FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
My fee for a standard 50 minute therapy session is $100. I choose to operate as a fee for service or out of network provider. I have many reasons for that decision but the foremost has to do with my own passion as a therapist, which is working with couples. Most insurance providers do not cover couples counseling and if a couple does seek out counseling, one of the clients must be diagnosed with a mental illness in order to receive treatment. This is fundamentally at odds with how I think about couples therapy. That is, I see it as a great sign of health and courage when a couple decides to seek out help with their relationship. I absolutely disagree with the notion that the couple or one of its members is sick; every relationship has problems and the fact that a couple can recognize this and seek out assistance with it should be celebrated, not diagnosed. All this said, I certainly understand and support when a client needs to use insurance as a way to pay for their services. To that end, I will gladly provide the necessary documentation if a client wishes to seek reimbursement with their insurance provider.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
My process is pretty straightforward. If you decide to work with me, you are given intake paperwork to fill out which you will bring to their our first session. I spend the first several sessions in intake mode, fleshing out the details of your presenting problems, history, relationship history and goals. Included in this intake is a thorough family of origin assessment in which I ask a lot of questions about the family you grew up in. After that, you and I collaborate on a treatment plan. I also keep this pretty simple and try to list out main problems, measurable goals and a timeline in which we can meet them. None of this is written in stone but I find that having some sort of road map for the process helps us to stay on track and keep our ultimate goal in mind.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I received my Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary's University in 2010. I am a certified facilitator for the Prepare/Enrich assessment, which is a highly useful tool with couples, particularly those seeking premarital counseling. I have additional training in EFT (emotionally focused therapy) which is the primary model of therapy I use with my couple clients. I also have training and background in DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) which is extremely helpful in helping to understand and regulate emotions and often draw on DBT in work with both couples and individuals. How sexual issues affect couple relationships is a particular interest of mind and I have additional education and training in this topic.