Frequently Asked Questions
​Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
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- 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.
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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