Frequently Asked Questions
Are you currently accepting new clients?
Yes, I currently have one space available for a new client.
Will we meet in person, or virtually?
Sessions are in person except in cases of inclement weather, illness, or extenuating circumstances. If it is not safe to travel or either of us is experiencing any symptoms of cold/flu/Covid-19, we will meet virtually on Zoom. The version of Zoom we will use is HIPAA-compliant to ensure your privacy. Clients with chronic illness may find the option to meet virtually helpful in the event that their symptoms preclude them from traveling to the office, but they are feeling well enough to participate in a session. Telehealth is a great resource for us to ensure your access to therapy when the unexpected comes up. But generally speaking, I don’t offer all-virtual therapy, so plan to come regularly in person.
How much will therapy cost?
Rates
Phone Consultation, 15 min Free
First Intake Session, 60 min $200
Regular Session, 50 min $175
Insurance
I’m out-of-network with insurance companies. I partner with Mentaya, a platform that automatically submits claims to your insurance company for every therapy session you attend, making the process of getting reimbursed for out-of-network therapy completely hands-off for you. If you have out-of-network benefits, you should be eligible to be reimbursed for 30–80% of the cost of therapy after you’ve met your out-of-network deductible. In exchange for handling the claims submission process for you, Mentaya charges a fee of 5% of the claim amount (5% of $175 = $8.75 fee charged per claim). Once you sign up, you don’t have to do anything else — you will receive the reimbursement you are owed directly from your insurance company when they have finished processing each claim. To check if you have out-of-network benefits and find out exactly how much your insurance will reimburse, use the free benefit checker — it takes about 1 minute.
I only recommend companies that will truly benefit my clients and that I believe to operate ethically and transparently. You don’t have to use Mentaya to get reimbursed — you can do it yourself for free if you’d like. Using Mentaya’s service is 100% optional, and as your therapist I do not benefit in any way from your participation. If you intend to use out-of-network insurance benefits, it’s also important to know that whether you submit the claims yourself or sign up for Mentaya, insurance companies only reimburse for treatment they consider “medically necessary.” This means your insurance will likely only reimburse you for therapy if you meet diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder, and this diagnosis will be shared with your insurance, just like physical diagnoses are shared when you go to a doctor’s appointment.
Other Ways to Save
Other ways to save on therapy include taking advantage of programs offered by your employer. By using a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) card to pay for therapy, you can save 20–30% since the money in these accounts is not subject to income tax. Some employers also reimburse employees for the cost of therapy, up to a pre-determined benefit amount. Check with your workplace to see if any of these benefits are available to you.
Payment Methods
I accept debit and credit cards, including HSA/FSA cards. I am not able to accept cash payments or payment via apps such as Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle.
Other Considerations
Lastly, as you consider investing your time and money in yourself by going to therapy, it is helpful to know that every couple months I am out of the office for about a week at a time, totaling about 9 weeks of office closure per year. In addition, clients typically cancel 3-8 sessions per year due to travel, illness, and scheduling conflicts. Due to these missed sessions, a commitment to weekly meetings actually comes out, on average, to meeting about 3x/month.
What will the process of starting therapy be like? And how long will therapy last?
A good fit between therapist and client is the most important determiner of how well therapy will work for you. It’s hard to be vulnerable and grow if you’re working with someone you feel doesn’t “get it”, or a therapist who only uses approaches that sound unappealing to you. Before you commit to coming for an appointment, we’ll start with a free 15-minute consultation call so we can both get a feel for whether it might be a good fit. If not, I’m happy to provide referrals for other providers who might be a better fit. My biggest priority is for you to start off on the right foot with the right therapist for you, whether that therapist is me or not.
If you decide to schedule an initial intake appointment, that first appointment will last 60 minutes. I will send you an invitation to sign up for the Client Portal and complete intake paperwork, which must be done 24 hours before your appointment. After your first appointment, future appointments will be 50 minutes long.
Once we’ve gotten the ball rolling, my approach aims to help you get to the root of the symptoms or challenges you're having so you can experience transformative, lasting benefits from therapy. Different from solutions-focused therapy or brief therapy – which often focuses on problem solving, recommends new coping skills, and lasts 2 to 4 months – my clients describe the work as “going deep.” Though there are no “quick fixes” for any of us, how long therapy will take really depends on each individual and their goals. Therapy may last anywhere from several months to a few years. My clients typically spend 12–24 months attending therapy on a weekly basis. My office is closed for approximately 9 weeks throughout the year, and you’ll have to cancel sometimes, too, so there’s always breaks here and there, even in weekly therapy.
You can always decide to stop therapy at any time. That will always be true! I have also found it to be true that the best part of a therapeutic relationship is the unique opportunity it presents to work through any hesitations or conflicts you might feel that would normally result in an untimely ending to a relationship. Although relieving of discomfort in the short term, the decision to end therapy abruptly is often fueled by emotion: we flee only because we feel there is no other way through the conflict, which doesn’t help build capacity for relationship in the long term. If at any point you are feeling dissatisfied or experience the urge to flee from therapy, you don’t have to keep it to yourself or struggle with it alone. I very warmly welcome you to share any concerns about me or your progress in therapy as we work together. In fact, these moments are often when the best work happens!
Can I come to therapy on a biweekly or monthly basis?
Given the concerns my clients typically bring to therapy, I’ve found weekly sessions to be clinically appropriate and most beneficial for at least the first 6 months of therapy. Most of my clients feel it is appropriate to come weekly until they are ready to end therapy altogether. However, if after 6+ months of meeting weekly a client and I agree it may be appropriate to reduce frequency of sessions, we explore the pros and cons and arrive at a decision that feels right. If a client has been coming to therapy biweekly and feels ready for another reduction in frequency, we can schedule sessions on an as-needed basis, depending on availability. This is rare, however, as clients are typically ready to discontinue therapy altogether by that time.
I strongly encourage potential clients who are interested in biweekly or monthly therapy primarily due to financial constraints to begin therapy with a therapist who provides services at a rate that would not create hardship to attend on a more regular basis, in case more frequent sessions are needed to make the progress they desire. Since therapy is not a quick fix, but usually a slow and deeply personal process, this maximizes clients’ freedom and flexibility to attend and eventually discontinue therapy on a timeline that aligns with their true needs, rather than experiencing financial pressure to end therapy before they are ready. That being said, I know that affordable care is increasingly difficult to access within our very flawed healthcare system. Open Path Collective is one available resource that helps connect clients with therapists who are able to provide services at a cost of $30-$70 per session.
What else do I need to know before I come?
The health, well-being, and comfort of everyone who walks through the door is my first priority. In service of this, please read the information below:
Fragrance-Free Policy
Please do not wear any products that contain fragrance to sessions, including perfumes, colognes, scented lotions or hand sanitizers. Health conditions like asthma, migraine headaches, chemical sensitivities, and allergies are worsened by contact with fragrances, so if you are unsure whether a product is too fragrant to wear, please err on the side of caution and leave it off.
Sick Policy
If you are experiencing even mild symptoms of cold, flu, or Covid-19, I require that we meet via telehealth. Just send me a message, and I’ll provide a telehealth meeting link.
Accessibility & Parking Information
The building has a free parking lot and you may park in any space. There are two disability parking spaces located closest to the entrance, but please note the loading space is not quite large enough for a van ramp if you are a wheelchair user and traveling alone. There are no steps to enter the lobby. From the lobby, take either the elevator or staircase to the second floor. Once on the second floor, my office (located in Suite 230) is on the left side of the hallway. I am happy to assist in any way needed.
There are two gendered restrooms available for use on this floor. Unfortunately, the building does not have any gender-neutral facilities.
Lighting in my office is soft, and fluorescent lighting is never used. Lighting can always be adjusted as needed, so please feel free to ask. Blankets, heating pads, and ice packs are available to maximize comfort during sessions.
