F.A.Q.

Yes. It is. However, there are certain exceptions to confidentiality. These include times when a client threatens to harm themselves, others, or when there is suspected child or elder abuse.  During those times, protection of the public prevails over individual privacy and we are required to inform the appropriate authorities. It is important that you are aware of these important exceptions to therapeutic confidentiality.

First sessions are known as intake sessions. These sessions are casual and comfortable. The purpose is to review the initial paperwork including covering informed consent, privacy, practice policies, and a verbal history of your goals, diagnoses, past treatment, and family history. At times, these administrative tasks may feel more clinical in nature but this helps provide important background information about who you are.

Therapists have knowledge of the human condition and are skilled in certain techniques that will give you a roadmap to achieving your goals.  Part of the process is getting to know you to tailor a plan for you in a non-threatening, life affirming atmosphere. From there treatment goals are created collaboratively with you and "homework" is offered to help you change your patterns of thoughts and behaviors.  Don't worry. You are not being graded. By homework, we mean putting the tools that you learn in a session into actual practice! Psychotherapy (also known as counseling) is particularly useful for treating anxiety, depression, anger issues, relationship issues, past trauma, grief, and existential crises.  With psychotherapy, people tend to get better at different rates and sometimes not at all. Like improving your physical fitness, improving your emotional well-being will take effort and persistence. If you feel that you are not making progress then this is something to discuss with your psychotherapist. Psychotherapy has helped many individuals improve their overall happiness and well-being. In fact, U.S. society has finally realized that it is too valuable a process to be used solely with those who have severe mental health issues. As a result, many high functioning, successful individuals have used psychotherapy to make gains in their personal and professional life.

Rest assured we will respond how you wish. We can pretend like we don't know you, or we could say hello as we might a neighbor. That is entirely up to you. If this is something that concerns you then we can certainly talk about it.

We charge $175 per 56 minute session for self-pay. At the present moment, we are in-network with Aetna and Medicare. If you wish use another insurance company then we would be happy to create a receipt (i.e., superbill) for you to submit to your insurance company where we are considered an out-of-network provider.  

We can accommodate you either in-person at the office or online from the comfort of your home or office. It is entirely up to you and what you feel comfortable with.  For those who are private, rest assured that my office is very discreet and it is unlikely anyone will make the connection that you are coming to a therapy session.