How can therapy help me?

Psychotherapy can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marital issues, and the overall stress and strain of daily life. A therapist can not only help you develop better problem-solving skills and coping strategies for a myriad of issues but can also give you a fresh perspective on longstanding problems.

Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand. In therapy you can learn ways to avoid triggers, change damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.

Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?

People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy.   Some may be going through a major life transition or need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions OR relationship problems.  Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective in achieving their goals in life.

What is therapy like?

Due to the fact that each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy sessions will be different depending on the individual.  In general you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history as relevant to your issue, and report progress or new insights from the previous therapy session.  Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule weekly or twice-weekly sessions.  You will get the most out of your therapy sessions when you actively participate in the process. As the ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process.

What about medication vs. psychotherapy?

It is well established that the long-term solution to emotional problems cannot be provided by medication alone. Rather than the solely focusing on treating symptoms, therapy addresses the cause of distress and can uncover the behavior patterns that get in the way of your progress.  In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.

Do you take insurance, and how does that work?

Sorry, I do not accept health insurance.  However I can provide you documentation to submit to your insurance company if you have out-of-network benefits.

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. I will provide you with a written copy of our confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone.  This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want me to share information or update someone on your healthcare team but by law I cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

It’s important to note, however, that state law and professional ethics which require therapists to maintain confidentiality is waived in the following situations:

* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.

Rates

$220 per session for a one hour session. Sliding scale arrangement is possible.
Payment is expected at time of visit.

Payment

Cash, check and all major credit cards accepted.

Cancellation Policy

My cancellation policy requires a 24 hour advance notification. Otherwise late cancellations or missed sessions will require you to pay the full cost of the session.

Contact

Questions? Please contact me for further information.

If possible, please complete the following form and bring it to your first therapy session. Please click the link to download the pdf form.

Client Intake Form