FAQ
What can I expect from online therapy?
Once you have an appointment scheduled, my HIPAA compliant software will email you a link to our appointment shortly before our meeting. I know starting therapy and meeting someone new can be an anxiety provoking experience. I take a calm approach to our first session focusing on us getting to know each other and creating a safe, comfortable environment. I will explore what’s bringing you into therapy at this time, your hopes and goals for therapy, and any relevant history that may be helpful. I will explain your rights to confidentiality and answer any questions you may have. Based on our discussions from the first 1-3 meetings, I will provide feedback and collaboratively work with you to create a treatment plan based on your goals, needs, and history.
In future sessions I take a client-centered approach in which I prioritize your needs and session goals using interventions consistent with the main treatment plan. I will continually monitor your progress and adjust treatment based on your needs. I may also sometimes recommend alternatives or supplements such as EMDR, group therapy, couples therapy, or a referral to a psychiatrist.
Can therapy actually help me?
Therapy is an investment in yourself, and it is an act of self-care that can have beneficial and sustainable effects on your life and your mental health. Therapy provides you a space to understand and process through the challenges you’re facing and any difficult emotions you’re experiencing. It is also a space where you can learn how to use different tools to better manage your feelings of distress. Therapy may help you improve your ability to cope with life’s challenges, help you understand yourself on a deeper level, and give you the opportunity to create meaningful, lasting changes to feel more connected to your authentic self. For many people, therapy is a longer-term investment, and it works best when they, the client, are invested in the process. That’s why it’s so important to find the right fit in your therapist, as well as the type of therapy that will work best for you. I offer all interested prospective clients a free 15-minute phone call consultation to see if we are the right fit for each other.
How often will I need to come to therapy? How long will it take to feel better?
The length of time you’re in therapy with me will depend on a variety of things, including:
• your financial situation and how often you can attend therapy
• the severity or intensity of your current struggles
• whether you’re looking to address a single concern or work on multiple/deeper concerns
• how much time you’re able to dedicate to implementing new skills between sessions
Every person is unique, and their journey through therapy is unique, as well. The amount of time it takes to meet your therapy goals and feel better will depend on many of the above factors, as well as the circumstances, challenges, and supporting factors that you bring with you to therapy.
How much does it cost to work with you? Do you take insurance?
I do not accept insurance at this time. If you would like, I can provide you with the documentation required for you to submit to your insurance company for out of network reimbursement. You will also be provided with a Good Faith Estimate for the estimated cost of services. Please see the Service Investments tab for a more detailed list of cost for services.
Please note: if you wish to send a superbill to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement, this will mean that I will need to attach a diagnostic code (a diagnosis) to your bill. I am happy to explain more what this means for you during our sessions together. Additionally, some insurance companies require a copy of your records to approve reimbursement.
Do you have a sliding scale?
I do offer sessions on a sliding scale to a limited number of patients. Please contact me to see if there are spots available.
What happens if I need to cancel a session?
I kindly require that you cancel or reschedule your appointment 24 hours in advance. You will be responsible for the entire fee if cancellation is less than 24 hours. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. Your clinician will wait for you to arrive for up to 15 minutes after the scheduled start time of your session. If you fail to show or contact your clinician within this 15-minute window, your session will be considered a late cancel/no-show.
What are your hours?
Appointments are available Monday through Thursday from 12pm-9pm, central time. Appointments outside of these hours may be requested but cannot be guaranteed.
Are you available for after-hours or crisis situations?
I am not on-call for emergency resources and do not provide emergency services. If you or a loved one are in crisis, please go to your nearest emergency room or dial 911 for immediate assistance.
Do you offer in-person therapy?
I do not provide in-person therapy at this time. I offer 100% teletherapy services.
What is PSYPACT?
According to the PSYPACT FAQ webpage, “PSYPACT is an interstate compact designed to allow licensed psychologists to practice of telepsychology and conduct temporary in-person face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries legally and ethically without necessitating that an individual become licensed in every state to practice.”
Per the PSYPACT website, as of November 2023, the following states are included in the list of states serviced by PSYPACT members:
PSYPACT PARTICIPATING STATES
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Delaware, District of Columbia (DC), Florida, Georgia, 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
PSYPACT MAP
What are your values?
I enter a therapeutic relationship with my own core values and believe it is important to be transparent about my beliefs. My work is influenced by my stance of pro equality and diversity supporting viewpoints of anti-racism, body positivity, sex positivity, neurodiversity affirming, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights. Services are provided with dignity and respect. I affirm all people regardless of age, culture, differing ability levels, ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, health status, relationship status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
Will the things I talk about stay private?
What we talk about is our sessions will remain confidential per HIPAA guidelines and regulations. I am only able to share your information—which includes any personally identifying information, any diagnoses or treatment plans, evaluations, or treatment recommendations—if you give me explicit written and signed permission to do so. Some people choose to have their information shared to their primary healthcare provider, their psychiatrist, or other important people in their lives who they wish to include in their treatment.
However, there are a few situations where I must break confidentiality, where I may not be required to get your permission to do so.
Some of those situations include:
• If I have reason to believe you may seriously injure or kill yourself, or if you tell me you have intentions, plans, or the means to injure or kill yourself.
• If I have reason to believe you may seriously injure or kill someone else, or if you tell me you have intentions, plans, or the means to injure or kill someone else.
• If you inform me of a child or vulnerable/dependent adult who is being abused, or when I have reason to suspect that a child or vulnerable/dependent adult is being abused.
• When I am ordered by a judge to do so.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Psychologists provide psychotherapy, not medication. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in prescribing medication to manage mood disorders.