Frequently Asked Questions

I utilize Simple Practice, a secure website for scheduling, storing your protected health information, and videoconferencing. Prior to our first session, you can set up an account in the patient portal. There you can view upcoming appointments, get reminders, submit a payment, and click a link to join the telehealth session. The video and audio system is HIPAA-compliant, meaning your information is safe and secure according to federal guidelines.

Research has shown that telehealth is just as effective as in-person treatment for most presenting concerns. Plus it’s more convenient, and you can probably continue with your same provider if you are traveling or move to another state. 

I can legally and ethically provide online therapy to clients who are physically located in the U.S. in the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

The length of therapy can be difficult to estimate, especially at the start of treatment. Each person is different, and some presenting concerns can take longer to change. Many clients begin to see improvements in 6-10 sessions, but some clients do attend therapy for over a year.

Mental health is similar to physical healh in some ways. It is an investment of your time and energy towards your current and future functioning. The more you commit to trying to practice using skills between sessions, the more likely you are to see improvement. And of course there is no obvious end to self-improvement, but at some point you will believe that you have made an adequate amount of progress, given your initial goals. We will discuss your progress and goals on an ongoing basis throughout treatment, with the goal of you feeling as if you can manage your mental health on your own. 

The initial session is typically about 60 minutes, where we can get to know each other, identify goals, and develop a treatment plan. Subsequent sessions are usually 50-55 minutes.

For most clients, weekly sessions are the most beneficial when starting treatment. This allows us the time to discuss current concerns, as well as explore their connection to past behavior patterns and earlier life experiences. As progress is made towards goals, we usually plan to meet less frequently and work towards maintaining treatment gains.

Often former clients briefly return for a few sessions, sometimes even years after initial treatment, if they are experiencing something difficult in their lives or just want some help getting back on track. Other clients choose to continue on a monthly basis in order to focus on maintaining treatment gains and problem-solving any challenges that arise. We will have ongoing conversations about what plan may be most helpful for you towards the end of initial treatment. 

The first session is a time for us to get to know each other, as well as for me to get more information about your current concerns and history in order to develop a treatment plan. If you would like to have some notes about your concerns or goals, that is always welcome. But you don’t need to prepare for the first session in advance. If you’re not sure what to talk about, I’ll ask you questions. But if there’s something that you definitely want to talk about, let me know. It’s that straightforward.

Also, it’s okay if you’re not ready to provide some details about your past or something traumatic that you may have experienced. Just let me know that and we can cover anything important in future sessions. It’s normal to be nervous about meeting your therapist and talking about yourself, especially if you’ve never participated in therapy before. My goal is to answer any questions that you have and help to make you feel more comfortable. 

Ultimately, therapy is about figuring out how to improve your mental health to improve your life. That may mean learning new skills to manage challenges, uncovering unhelpful patterns oleft over from childhood, sitting with uncomfortable emotions, challenging unhelpful beliefs about yourself, and processing life experiences. Many people just appreciate having consistent support and validation as they’re going through a difficult time. Each person is different, and each week is different. That‘s why I utilize a variety of research-supported treatment interventions and meet each client where they are at.

The “homework” that I assign may involve something concrete, like tracking a behavior or completing a worksheet, but may also involve practicing a new behavior or being aware of something throughout the week. The more you practice what we talk about outside of session, the more you continue your progress! And I am always open to feedback, so if you want sessions to be more structured or less structured, you just need to let me know. It’s your time, energy, and money, so it should be as helpful as possible. Psychotherapy is a shared and collaborative process, and mutual feedback is integral to that process.