Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my child might need therapy?

It’s a little different for everyone. Some signs that your child might need some help from a professional are when your child feelings or behaviors begin to negatively impact their sleep, school, appetite, relationships with friends and loved ones, or  their behavior choices/extreme behaviors. If you find that your parenting efforts aren’t helping your child's feelings and behaviors get better or even that things seem hopeless – these are also pretty strong indicators that it’s time to seek out a trained professional to help.

Why shouldn’t you try to just work through this on my own.

The decision to get help can actually be extremely difficult for many people. It takes courage, but it puts you back in control of your child's behavior and mental wellbeing. Even this small action step of reaching out can have a surprisingly positive effect on your outlook!

What does professional therapy provide?

Professional counseling gives you or your child, an opportunity to share, but also to gain new understanding and perspective. Therapy will help with setting achievable goals for behaviors we want to change. Through getting to the root of our behavior and mental health issues, we can apply learning teaching techniques to help us thrive. Getting help for your mental health should not be emotionally draining and tedious task, and luckily it’s not! 

What happens in a therapy session?

Since the needs and goals of every client are different, therapy sessions vary in format and approach. Sometimes clients come with an agenda or specific things they’d like to talk about. Other times, people have a success story, an emotion that’s bothering them, or just a vague feeling or thought they can’t shake. Sessions progress based on the needs of the client at the time, but active participation and collaboration is important. In addition to in-session discussion and activities, we might encourage an outside activity or assignment that we discuss later (like reading a book, or keeping a journal). Ultimately, the goal is to identify the areas where change or help is needed, set realistic objectives, and to equip you with resources and strategies for both near-term and long-term success.

Do I have to share things I don’t want to?

Certain topics or stories can be difficult to share, and that’s normal and OK.  Clients don’t have to share anything they don’t want to. It’s important to build a trusting relationship between therapist and client, but our sessions always progress at a pace that you, the client, is ready for. 

How long does it take?

Because therapy is tailored to a specific person, and the goals and challenges that person is facing, there’s no pre-defined period of time for ongoing therapy sessions. Sometimes incredible progress is made in mere minutes, but it’s not uncommon for therapy to span several sessions over a period of weeks or months. Individual sessions are 60 minutes in length.

Is this covered by my insurance?

At this time, I am only accepting Cash or credit card transactions, however, I plan to take insurance in the near future. Helpful Advice if you want your sessions covered by insurance: Coverage varies greatly, but my services may be covered in part or in full by your insurance provider. Please contact your HMO or health insurance plan to learn more about what your plan covers. Below are some questions that are helpful to ask:

• Do my insurance benefits include mental health services?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• Will I be required to pay a copay?
• Is there a limit to the number of sessions per year my plan covers?
• What is my deductible?
• Do I need to get approval from my primary care physician?

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

If you need to cancel your appointment, please inform me by email, at least 24 hours in advance of your session. Sessions canceled with less than 24 hours notice will be subject to charge. 

Are therapy sessions confidential?

Yes. The clients privacy is important to us, and you can trust that our sessions, as well as any of your personal information, is always held in the strictest of confidence. Additionally, anything a client transmits over our website is highly secure, and stored data is HIPAA-compliant.

Confidential information disclosed in private therapy sessions is legally protected. However, there are some exceptions to this, including instances of suspected child or elder abuse, or when a client presents a serious danger of violence toward himself or herself or another person. If you’d like to learn more about our ethical standards and privileged communication exceptions, our office can provide additional information.