The complimentary consultation is typically a 20-30 minute phone or video appointment where the focus is on allowing you an opportunity to share what is bringing you to therapy and ask me questions about my process, approach, training or anything else you would like to know about working together. I will also work with you at this time to review scheduling and insurance/fees. 

The first appointment is a 60 minute appointment, and is focused on what is called a Diagnostic and Biopsychosocial Assessment.

This is a structured interview that helps me develop a clear, overall understanding of you and what brings you to therapy. We’ll talk about topics such as:

• Your reasons for seeking therapy and what you’re hoping for

• Current symptoms or challenges

• Relevant medical history

• Family background, relationships, and social support

• Childhood and adolescent experiences

• Interests, hobbies, and important aspects of your life

This initial session is not representative of how we will typically work together in ongoing therapy. Its purpose is to gather context, clarify concerns, and help us decide together how to move forward in a way that best supports you.

You are always welcome to decline to answer questions if you’re not comfortable. The only exceptions are questions related to your safety and those necessary to understand the symptoms you’re experiencing.

If at any point you have questions or need to slow the process down, we can pause and talk about it.

I do not offer in-person sessions. I only offer virtual telehealth sessions.

While I specialize specifically in anxiety, trauma and panic I do have experience/competence in treating the following:

• Social Anxiety Disorder

• Depression

• Suicidal Ideation

• Self Harm

• Phobias

• Addictions

  • Gambling

  • Sexual

  • Pornographic

  • Video games

• Borderline Personality Disorder

• Firesetting

• Relationships with Food

  • Restricting

  • Binging,

  • Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake

There are only two populations I will not work with:

• Non-Consensual: Court mandated or forced by a third party (parent, friend, spouse, partner etc.)

• Minors: Anyone under the age of 18

I do not attempt to treat the following conditions:

• Eating disorders requiring medical monitoring

• Substance abuse disorders requiring stabilization or inpatient rehabilitation services

• Acute psychosis 

• Unmanaged Bipolar Mania

No. As an outpatient therapist it is not within my scope to provide crisis or emergency services. 

I do not monitor my phone for emergency or crisis calls outside of session.

I cannot:

• Drive out to assist you 

• Provide in-the-moment crisis intervention or coaching outside of scheduled sessions

• Attempt to de-escalate you if you are actively homicidal or suicidal

If you or someone you know are in danger call 911, 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or a local emergency service, hotline or warmline. These services are specifically equipped to help you in real-time. 

Therapy in my practice is focused on longer-term healing, stabilization and skill-building rather than emergency and crisis response. If you are unsure whether your current needs can be supported by outpatient therapy, we can talk about that and explore more appropriate resources together. 

It varies dramatically depending on a variety of factors. Therapy does not follow a fixed timeline and healing happens at difference speeds for different people. 

Some clients come for a few months, while others choose longer-term work. I regularly encourage and start conversations about whether therapy is still meeting your needs. 

I believe that relief tends be experiential and incremental. It should be something you can feel and it's a feeling that tends to build up over time. It's not impossible that "breakthroughs" or dramatic improvements can happen, but the goal of my work is not to force these experiences but rather create the conditions where change and healing can unfold organically for you, however slow or fast that needs to happen.

It depends.

1. If it is for facilitating a discussion or working with you both in a therapeutic context, then the answer is no. I only provide individual psychotherapy. 

2. If it is for psychoeducation purposes or helping them understand your treatment and how to help, I am open to arranging a private phone call with them.

3. If you want their support during a specific session for a specific purpose (i.e. comfort, presence), we can discuss this together. 

No. Just because I am a therapist does not mean I am entitled to your life story or get to dive right into the darkest moments of your life. You do not owe me anything. 

On the contrary, it is my responsibility and duty to:

1. Build trust with you over time

2. Monitor and manage pacing to the best of my ability 

3. Engage in an ongoing dialogue about safety and readiness

4. Allow you to withdraw or give consent freely about discussing any subject or even engagement therapy at any time.

As a licensed professional counselor I am permitted to diagnose mental health conditions and disorders within my areas of expertise, training and competence when clinically appropriate.

If you are using insurance, I am required by insurance providers to provide a diagnosis for treatment planning and documentation purposes. 

I understand that diagnoses should be used thoughtfully and with care and aim to do so with a focus on understanding and healing rather than labeling. I welcome conversations about the diagnostic process and your experiences with diagnoses in the past. 

Maybe, but it’s not a requirement, expectation, or goal.

Therapy can involve difficult or vulnerable moments, and for some people that includes strong emotions like sadness or tears. For others, it does not. There is no “right” emotional experience in therapy.

I do not try to force emotions, especially painful ones. The foundation of our work is pacing, gentleness, curiosity, and consent. We work in manageable, bite-sized ways that respect your nervous system and your sense of safety.

I see emotions, even painful ones, as the body’s attempts to communicate, release, or heal. That process works best when it is approached with care and choice. You are always in control of what we explore and how fast we go.

So will you cry? It depends. Some people do. Some people do not. Both are completely okay.

Typically not. Any homework/exercises are most often self-directed by you as a natural extension of our work in session. 

My approach to therapy involves an organic approach to homework and exercises. For example: you may discover during a session a particular coping skill that really helped you manage a trigger. I will often ask you to consider ways you might attempt using these skills or building them into habit outside of session. I may ask you to consider situations outside of the session you could consider using these skills as a reflective exercise and encourage you to attempt it. 

I am not here to give you a grade. I believe if something is truly helpful to you, the last thing you will need is me telling you or holding you accountable to doing it. Unless you specifically request that I do so. 

I only write one type of letter and it contains this information:

1. Confirmation that I am your therapist

2. How long I have been seeing you

3. How often I currently see you

4. Your updated diagnoses (if applicable)

I do not write letters for any other purpose as it is not within my competence to do so. 

Not at this time. Psychometric testing and forensic mental health evaluation will become available in 2027.