​How will I know if a therapist is right for me?

​You really need to meet me face-to-face in order to get a good idea of what I’m like as a person and as a professional.
At your first session here are some good questions in mind: 
How easy is it to talk to her? 
Do I feel heard? 
Am I having to repeat or re-explain things?
Was she able to answer my questions?
Do I feel comfortable with her?  
"Do I like her?"

​​How long do sessions last?

​Sessions typically last between 45 to 53 minutes with some sessions extending to 60 minutes if there is a specialized trauma treatment protocol being used. 

​What should I expect at the first session?

​During your first session you will have an opportunity to go through the intake paperwork and to ask any questions you may have about the clinic and provider.  This is also the time to share about yourself and what you're looking for in therapy.

​How long do I have to keep attending therapy?

​This is a very common question and when most therapists respond with "it depends" clients are often frustrated.  But it does depend!  Good therapists have no desire to leave you returning without improvement, for there are not only other clients waiting to receive services, but because we like to see our clients feel better.  As such, the healing process and how long it takes is a multivariable multifaceted matter that pulls from many aspects such as: type of pain, how long it has been there, why it is there, who was involved in creating this pain, whether there is a genetic factor, whether the causative elements are still present, how comfortable the client feels about therapy, how comfortable client feels with therapist, whether client has support outside of session, and more...

​Why do I need a therapist? Why can't I just talk to a friend or family member?

Family and friends can be a great source of help, do talk to them! These people are your first line of prevention and help, and when you have access to their time, attention go ahead and use it.  So often people arrive for therapy to discuss things that are harder to share with others, or things that they've tried to share but have reached a dead end as others don't know what more to do to help.

​What can I expect from therapy?

Many in seek therapy hoping to go back to the way they were before.  I frequently tell clients, that short of inventing a time machine, we have no way to return in time.  Nonetheless, therapy provides an opportunity for healing wounds, and subsequently developing and practicing new skills that one did not have before- as such one could argue that would could be better than they were before!

​What is the difference between psychotherapy and counseling?

While many use these terms interchangeably, counseling tends to be shorter in term and to be more problem-focused whereas psychotherapy tends to be more person-focused.  For example, If someone has difficulty taking tests, a counseling approach will explore ways in which he can learn new skills to do better on the exams; whereas, in psychotherapy while there may be some psychoeducation to help client learn some skills, there is a deeper level of exploration asking things like "why is he this anxious about exams? what does it mean for him to do well on these exams and what does it mean to do poorly? for how long has he had this fear? how did it first emerge? how did his family react to these fears?"

What do the initials after your name mean?

The names behind a therapist's initial indicate their degree and licensure.  ​
PsyD, EdD, PhD: indicate that provider possess a doctoral degree
MD: indicates that provider is a medical doctor
MA or MS: indicate that provider possess a masters degree

The following are acronyms for licenses and what they represent:
LP: Licensed Psychologist
LPCC: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
LICSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

• Psychiatrists are Physicians that completed medical school and received specialized training in Mental Health.  While some do psychotherapy, the majority these days prescribe medications.  
• Psychologists are individuals that may either possess a masters or doctorate in psychology and usually conduct psychotherapy and sometimes provide psychological testing.  Psychologists seldom prescribe medications though in some States in the US they are authorized to do so.

I’m very private and it is important to me that issues I talk about are confidential. Is my confidentiality completely protected? 

By law, mental health providers are obligated to protect your confidentiality fully except in a number of circumstances. The exceptions to this are related to child or elder abuse, a threat to harm another person or if you are in danger of self harm, or if there is a court order to release records. Further, if you want to use a third party payer to pay for therapy it will be necessary to provide the information required by your insurance company which will likely include a diagnosis. If this is the case we will discuss with you what is disclosed to an insurer. 

How do I become a client?

1.  Fill out our intake questionnaire (Available on main page depending on service that is being sought)
2. After you complete it we will reach out to you and send you an invite to the client portal with additional forms that need to be completed.
3. Our client coordinator will reach out to you regarding appointments available to you and will schedule your first visit.
4. Make sure to bring your insurance card (if you're using insurance) and a picture ID to your appointment.
5. Show up on time to your appointment.
6. When you arrive feel free to have a seat in our lobby and help your self to a coffee, tea, hot chocolate or water.


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