The purpose of the first appointment is to get to know you and begin understanding your concerns as well as why you are coming to therapy. We may discuss the history of your current problem(s), your relationships, your family, and other relevant parts of your background. This lets me understand more fully your unique story and determine what might be most helpful for you in therapy. While my goal is to gather all relevant information and impressions in the first session, it can take a bit longer for me to have a thorough understand of who you are and what you might need in therapy. Therefore, it may take several sessions before determining the most effective way to work together. I take your concerns seriously and prioritize understanding you as fully as possible. Our first meeting is also an opportunity for you to see if I am the right fit for you. It is important that you feel comfortable and confident in our therapeutic relationship from the outset and assess whether my approach aligns with your needs and goals. The first appointment sets the stage for you to feel safe and heard not just initially, but throughout the therapy process. Therapy is a space where you can openly share your thoughts, feelings, and concerns without judgement. My priority is to create a supportive environment where you feel comfortable expressing yourself authentically, knowing that you’re being listened to with empathy and respect.

The length of time it takes for you to feel better or achieve your therapy goals depends on your individual circumstances. My primary objective is to help you obtain what you need from therapy. I work just as frequently with clients in short-term therapy as I do with those who may require longer-term therapy.

How often you come to therapy depends on your needs and circumstances. While I most often see clients once a week, it is not unusual for me to see clients more frequently, or even less often if they feel they are managing reasonably well. Some clients may need initially to attend sessions several times a week, but then gradually taper the frequency of their sessions as they feel better.

I tend to incorporate assumptions from both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of therapy that assumes problems derive from how we think about ourselves, others, and our future. Cognitive behavior therapy involves changing our perceptions, providing practical tools, and helps us alter our behavior so that we feel more confident, happier, and less anxious. Psychodynamic therapy assumes that negative thought patterns and emotional distress derive from earlier life experiences, and believes that psychological symptoms come from internal conflicts and problems relating to others. Psychodynamic therapy can be used to help overcome problematic relationship patterns (like when you find yourself dating the same type of person repeatedly). It can also help you become aware of feelings and certain aspects of yourself so that you can free yourself from psychological burdens and live a fuller life. Depending on your therapy needs and preferences, we may adopt a CBT approach, which concentrates on changing thought patterns, behavior, and finding solutions or, alternatively, we may assume a psychodynamic approach, which explores how your current functioning is connected to childhood experiences and provides insight that empowers you to make changes in yourself or your life. We may also integrate these two approaches so that you not only address immediate symptoms but also delve deeper into the underlying causes, thereby fostering lasting insight and personal growth. Although I draw assumptions from CBT and psychodynamic therapy, the reality is I assume a flexible, personalized approach to therapy; therapy is typically a process where I integrate various modalities so that the therapy you need is tailored to you and your unique needs and goals. I understand emotional distress as deriving from negative experiences and not from some inherent “flaw” or deficit within you. Therefore, we will likely use a strengths-based approach in therapy to help you utilize your strengths, talents, and resources to address challenges, achieve goals, and feel better. In the course of our work together, we may also incorporate aspects of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) by incorporating mindfulness strategies to enhance self- awareness, reduce stress, and improve relationships. We might also bring in elements of interpersonal therapy, where we focus on your communication skills, or help you set boundaries and assert your needs. A common theme for many of my clients is the need for greater self-compassion; working together, you can learn to cultivate a kinder, gentler relationship with yourself.

I accept some insurance plans. If I am an in-network provider with your insurance plan, you pay a portion of each session as either a copay or coinsurance. The amount you pay is determined by your insurance carrier. I recommend you contact your insurance before coming to the first appointment so that you know exactly what services you are covered for. You may know that health insurance providers can set limits on the number of therapy visits they cover. While some clients use only a portion of these allowed visits, others may need more sessions than their insurance allows. If you are using insurance and find yourself needing frequent sessions or exhausting your benefits prematurely, we will address this before your coverage ends. Together, we can explore options to continue therapy in a financially feasible manner. If your insurance does not cover our sessions or you do not wish to use your insurance, you are required to pay my full fee each session. I will then provide you with a superbill (receipt) that you can then submit to your insurance to request financial reimbursement if you wish.

Research has found that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy. Online therapy also has some advantages over in-person therapy. It offers the ability for you to attend therapy in the comfort of your own home or office, and eliminates the need to take time to travel to a therapist’s office. It is also important to note that I use an online platform that is secure and confidential, so you can be assured that your sessions are private.