Do you see clients virtually or in person?

That is totally up to you! I work out of my office at Inner Balance Counseling in Poncey-Highlands Monday-Thursday, and you’re welcome to schedule in person or virtual sessions. We can even switch it up as needed.

What will our sessions look like?

At our initial meeting, we will discuss your therapy goals, reasons for seeking therapy, and any other topics you wish to cover. I believe in a collaborative approach to therapy, but ultimately, you are in control of each session. Building a trusting and collaborative relationship takes time, and that's no different in a therapeutic setting. As we work together and become better acquainted, you will gain new perspectives, develop new skills, and assess your progress. Some sessions may be more structured, while others may be a space for you to process life. I encourage feedback and redirection as part of our collaboration.

Do you accept insurance and what should I do if I cannot afford your rate?

Let’s call out how bad our healthcare system is - I believe that therapy should be financially accessible to everyone, but unfortunately working with insurance providers is something most therapists are unable to do while also ensuring that clients have a right to full privacy and direction of care. Therapists also often struggle to ensure their own financial security when working with predatory insurance companies who reimburse poorly, require hours of unpaid administrative work to submit claims, and all to often deny claims or clap back. I do not accept insurance, however, I can provide you with Superbills for out-of-network reimbursement requests, and many clients find that reimbursement rates make therapy affordable even when using out-of-network providers.

I maintain a set of sliding scale spaces at all times, but if these are full, you have options to find lower cost therapy.

Open Path Collective is an online directory which can connect you with therapists with sliding scale availability and their rates range from about $30-$80 per session.

Don’t overlook working with therapist interns - many therapist interns bring a vast life experience, new career enthusiasm, up to date research knowledge, and affordable rates to their practices. Most intern fees are about $75 per session. Interns also receive ongoing support and supervision from seasoned clinicians. Inner Balance Counseling (where my office is located) currently has a wonderful intern on staff that I can recommend working with.

The Powerful Project is a wonderful organization that offers scholarships for mental health care.

How long will I need to be in therapy?

Therapy is a personalized experience, as every individual is unique. During our sessions, we will discuss any specific goals that you have in mind and we will assess your needs. For instance, if you are facing acute anxiety due to a stressful situation, we can work on developing skills to make you feel better. However, if you have been living with years of negative thought patterns and trauma responses, achieving your desired level of life satisfaction will likely require more therapy.

What is EMDR? ERP? ACT? Why so many acronyms?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (and yes, it’s okay if you call it EDMR instead). EMDR is a type of trauma therapy that helps folks stop reacting to triggers that activate painful moments from the past. I use EMDR with complex and acute trauma to help clients live in the present. EMDR uses a specific process of memory activation and bilateral stimulation to reprocess and desensitize painful past experiences and associated negative thoughts and feelings that exist in the present and keep us stuck. It’s very different than talk therapy and can be incredibly transformative. Read more about it here.

ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I loosely incorporate elements of ACT into my practice, using it to highlight client values (what is important to you), what is keeping you stuck, and how to move past the stuckness.

ERP stands for Exposure and Response Prevention. I am trained in this modality to help clients seek relief from anxiety, rumination, and OCD. ERP is the gold standard intervention for anxiety and OCD.

It might also be helpful to know that specific modalities are absolutely really helpful and appropriate for some folks, but the MOST important part of therapy is the relationship that you have with your therapist. Without trust, safety, and easy rapport, other interventions are less successful. When selecting a therapist, vibes really do matter.

What about COVID safety precautions?

I am not actively requiring masks or other precautions in sessions. That said, I do stay up-to-date on vaccines. I am more than happy to wear a mask in session or conduct to virtual sessions if requested. I ask that if you have recently had COVID-19 or a known exposure to please follow the CDC’s guidelines on isolation. This applies to other contagious viruses as well. If you suspect that you might be sick with covid or any other contagious illness, please contact me to conduct our session virtually or to reschedule without being charged a cancellation fee. As a therapist, I maintain a responsibility to public health efforts to keep others, especially vulnerable and immunocompromised folks, healthy where I have the ability to implement safe practices.

What is your cancellation policy?

Things happen! You can cancel or reschedule until 24 hours before your appointment without being charged a fee. Cancellations within 24 hours of your appointment will be charged at your full normal rate. Use your client portal to cancel or reschedule, or send me a message. If you’re sick, please let me know and we will either conduct our session virtually or reschedule based on your needs. It is always my goal to work with you to avoid the cancellation fee when possible.