding yourself, your values, and your goals
- Deepening or renewing relationships
- Solving problems and fine-tuning problem-solving skills
- Resolving anger, grief, depression, anxiety, emotional pressures, and emotional dysregulation
- Improving communication and listening skills
- Managing pain
- Making peace with your body
- Forming a healthy relationship with food.
- Changing stuck patterns and self-defeating thinking
- Finding new ways to interact with people you care about (and those you don't too)
- Improving self-esteem and self-confidence
- Improving sleep patterns
- Integrating healthy movement
- Cultivating a deeper sense of meaning in your life
- Improving focus, concentration, and life balance
- Finding and nurturing your innate JOY
What is therapy like?
Every therapy session is unique to the individual's intentions. We will discuss the issues and symptoms that brought you in. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on one specific issue, or long-term, addressing more complex challenges or ongoing personal growth. The progress you make is up to you and what you want to accomplish. You may be introduced to possibilities such as practicing a new approach, trying a relaxation skill, tracking changes, listening to a podcast, or reading a book . It is important to process what has been discussed, integrate it into your life between sessions, and notice changes.
Therapy is most effective for those who actively participate. People seeking psychotherapy learn to take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings and actions, regulate their emotions, work towards self-change and become more self-aware. Here are some things you can expect from counseling:
- Compassion, respect, patience, and empathy
- Learning to notice persistent self-defeating patterns and negative beliefs
- Learning to regulate your emotions
- Learning to listen to your body and your inner wisdom
- Learning to pace yourself and to identify the steps to making sustainable change
- Learning to be more confident and comfortable in your own skin.
What about medication?
It is unlikely that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause will be medication alone. In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. Working with your doctor, you can determine what's best for you. Instead of just treating symptoms, counseling explores root causes of distress and the behavior patterns that block progress. An integrative approach to wellness, combining the appropriate tools available to you, leads to a sense of overall well-being
Because my practice is small, I do not bill insurance directly, but you can contact your insurance carrier to determine if your policy provides out-of-network mental health benefits. If so, I can provide a Superbill for you to submit. Check your coverage by asking these questions:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- How much does my insurance pay for an "out-of-network" provider?
- Does my carrier accept Superbills for out-of-network services?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Fee is $120 per 50 minute appointment and can be paid by cash, check or most major credit cards including HSA and MSA. I make every effort to provide up-to-date information, and fees can change with little notice.
Is therapy confidential?
The law protects the confidentiality of communications between a client and psychotherapist, so information is not disclosed without prior written permission from the client. My goal is to help you improve your relationships. I know disclosing sensitive or controversial information can be scary. So, if you tell me something that has not been shared with the person directly impacted, I will explore with you why you are not sharing and how to improve the situation. Teamwork is the foundation so you feel empowered in your life.
In some cases, exceptions to confidentiality require me to report to law enforcement or Health and Welfare, including:
- If a client is involved in suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person.
- If a client intends to harm themselves.
I will make every effort to work with you to ensure safety. However, additional measures will be taken, if necessary.