Frequently Asked Questions

I utilize Simple Practice, a website for scheduling and securely storing your information. 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. If you prefer to use Zoom, we can also meet on a HIPAA+compliant version.

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 provide online therapy to clients who are physically located in the U.S. in any of 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

Wyoming

The length of therapy can be difficult to estimate, especially at the start of treatment. Each person is different, and some presenting concerns 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. The more you commit to focusing on your mental health and practice using skills between sessions, the more likely you are to see improvement. And there is no end to 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 remaining goals throughout treatment.

The initial session is typically 60 minutes, where we can get to know each other, identify goals, and develop a treatment plan. Following sessions are usually 45 minutes.

For most clients, weekly sessions are most beneficial when starting treatment. As progress is made towards goals, we usually meet less frequently.

Many of my clients briefly return for a few sessions, sometimes years after initial treatment, if they are experiencing something difficult in their lives or just want some help getting back on track. 

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. Its 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. 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 done therapy before. My goal is to answer any questions that you have and help to make you feel more comfortable. 

Individual therapy sessions with me are usually a combination of processing thoughts and feelings about current or past experiences, as well as learning new skills to manage challenges. So there are some sessions where you talk more, and some sessions where I talk more. 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.