Are you currently accepting clients?

Yes, I am.

Do you take insurance?

I do not currently take any insurance plans.  

Do you offer a sliding scale?

I have limited sliding scale slots, all of which are full at the moment.  

Do I need therapy?

It depends on how you define need.  Will you survive without it?  Most people do.  A more pertinent question might be: would you benefit from having someone to talk to, extra support, and a new perspective?  Would you be happier if you could truly process and move past traumas in your history?  Would you feel more liberated if you could end the struggle with addictions and compulsions?  What would your life look like if you weren't carrying these emotional burdens, if you could instead divert that energy towards creating positivity in your life?  We all have difficulties and challenges in life, and people are resilient creatures, able to withstand and rise above a lot of adversity.  Taking the responsibility and making the decision to reach out for help is in itself a positive first step towards change.  It shows a commitment to your own health, and a willingness to move forward in your life.

 Why should I go to therapy?

Everyone has a different reason to seek therapy. You could be facing a major decision or a transitional period (a career change, a divorce).  Perhaps you are suffering the negative impacts of stress, or anxiety.  Maybe there are unresolved problems in your past that you are ready to address, process, and put behind you.  Perhaps you are struggling with one of several very common issues like depression, complex grief, low self-esteem, addiction, or relationship problems.  Maybe you are just ready for a period of self-exploration and positive growth, or are determined to improve your interpersonal relationships.   

Therapy can provide you with another perspective, and a place to externalize the pressure, take a breath, and regroup.  You will receive support, encouragement, an unbiased ear, and coping skills to navigate emotional triggers and change negative behavior patterns.  Simply put, if you are ready to make changes, therapy can be very helpful at streamlining the process, and overcoming obstacles that might arise. 

What is therapy like?

Therapy is different with each client because each client is different.  Your goals will be unique, as will our therapeutic relationship. Some common themes that we will discuss are: why you have come to therapy, what you are hoping to receive from it, what’s going on in your current life, and how your history has led to your present.  We will also keep track of changes that occur from session to session.

For some, therapy will be short-term; this is frequently the case when using EMDR to resolve a specific and finite issue.  For others, therapy might be long-term, especially if we are dealing with developmental trauma, negative thought patterns, or behaviors that span a lifetime. 

Also, the benefits you reap from therapy depend largely on how invested you are in the process, and the extent to which you put into practice what you learn. In other words, if you actively participate in the therapeutic process you will receive better results.  Sometimes I might suggest activities for you to do between sessions; the goal here being to integrate insights obtained in session into your greater life. 

How often do I have to go? 

Weekly sessions are best, especially in the beginning, because we are building a relationship of trust and safety.  I've noticed that when clients try to come every other week in the beginning, therapy rarely seems to take off of the ground in the same way; the work doesn't seem to go as deep, the felt sense of safety doesn't seem to grow as strong.  Sometimes these clients drop out of therapy because they are not receiving the gains they had hoped they would.

Weekly sessions are best, in general, because then you maintain a strong momentum towards positive change. 

That said, once our relationship is strong, and you feel that therapy is the support you wish it to be, I'm not opposed to you dropping down to sessions every other week if that's what you need to do, or that's what fits in your schedule, or finances.  It's not my preference because there really is that momentum that builds in regular therapy, but I also understand and respect that "needs must" sometimes.

What if I can't afford to go every week?

That is a very difficult situation, and one for which I have a lot of sympathy.  If you can't afford to see me every week, at least in the beginning, then I may not be the best therapist for you.  In therapy, you're making a commitment towards your own self-care; that's not a commitment you want to take lightly.  Nor do you want your commitment to self-care to be the cause of more stress in your life.

My recommendation when money is tight is to seek a therapeutic situation that will provide you consistency above anything else.  A strong and positive therapeutic relationship is the biggest indicator of positive outcomes in therapy, and every specialized therapy I can think of (aside from neurofeedback) relies on that relationship.  I would look at therapeutic agencies because their fees tend to be less; you may not find EMDR, but you will hopefully be able to afford consistency, which lends itself to a felt sense of safety.

The exception to this recommendation is if you're trying to resolve a single-incident trauma that happened in your adult life, or a very specific phobia, and in every other sense you feel pretty grounded, stable, and even happy in your life.  Those two particular issues can generally be resolved pretty quickly with EMDR, and it might be worth it to come for a few sessions and try to process them.  I'm very willing to have a phone consultation to discuss your situation, and assess whether I believe it may resolve quickly (but do keep in mind, I can offer no guarantees!).

What about confidentiality?

Confidentiality is crucial to creating an atmosphere conducive to the feelings of trust and safety necessary in effective therapeutic relationships.  What’s said in session is very sensitive and personal, and you have my assurance that it is kept in confidence. This is true to the extent that if I see you on the street between sessions, I might make eye contact, but I won’t approach you and risk putting you in a situation of having to explain your relationship to me.  (That said, you are welcome to approach me for a quick hello!)

 Sometimes, however, it might be important that I contact someone in your healthcare team.  Or perhaps you might want to bring a family member or friend in for a collaborative session.  Under those circumstances I would require your written permission prior to making contact, and we would also discuss in advance the degree of disclosure you would feel comfortable with me making.

There are a few situations when state and federal law require that I break confidentiality:

• Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children currently under the age of 18, dependent adults, and elders. 

•  If I have reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm another specific person.

•  If I receive a subpoena from the court or FBI for my client notes.