Frequently Asked Questions
You can call me or email me through the contact page on this site. I do my best to reply to calls and emails within 24 hours during the work week. I do not have a receptionist so if you leave a message, its just for me and I will be calling you back myself.
Whether you call or email, I will call you back to give us a chance to talk about your needs. This gives you the opportunity to hear me, ask questions and get a feel for whether I might be a good “fit” for you. During this call we’ll discuss any questions you may have about insurance and whether we can find a time that will work for your schedule. If during this call we decide I am not the best fit for you, I can give you additional referrals.
You will receive a welcome email. This email will include a link to a client portal in Simple Practice, a HIPAA compliant secure online platform. Here you can enter your information, review and electronically sign consent forms. If you have insurance other than HMSA or paying for sessions out of pocket, Simple Practice is also the platform we’ll use for our online sessions.
As part of the intake process, you’ll complete an Amen Questionnnaire. You’ll indicate how often you experience some of the common issues that bring people to therapy. We’ll use the questionnaire to assess how you’re doing when we begin working together and your progress throughout treatment.
In the first and second session we will do a thorough review of what’s going on in your life and how you’re feeling. You can share information about your past, your present and your goals for the future.
We’ll create a treatment plan. We’ll discuss your goals and how often we’ll meet to address them.
We’ll discuss coordinating care. I can collaborate with your other providers if you have them (physician, psychiatrist, past therapist) to best serve you or give you referrals if other providers would be helpful to our work together.
You’ll complete a short assessment when we begin. You’ll complete the same assessment periodically so we can measure progress.
While therapy is not school, I do provide things to think about or write about between sessions. You may find having a notebook is helpful during our work together.
Our first session will be about 70 minutes and subsequent sessions will be 50 minutes. Attending sessions regularly is important to make progress towards your goals. We’ll find a weekly or bi-weekly time slot and this will be your time unless a conflict arises.
Please be on time for your appointment. If you’re running late, just let me know. I do my best to start and end appointments on time.
Everyone's therapy needs are different. We’ll review your created goals as we work together.
Therapy can be longer-term if you are addressing more challenging patterns or want on ongoing space to address life as it unfolds.
Therapy can be short-term for a specific issue. As you feel more calm, balanced and connected you may want to meet less frequently or discontinue regular sessions and take that 50 minutes to do something just for you.
In the event that you need to cancel a scheduled appointment, I ask that you notify me 24 hours in advance. I have reserved this time for you and would like the opportunity to offer your cancelled appointment time to another clients who may be waiting. If you do not attend your appointment or cancel on the same day, I do charge a $150 fee.