Frequently Asked Questions

Congrats on taking this first exploratory step towards emotional wellness! Therapy is a brave endeavor.  The good news is, you don’t have to go it alone.  Finding the right match for you is the most important piece.  In my perspective, this means someone who you feel drawn to, comfortable and safe with, someone who you believe you can build trust and connection with, who you believe can hold space for your, who will gently challenge you where appropriate, but go at your own pace.  

If you feel drawn to work with me, reach out for a free 20 minute consult where we can: 

• Explore whether it would be a good fit 

• Have a brief assessment 

• Clarify any questions you may be still curious about

After we have a consultation, if you’ve decided to move forward in working together, we will book an initial session.  The first few sessions will focus on building a relationship and assessment, which will allow me to provide optimal, tailored care.  Then we'll dive right into to weekly sessions.  I do offer biweekly sessions, but recommend starting with weekly to set a foundation and gain some traction. 

Ongoing sessions with me are meant to be a sanctuary in your week - a sacred space - where you can show up just as you are. You can expect to laugh, cry, and have some major AHA! Moments.  I will guide you on how to process your emotions.  You’ll be empowered with practical tools, observations, resources, insights and nurturing containment.  We may also identify and strengthen your inner resiliency, explore patterns that are causing you stress, examine the impact of family history, build on your support system, and develop healthy coping skills.  

In fact, there is now evidence to show that effective therapy can even support you in rewiring your brain by helping you to shift negative or overwhelming thought patterns!  How does this happen?!

Therapy offers:

• A model for a healthy, consistent, reliable, nurturing relationship

• Reconnection with yourself

• Coping skills for regulating your nervous system and emotions

• A way to make sense of your story

• Support in ending dysfunctional or traumatic patterns

• Developing self-compassion and sense of self

• Help with managing anxious thoughts

• Guidance around boundary setting

• Separating who you are from your mood

• Help with identifying and managing your triggers

• Tools to improve your relationships

• Knowledge about mental health

• Fresh, objective insight and observations

Therapy is an investment in yourself. It can change the trajectory of your life.  I honor your time, resources and commitment to treatment. My rates are based on my specializations, training, experience, and commitment to my clients. There is also significant time I spend outside of your 50 minute session on preparing, engaging in continuing education, offering referrals, and administration allows for you to receive the best care possible.

My full fee rate is $275 per 50 minute individual session.  I hold some sliding scale spots in my practice. It is a priority for me to help in any way I can to make mental health care sustainable for you so feel free to chat with me if you need clarity about this.

I am not an in network provider with any insurance companies. However, I can provide monthly superbills upon request.This means that you would pay for sessions out of pocket and then your insurance company may reimburse you a certain portion of your expense depending on your plan.

To find out if you have these benefits available to you, reach out directly to your insurance provider and review your benefits summary.

Sometimes, significant stressors or trauma create knots in your life fabric. Life continues, but when those knots are tugged, the symptoms of trauma will flare.  EMDR is a comprehensive treatment and one of the most effective ways to untangle and reweave those knotted threads in an organized, integrated way.  It doesn't erase your distressing memories, but helps to shift your relationship to them.

When trauma happens, the parts of our brain that typically communicate for optimal coping get blocked. The EMDR process reopens those blocked channels to restore your nervous system and brain to function adaptively.

EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.  I know a mouthful!  In short, this technique draws on scientifically proven methods to allow your nervous system to heal through reprocessing of past experiences - without necessarily getting into in depth details of such events. This treatment incorporates elements of mindfulness, breath and body focused treatments, and is based in the most current research on the neurobiology of trauma.

Here are some questions to consider if you’re wondering if it is right for you? Have you gotten to a place where you understand why you continue to repeat certain patterns that keep you stuck, but just can't seem to shift them?  Maybe you have been in therapy and have found it helpful, but there continues to be a sticking point?  Have you experienced distressing or traumatic experiences or relationships that have left lingering effects in your present life?  Are you someone who wants to find healing, but struggles to talk in detail about your past?

If any of this rings true, EMDR may be good option.  But it isn't appropriate for everyone.  Let's chat and see if it is right for you!

Some sessions will feel challenging, triggering and exhausting.  Others may feel grounding, healing, and hopeful.  This is part of the dance of resolving some deeply rooted stuff.  

After sessions you may find it helpful to:

• Journal 

• Do some gentle movement, walking, stretching or yoga

• Exercise

• Take a bath or shower

• Get some fresh air & sunshine

• Make a plan to implement suggested coping skills

• Explore my resources

• Hydrate & eat a healthy meal

• Laugh

• Practice self-compassion

• Download a meditation app (Calm is my go-to!)

• Get evaluated by your medical doctor to assess for any physical health issues or vitamin deficiencies that could be impacting your mood.