FAQ
Do you see clients in person? Where is your office located?
No, I only do telehealth. I live in a remote area in the mountains, and telehealth allows me to see clients online in 39 states. Plus, you can sit on your couch or wear your slippers that way.
Do you take my insurance?
No. All my clients pay me out of pocket. If you have out-of-network coverage and want to submit a receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement, I can provide a superbill.
Can you see me on the weekends?
No, I work Monday through Friday, but I do have early morning, lunchtime, and evening appointments available. Don’t worry; I take breaks at other times during the day.
What if I need to cancel an appointment?
If you provide 24 hours advanced notice, you can cancel without paying. Otherwise, I need to charge you half the fee.
How do I make an appointment?
Most of my clients make their next appointment at the end of each session. If you haven’t seen me before, we can set up an appointment during a free 15-minute consultation call.
Do you offer a free 15-minute consultation?
Yes. I included this question so I could answer yes to at least one of these questions. This call is an excellent chance to check whether we are a good match. I will have many questions, so you don’t have to prepare much unless you have questions for me.
What can I expect during a session?
My clients usually bring up incidents that happened or concerns they have. Many of them vent at the beginning of the session. That way, I know where you are that day. We might do coping skills training, especially in the beginning, so that you develop tools to manage stress and anxiety. Occasionally, we process nightmares. Keeping a journal or a list of things to discuss in therapy helps some clients stay focused.
Do you only work with girls and women?
I see a lot of women clients, but I also work with men. I only work with adults, though.
Do you work with teenagers?
No, I only work with adults. Most of my clients are in their 20s through 60s.
How do you work with LGBTQ+ clients?
I mainly work with lesbians, gay men, bisexual or pansexual clients, and those who identify as having queer sexual orientations. Some of those clients are also nonbinary or transgender.
I provide affirmative therapy, which means we can counteract what society misunderstands about our community and determine whether we have internalized negative messages. The goal is to overcome these obstacles and live happy lives.
Am I too old to see you?
No, I’m willing to work with any adult who might need the kind of services that I provide. I’m not a specialist in geropsychology, though, so you might want to consider finding someone who is if that might be important.
Do you provide couples counseling?
No, I only provide individual psychotherapy. Some of my clients also see couples counselors with their partners, and their partners also have personal therapists. So, having three therapists can be a good thing.
Do you work with actively suicidal clients?
No, I’m sorry, but I can’t take on clients who are in a severe mental health crisis. My schedule is not flexible enough to be available at a moment’s notice. There are community mental health clinics in every region that are better able to provide a combination of services, including psychiatric and emergency services.
Do therapists ever go to therapy?
Yes, most therapists have had personal therapy. I have been to therapy three times throughout my life and have fond memories of the women who supported me and helped me find my way.
What if I don’t want therapy?
Some people are triggered by starting a new relationship, even a therapy relationship, so they may want to start working on things independently. I can recommend workbooks if that would be helpful. I also know people who used their meditation practice to get to the point where they could relax enough to go to therapy.
What is your favorite kind of client?
So many of my clients are amazing. When I meet them, they are ready to do the work. Week after week, they bring the painful material from their lives to our sessions. They hang in there for a year or more if that’s what it takes. They grow through their pain until they come out on the other side a whole new person. It’s an honor to witness their triumph.
I cry a lot, does that bother you?
No, I believe that painful emotions are trying to tell us something. Crying tells us we care when we are grieving. I think crying is cathartic, healing, and a great release. Most of my clients cry at some point. All that said, I also don’t like crying myself any more than you do, but it has helped me get beyond some painful things in my life.
Do you prefer dogs or cats?
Horses