General FAQs
Therapy FAQs
How can I do online therapy if I don’t have any privacy in my home?
I’ve gone to therapy before and it wasn’t helpful, how will this be different?
I’m nervous to start therapy. What should I expect during the intake session?
I’m ready to start therapy and think you will be a good fit! What are the next steps?
General FAQs
What ages do you work with?
I work with people ages 18 and up. The majority of clients I work with are in their late teens to early 40s.
What are your fees?
Initial Intake Appointment - $220
Individual Therapy Session - $180
Psychodiagnostic Assessment - $1,200
What is your schedule? do you have any weekend or evening appointments?
My schedule is currently in the process of being adjusted so please reach out to me directly to inquire about my availability.
What is your cancellation policy?
I require a minimum of 24 hours notice to cancel therapy appointments and 48 hours notice to cancel assessment appointments. Late cancellations and “no-shows” are charged the full session fee.
What payment methods do you accept?
I process payments using Stripe, which accepts all major credit cards and HSA & FSA cards. All appointments are charged to the credit card you have on file at the time of your appointment.
Do you prescribe medication?
No, prescribing medication falls outside of my scope of practice as a registered clinical psychologist. If you are seeking medication for mental health concerns, you may want to talk with your general practitioner or family doctor. Psychiatrists and Nurse Practitioners are also able to prescribe medication.
What is the difference between a psychologist and other mental health professionals?
Psychologists typically hold a master's or doctoral degree in psychology and are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health issues through various therapeutic techniques. They often focus on understanding behavior and mental processes. Other mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, are medical doctors who can prescribe medication and focus primarily on the biological aspects of mental health. Social workers and counselors can provide support and therapy but typically do not have the same level of training in psychological assessment and therapy as psychologists.
Therapy FAQs
How do I know if I need therapy?
If you are on this page, I'm guessing there is something that led you here - some reason you feel like you need a little help, guidance, or support. Therapy might help you!
Some common reasons people seek out help from a psychologist include:
You are feeling overwhelmed with difficult emotions.
You’ve had a recent major life stressor that you need help working through.
You don’t feel as productive as before, you are feeling stuck, or don’t know how to move forward with your life.
Worry is getting in the way of having a fulfilling life.
Friends and family are noticing a change in your behavior and are expressing concern.
You are having frequent crying spells, are feeling really sad for an extended period of time, or are no longer interested in doing the things you previously enjoyed.
You want to work on improving your communication within relationships and learn how to set better boundaries.
How long will i need to be in therapy?
There is no one size fits all answer to this question because each client comes in with their own unique concerns. However, I can tell you that it will take time to reach your goals and there are no overnight solutions. In general, this is a typical timeline of the therapeutic process: Sessions 1-3 build a foundation (identify goals, develop a plan, begin taking action steps), sessions 4-12 is where people often begin to make noticeable improvements (you may achieve some or all of your goals), and session 13 and beyond are where you see more lasting change and have space to resolve longer-standing concerns.
Do you offer in-person, video, or phone sessions?
At this time, I am a completely online practice and do not offer in-person appointments. I offer video sessions on Zoom. I will conduct a phone session in an emergency, however as a rule, I do not feel phone sessions are sufficient, nor do they guarantee privacy.
How can I do online therapy if I don’t have any privacy in my home?
Some of my clients will sit in their car or garden for more privacy. Sometimes my uni students will be able to use a private study room on campus. I encourage you to connect to me from a secure network, and will work in whatever environment you feel most comfortable.
I’ve gone to therapy before and it wasn’t helpful, how will this be different?
It is normal and common to feel that you did not benefit from therapy in the past. It can take trying a few different therapists to find the right fit for you. Finding the right fit is one of the most important factors of your experience in therapy. I encourage you to take advantage of consultation phone calls. If you feel comfortable, go ahead and schedule an intake session. Depending how you feel afterwards, you get to decide if you want to move forward with that therapist.
Some other thoughts about how to make the therapeutic process different include:
Think about what wasn’t helpful before, and possibly what was helpful, and communicate that to your new therapist.
Make sure that you are applying what you are learning in session during the rest of the week. Change takes time and new skills need to be practiced before they become a habit.
Actively participating and coming to session prepared makes a big difference! Therapy is not easy, and you will get out of it what you put into it.
Don’t be afraid to give feedback to your therapist about how therapy is going. You won’t hurt our feelings if you say that you don’t like a particular approach or if a strategy just isn’t your cup of tea. Therapy is a safe place to practice communicating your needs.
If we work together and you end up feeling that I am not a good fit, please let me know! I will not take offense. I will be happy to work with you to try and fix the problem or help you find someone that may be a better fit.
I’m nervous to start therapy. What should I expect during the intake session?
The initial intake session is scheduled for a 60-minute block of time and it looks quite different from a typical therapy session. We will start off the session by reviewing the intake paperwork that you filled out before the session (make sure to fill this out at least 24 hours prior to your appointment). I will also answer any questions you may have. The majority of the appointment will be spent with me asking you a lot of questions about your background. We will talk about things like your family relationships, what school was like for you as a kid, the types of friends you typically spend time with, employment history, and any emotional struggles that you may be dealing with. If we have time at the end, we will start formulating some goals you have for therapy?
What should I expect a therapy session to look like?
Individual therapy appointments are typically about 50 minutes long. Sessions may look a bit different for everyone. They may even look different week to week, depending on your specific needs that day. The general structure looks like this:
I’ll ask you for an update on your mood and any changes in symptoms.
I’ll ask if there were any major events that happened over the past week that you want to share or if there is anything coming up in the next week that you are anticipating.
I’ll ask if there is anything you would like to discuss to help you have a better week.
We may work on skill building, such as learning techniques to manage stress, communicate more assertively, or cope with overwhelming emotions.
We may explore patterns in your thoughts, behaviors, relationships, etc. and determine ways in which those patterns are helpful for you and unhelpful for you. When we find an unhelpful pattern, we will work towards a resolution.
The last five minutes of the session is reserved for reviewing material from the session, setting goals for the upcoming week, last minute questions, and scheduling.
I’m ready to start therapy and think you will be a good fit. What are the next steps?
That’s great! Please reach out to further discuss your needs. At that time we will briefly discuss what prompted you to seek out therapy, you can ask any questions you may have about the process, and we can make sure that I am a good fit for your needs.
Assessment FAQs
How do I know if I need an assessment?
People who are interested in an assessment often call me saying “I know something isn’t right and I don’t know where to start.” A psychodiagnostic assessment can help bring clarity to better understand the “why” behind your behaviors and emotions. If you are struggling with symptoms like depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, poor concentration, stress, low motivation, hyperactivity, or addiction, a psychodiagnostic assessment can likely provide helpful insight about diagnosis and treatment planning.
Do you provide custody evaluations?
No, I do not provide custody evaluation and I am not able to make any sort of recommendations regarding custody in my psychological assessments.
Do you provide assessments to diagnose learning disabilities?
No, I am not currently providing neuropsychological or psychoeducational assessments to diagnose learning disabilities.
What does the process for an assessment look like?
The process of the assessment typically involves one or two assessment appointments followed up with a feedback session approximately two weeks later. At the assessment appointments, a semi-structured interview will be done to gather information about your medical, family, social, and educational background, as well as mental health history and current symptoms. You will also complete standardized questionnaires related to personality and emotional functioning. If consent is given, I may contact specific family members, partners, or medical professionals to gather additional data about your symptoms. During the 30-minute feedback session, I will present the results and report to you. You will leave that session with a lengthy written report that includes all background information, tests, scores, meaning of scores, impressions, diagnoses, and recommendations.
I’m ready to get started with an assessment. What are the next steps?
That’s great! Please reach out to further discuss your needs. At that time we will briefly discuss what prompted you to seek out an assessment, you can ask any questions you may have about the process, and we can make sure that I am a good fit for your needs.