Frequently Asked Questions
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
- Mary Oliver
I work with adult women, usually ages 25 and up. While I do work with some young adults (18-25), I have found that clients in this age range are often still dependent on their family system. These clients usually benefit more from seeing a therapist who has familiarity in working with parents or coordinating with family members.
Clients I do not work with:
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Anyone under the age of 18
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Families
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Couples
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Court-mandated
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Very high levels of impairment or safety concerns that I couldn't ethically support as a solo therapist
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Individuals with psychosis, severe substance use disorders, or severe eating disorders who would be more appropriate for specialty care
What clients do you work with?
Most Common:
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Major depressive disorder (MDD)
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Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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Adjustment disorders:
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Trauma-like symptoms in response to a non-trauma event
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PTSD symptoms that don't quite meet criteria
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Mood or anxiety symptoms related to a stressor that are getting in the way or causing distress
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ADHD: please note, I am not a specialist in this area but can provide support in managing symptoms
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Social anxiety disorder
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Panic disorder
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Persistent depressive disorder (formerly dysthymia)
If a specific diagnosis isn't listed here, please reach out to ask.
What disorders do you treat?
If you've read through other parts of my website, I believe that gives a good starting point for understanding my style.
I tend to be down-to-earth, practical, and direct with a foundation of compassion and acceptance. I often work well with clients who want to be challenged on their thinking and behavior or want to learn skills and techniques. I like to incorporate humor and a little irreverence at times.
Clients looking for more of a listening ear approach focused on validation and encouragement and/or clients not looking to make any changes in themselves usually end up finding that we aren't a good fit.
What's your general style?
If you're using insurance, yes. All insurance claims must have a diagnosis attached, or the visit won't be covered. You can always ask any provider what diagnosis you have been given.
If you aren't using insurance, a provider doesn't necessarily have to give you a diagnosis but may do so if they feel it is appropriate.
If you have concerns about having something documented in your chart, please share that! My goal is to balance your well-being with documenting what's legally and ethically required.
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If you're looking for a full psychological evaluation, I do not provide those at this time. I do not provide evaluation for ADHD or autism.
If you're looking to be assessed for the purpose of seeking treatment with me, I am able to offer a more structured intake and/or diagnostic interview during therapy. Since I do not provide a written report, I wouldn't classify this as formal assessment, but it can be beneficial for treatment planning.
Will I get a diagnosis?
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Can you assess me for a specific diagnosis?
The first session always starts with a review of confidentiality and a chance to ask any questions you might have about practice policies.
After that, the remainder of session is spent talking about a few different things, such as:
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What brought you to therapy now
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Prior therapy experiences, good or bad
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How things are going in major life areas, like relationships, career, or health
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What you want out of therapy, including any specific types of therapy you're looking for
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Any safety concerns, like thoughts of harming yourself or others
Towards the end of session, we both get an opportunity to check in about whether it feels like a good fit. If it does, we create an initial plan for appointments in the future, so having your schedule easily accessible is helpful.
What happens in a first session?
There are two general types of therapy: therapy to treat a specific mental health condition/issue or therapy that focuses on self-exploration and self-improvement. I offer both options.
Treatment-oriented therapy is usually weekly for 50-55 minutes. We review education about your diagnosis, monitor symptoms, create a treatment plan, and often follow a specific protocol that helps you learn to think and act differently. Check out the general info page for a more comprehensive list of specific types of therapy I provide.
My approach to therapy for self-improvement is drawn from Problem-Solving Therapy. We meet anywhere from weekly to monthly for 50-55 minutes. Every session begins with you setting the agenda for what you want to work on that day. As we work on the issues you've identified, I will begin to incorporate evidence-based principles and skills to help you.
Often, clients move between the two types of therapy, depending on their focus.
What happens in a typical session?
Image Credits (top to bottom): Pexels | Yusuke Furuya; Araz Yurtseven & Unsplash | Silviu Zidaru