What are you like as a therapist?

If I could describe my therapist self in three words, they would be casual, warm, and nonjudgmental.

As you can probably tell, I’ve got a pretty low-key style. My business casual includes beanies, leggings, and sneakers.

In terms of my personality, I’m a gentle, but straightforward person who will happily guide and support you while offering feedback and challenge when appropriate. I always try to choose my words carefully and I try to be as understanding as humanly possible.

I’m also pretty silly, and whenever appropriate, humor is a mainstay in the room with me.

What are your preferred modalities/methods?

I always start with a very client-centered, humanistic approach as I gauge what type of therapy you’re looking for. Depending on your personal goals, qualities, and requests, we may then weave in something like dialectical behavior therapy (if you love acronyms and coping mechanisms), EMDR (if you have specific trauma memories to work through), or narrative therapy (if you love writing and find healing in telling your story).

In terms of other modalities I like, I often find myself utilizing solution-focused therapy and am increasingly learning about/incorporating internal family systems therapy.

I’m trained in several modalities, and since I’m an accountant, artist, and therapist, I have the ability to move between different parts of my brain to help you address issues. However, I should reiterate that I am more of a gentle, client-deferring therapist and as such, am probably not a good fit for someone who is looking for a more blunt, authoritative style.

How long is a session, and how often will we meet?

Sessions for individuals, couples, and polycules are all 53 minutes long. Please note that I unfortunately no longer offer longer sessions.

I strongly encourage us to meet weekly for the first month in order to solidify our working relationship. Thereafter, you may continue weekly or move to a different frequency.

Let’s talk payment. What are my options?

I accept credit card payments through the SimplePractice web portal and I take private pay as well as United/Optum insurance. See my individual service pages above for out-of-pocket service prices.

Is there any reason why I wouldn’t want to use my insurance?

Yes, there are a few reasons for this. The first is privacy, as the insurance company will have access to your diagnoses and other records. The second is if your mental health benefits are very limited. For instance, some insurance companies put a limit on the number or type of sessions you can have and all insurance companies require a diagnosis for “medical necessity.” This works for some people, but not all.

Do you have a physical office or are you remote only?

I am currently only seeing clients remotely.

Can I still see you even though I don't live nearby?

Per ethical and legal guidelines, I am permitted to see any clients that are physically present in the states of AZ, CA, and FL, whether you’re in Phoenix or Payson; San Diego or Shasta; Jacksonville or Jupiter.

The bummer is that I’m not able to see people, even AZ/CA/FL residents just traveling, when they are not physically present in those states. So please plan accordingly.