FAQS
HOW LONG DOES EACH THERAPY SESSION TAKE?
I offer 50 minute sessions. This allows me to start sessions at the top of every hour, with time to take notes between each session. I find typing while in session with someone to be disrespectful and unhelpful in building rapport. 50 minute sessions also allow me to stay on time, so that I do not keep clients waiting.
WHAT KIND OF THERAPY DO YOU PROVIDE?
I am what is called an 'eclectic practitioner.' (No, really)! This means I borrow from several modalities depending on the issue we are working on, my client's learning style, and desired outcomes. My go-to modalities are eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and post traumatic growth therapy (PTG). I use many elements of internal family systems (IFS), and am IFS-informed, meaning I have completed trainings in this modality, but I am not formally certified by the IFS Institute. I may also employ elements of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing (MI). These fit within my own understanding of the world and our place in it, and are what I have found to be the most effective for the types of issues my clients face.
DO YOU OFFER SLIDING SCALE RATES?
I do! Ten percent of my caseload is sliding scale/need based. Please reach out directly to inquire if I have any current sliding scale openings.
WHAT INSURANCE DO YOU TAKE?
I am licensed in Colorado and can only accept Colorado-based insurances at this time. I am paneled with Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Oxford, Oscar, and United. I do not accept Medicaid at this time.
If your insurance is not listed, I will provide you with a superbill upon your request that you may submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. I cannot guarantee that your insurance provider will accept a superbill, and you are solely responsible for submission and follow up with your insurance representative.
WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION/NO-SHOW POLICY?
Since scheduling an appointment involves the reservation of time specifically set aside for you, a minimum of 24-hour notice is required for rescheduling or canceling an appointment. A full session fee of $120.00 will be charged for sessions missed without 24-hour notice. As insurance plans do not pay for missed appointments, you agree to be responsible for paying in full for any missed or canceled appointments. There will be a $30.00 fee for any returned checks.
HOW DO WE DETERMINE COUNSELING GOALS?
At the beginning of our therapeutic relationship, we will complete an intake appointment together. The purpose of an intake is to share information about different areas of your life. Sometimes things that do not seem to be related actually have a common origin, and a good intake will make those connections from the beginning of our relationship. I will share any patterns that I see, and will get your feedback on what you feel is the most appropriate issue on which to focus our attention. It is never ethical for a therapist to impose their own values, beliefs, or goals on a client.
WHAT ARE THE INDICATIONS THAT THERAPY IS EFFECTIVE?
I track therapeutic progress both quantitatively, through rating scales, and qualitatively, through regular verbal check ins. Part of being a somatic practitioner is being highly observant of the physical cues our bodies present, so I also regularly reflect to my clients any shifts in their physiology that I notice.
Depending on what brought you in to therapy in the first place, there are several changes you could notice that indicate therapy is working. You might notice specific thought patterns starting to change, such as: less black and white thinking, less blame (either of yourself or of others), or an increased ability to stay in the present rather than revisiting the past or worry about the future. You might observe that your body feels less tight or tense, that you are having fewer panic attacks, or that you are dissociating less.
I cannot guarantee any specific changes for you, but these are some of the more common things I hear clients report when we check in on their progress.
WHAT LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE?
Please see the credentials section of this website for a full review of my schooling, licenses, certifications, and other pertinent credentials. It is important to me that you know your rights and responsibilities as a potential client, and that you have the information you need to research my professional background before making an informed decision about working together.
ARE YOUR TREATMENTS EVIDENCE BASED?
They sure are. Please visit Who I Am and see the question What Kind of Therapy Do You Provide on this page for explanations of the types of therapy I provide. Please note that post-traumatic growth therapy (PTG) is based on the polyvagal theory. As its name implies, polyvagal theory is a theory of how our biology responds to trauma. Having witnessed the profoundly positive impact PTG has on complex trauma and PTSD, I am confident recommending it to clients and using it in my professional practice. I will never use a modality that a client is not comfortable with, but I will provide psychoeducation about why I am recommending something. As always, the final decision about any treatment should be yours.
HOW LONG WILL THERAPY LAST?
There are a lot of factors that affect the length of a therapeutic relationship, including what you are seeking therapy for, your previous experiences with therapy, your motivation for change, and other life circumstances. Sometimes the issue that originally brought someone in to therapy will resolve, and the person will decide to stay and work on something new. It is never ethical for a therapist to encourage a client to continue therapy past when it is needed.
ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS?
I am not able to prescribe medication under an LPC license. If we jointly determine you would benefit from medication during the course of our relationship, we will work together to find you the appropriate provider. Primary care physicians are typically comfortable prescribing for things like anxiety and depression, but will refer you to a psychiatrist for things like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. If this happens, it is important that the psychiatrist and I are able to communicate so an accurate diagnosis is made and you are prescribed medication that will be the most beneficial.