FAQ

My office is in a fantastic old house under a giant old oak – both of which have weathered many storms over its 100+ years in the community. I hope you find it warm and welcoming.

The driveway is shared with the Back 40 Urban Café, and our parking is in the back. Our entrance is through the back door.

Feel free to arrive a few minutes early and enjoy good music and a complimentary coffee or tea.

My fee per session is $150 for 50 minutes. See below for discount opportunities.

I am “in network” for most plans within Aetna and Cigna. I also accept cash, checks, as well as debit/credit/HSA cards. (There is a 3% processing fee for cards, so I encourage you to dig your checkbook out of the back of the drawer and save a few dollars!)  To see if your insurance plan is accepted, check here and look for the tab “Add Insurance.”

DISCOUNTS:
If you are a first responder or college student, I have a limited number of discounted spots available for $100/session. Please contact me to find out if there is availability.

I also offer a 6 session package at a savings of 20% ($720 instead of $900.) This can be purchased at any time. This bundle is non-refundable; however, it never expires and can be applied to other members of your immediate family.

I’m easy to access – you can call, text, or email for appointment information – or you can go directly to my online calendar and book there! My online calendar is real-time, so you’ll see exactly what your options are. If you don’t see what you want at that moment, check back, as adjustments are frequent. Your preferred time might open up.

When you make an appointment, you’ll get an email/text confirmation and a reminder 24 hours in advance. There will be a link provided that you can easily change your appointment or cancel. Of course, you can call, too!

Talking about things with your friends or family seems to help a little, sometimes; but it doesn’t make your problems go away. What’s the point in talking to a stranger?

Talking in therapy isn’t the same as talking with your friends or your family – in therapy you can be completely open without fear of judgment. You won’t have to explain yourself or hide your true struggles, because I have no reason to judge you or push you in one particular direction.

Therapy is 100% about you.

It is a guided tour into yourself where questions have meaning and purpose. It is a place to discover or even re-discover your strengths, or maybe to learn new skills and new perspectives. Talking with purpose helps you process the pain – which allows your brain to store the information in a different place without the intensity!

We not only process the fear, pain, worries, and the sadness – you’ll also leave with tangible and useful tools to use outside of therapy. These tools are things you can use long after you have left my office for life’s future challenges.

I understand choosing a therapist is a challenge at best, and disastrous at worst! I know what it’s like to sit across from someone and know within 10 minutes it’s not going to work. No one wants to feel trapped for an hour – AND then have to pay for it! I’d like to avoid this just as much as you do!

I offer a FREE 20-minute phone consultation to give us a chance to get to know each other a bit, which can help you decide if you want to move forward. There is no obligation at all – I won’t stalk you with phone calls or emails to try and lure you in. You are in control. Contact me to schedule the call.

Choosing someone you are comfortable with is critical. If you feel comfortable after the first call or meeting, we will schedule the next. If you don’t, that’s okay! I won’t bother you with follow-up requests. I respect your judgment and right to privacy.

I often hear people say they have butterflies before their first appointment – both from a little trepidation but also from excitement! I hope this will make your first visit more comfortable.

• Arrive a few minutes early to your appointment to fill in necessary forms. They’ll be waiting for you on a clipboard in our waiting room with your initials.
• I’ll come out to the waiting room to meet you at your appointment time.
• All sessions last 50 minutes.

We’ll talk about what brings you in, then we’ll go thru a questionnaire to help me get to know you as efficiently as possible in our first visit. You share with me as much as you are comfortable with. Before we end, we’ll try to identify your goals. Feel free to ask me any questions you have! I love it when people bring their notebooks!

It is always my intention for you to come away from the first visit with some helpful perspective and/or new tools, and above all else – hope! At about the 45-minute mark, we’ll summarize, talk about how to proceed, then I’ll collect payment at the end of the session. You can make the next appointment with me then, or you can go home and think about if you want to continue.

Canceling or rescheduling is easy! When you make your appointment, you’ll get an email and/or text confirming. In addition, you’ll get a reminder 24 hours in advance. Using either of those contacts, you will find a link where you can reschedule and find other options or cancel altogether.

My cancellation policy is the standard 24-hours before your appointment time. If you cancel within that window, the full fee is charged. The reason for this is that I have limited availability, and missing that appointment often means someone else missed an opportunity to have that spot.

If there is an emergency that is beyond your control, please contact me to discuss!

You do NOT need to be a Christian, or even religious at all, to see me for therapy! Religion and spirituality are only a part of therapy as you dictate.

I will ask if you have a spiritual background at our first meeting; and if you do not, then that is the last you’ll hear of it. Even if you have a religious background but don’t want it to be a part of your sessions, that is fine, too. You’re in charge!

If you are a Christian, then it means you will have someone who understands your worldview. We will look at your issues through the lens of your values, wherever you stand in your Christian journey. I’ll reference your beliefs, possibly provide an applicable biblical reference as they come up, and I’ll certainly pray for you outside of therapy. I will NOT preach at you, shame you, or make you feel guilty for not following “the rules.”

Oh yes! Even therapists have a therapist – we believe that everyone can benefit from a different perspective.

I am 51 years old – I have been to a few different therapists over the years. I know from experience that some are helpful, and some are not! When I finally asked for help, I wanted answers right away. I didn’t like all the get-to-know-you stuff in the beginning. I also didn’t want to go around town telling everyone my secrets until I found the right therapist. I have also interviewed other therapists for my kids, before I ever brought them in, to make sure I found the person safe and trustworthy.

I know the challenges of finding the right person.This is why I offer a phone consult upfront, to help you get to know me a little and help you decide to move forward.

As a therapist, I have still, at times, found it hard to ask for help. Maybe even more so, as there is that little voice in our heads that tell us we “should” be able to handle it ourselves. Yet, I remind myself that humans were made for a relationship – that I have strengths that others don’t have, and others have strengths that I don’t have.

I have come to appreciate the value of a neutral third party or the different perspective of a trusted friend! It’s hard for me to ask for help, too – but I am so rewarded when I do!

If you want to! You can kick off your shoes and curl up, snuggle with a pillow, or sit properly if you’d like. I’ve even had someone prefer my chair – that’s fine, too!

You can come in your workout gear or your business suit! You can bring a drink or help yourself to our coffee/tea. I even have some things to fidget with while we talk.

This is a space for you. My primary concern is that you feel comfortable.