Frequently Asked Questions



What is your approach to treatment?


How frequent are sessions, and how long does therapy last?

How will I know if you are the right therapist for me?

Do you accept insurance?

What about medication?

Is therapy confidential?



What is your approach to treatment?

The most important element of successful therapy is the relationship between you and the therapist. Together, we work toward developing treatment goals and reasonable means to achieve them. A mind-body approach is my overall orientation. Incorporated into this frame is an appreciation for the impact that early life experiences and relationships have on current functioning and happiness. Although our agreed upon goals may not include an in-depth exploration of early life experiences, I find this orientation helpful in discovering in which areas you might feel most stuck. In addition, cognitive-behavioral techniques may be a part of therapy, since they have been found to be very helpful with certain problems. Mindfulness, hypnosis, guided imagery, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) are all examples of mind-body approaches in which I have been trained and could become part of the therapy along with traditional talk therapy. We would thoroughly discuss treatment approaches and strategies prior to use in a therapy session.

How frequent are sessions, and how long does therapy last?

Typically, session are once a week and last 50 minutes. However, there are some individuals who at times come in two times a week, depending upon what is happening in their therapy. this however, is not the norm. Length of overall therapy varies from person to person, and problem to problem. Some issues are more easily resolved in a shorter period of time, while other difficulties take much longer. As part of the evaluation process, I would give you my impressions and we would discuss what you would hope to achieve.

How will I know if you are the right therapist for me?

Ultimately, only you can decide if I am the right therapist for you. To start the process, you may contact me to set up a free 15 minute phone consult to ask questions that will help you decide. If that proceeds in a way that is comfortable for you you may want to take the next step and we can set up a face to face appointment in my office to further discuss your treatment needs and to get a better idea if it is a good fit. If it is not a good match for you, I will be happy to help you find another professional who could better fit your needs.

Do you accept insurance?

I set my fees at the average rate for doctoral level clinical psychologists in the area. For nearly all insurance companies, my services are partially covered as an out of network provider. Payment is made directly to me at the time of the session, and I provide a receipt with the information needed to submit to your insurance company.

To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:

  • What are my mental health benefits?
  • What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
  • How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
  • How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
  • Is approval required from my primary care physician?

What about medication?

If therapy alone is not able to help, the combination of therapy and medication is sometimes indicated. We would discuss a referral to a psychiatrist who could do a medication consultation. I have a good relationship with a number of psychiatrists in the area who are thoughtful and conservative in their approach. You could see one of them, or you could go to someone that you have found.


Is therapy confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.

However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

  • Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
  • If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.
  • If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.






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