Is what I talk about with you confidential?

Yes. What you tell me is confidential within the limits of the law. I abide by HIPAA privacy regulations and the ethical code of the National Association of Social Workers. This essentially means that what you tell me is confidential unless you are a threat to yourself or someone else. You will be given a copy of the privacy policy at our first session.

Will I be able to contact you after office hours?

Yes. I am available to talk with you in-between our sessions at no extra cost to you. I can be contacted via phone or via HIPAA secure email on the counseling website. I do not have emergency on-call answering services, so if you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

How long does therapy take?

Our sessions are an hour long. With therapy, there usually is no set length of treatment. Therapy can last anywhere from one session to several months or even years. It all depends on what you want and need. Some people come to therapy with a very specific problem they need to solve and might find that one or two sessions is sufficient. Other people come to therapy with more complicated issues and may feel they need a few months or more to understand and resolve their issues. Other people come with long-standing problems or difficult feelings and may benefit from longer-term therapy. In my practice, generally I start seeing people once a week for about a month. After that, some clients continue coming in weekly, while others move to every other week and some eventually transition to once a month. I’ve had people who transition out of therapy and come back in once or twice a year for a “tune up” or for a series of sessions to address a specific concern that has come up.

Do you work with young children?

No. I only work with adults over the age of 18.

Do you prescribe medications?

No. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and am unable to prescribe medications. If we determine that medication may be helpful for you, I can provide you with a referral to a qualified psychiatrist and coordinate care with that doctor for you.

What type of counseling do you do?

Research has shown that it is our relationship that has the greatest influence on your success in therapy. I will make you feel safe and support you to make changes that you’d like to make in your life. I utilize two primary philosophical models of psychotherapy: psychodynamic and the strengths perspective. The psychodynamic approach is based on the belief that your childhood experiences affect your adult life and may keep you stuck in old patterns of thinking and behavior that no longer work for you. The strengths perspective emphasizes your strengths, capacities, talents, competencies, possibilities, visions and hopes. You will feel empowered to make the changes you wish to make!

Do you take insurance for individual counseling?

One of the many benefits of being a client of mine is freedom from mandates that insurance companies place on the client-therapist relationship. These include limits on the type and amount of care you can receive, and may even require me to diagnose you with a mental disorder for reimbursement. Most insurance plans will still reimburse you for a portion of your counseling or therapy fees (for an out of plan provider). If requested, I will give you a monthly statement with a diagnosis and treatment code for these purposes.

How do I pay for my sessions?

You will be able to pay online via paypal, credit card, or your HSA card. Some people prefer that I hold their credit card information and charge them accordingly after each session.

Can we do individual counseling online?

Yes! I meet with people on my HIPAA secure counseling site. As long as you have a webcam and microphone, we will be able to see and hear one another as if we were in the office. Online counseling is convenient. You no longer have to travel to see me!