Do I need counseling?
This is a very personal decision, and your choice may be very different from others you know. If you feel like emotions or thoughts are out of control, and are keeping you from living the life you want, counseling may help. Some people focus on specific symptoms in therapy, while others come to me with a general feeling of dissatisfaction with their relationships, work, or how they feel.
Who do you work with?
I work with adults age 18 and over throughout the State of Texas. Children and couples will typically be referred to clinicians who specialize in this kind of work.
What conditions do you treat?
I treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, and relational difficulties. I also enjoy helping clients heal from codependency, which can often arise in people who have addicted or narcissistic loved ones.
While many people come to me with specific concerns, you don’t have to have a clear description of what’s troubling you – sometimes an important part of therapy is figuring that out! It’s not uncommon for someone to come to me with a comment like “I just don’t feel good”, “I lack motivation”, or “I’m unhappy in my relationships”.
What’s involved?
When you first reach out to me via phone or email, we’ll set up an initial 15-minute phone or video consultation. This will allow us to discuss your situation and come to a decision on whether I’m the person to help you.
If we decide to proceed, I’ll send you a link to my secure patient portal. There, you’ll have a bit of homework to complete before our first session. There will be some basic information about you, and a few questionnaires to complete. You will also be able to sign and download copies of the Informed Consent (our agreement to work together) and any other practice-specific documents we need to have. The information you provide is covered under privacy laws in Texas.
I conduct all therapy sessions via secure video connection. It is easy and convenient for my clients, and research shows it is an effective way to conduct psychotherapy.
Your first session is called the intake. in this introductory session, I will continue learning about you with questions about you, your concerns, and what your daily experience is like.
Starting with the second session, we’ll meet weekly for 45-50 minutes. This is when we “dive into” what’s going on. Typically, we’ll meet weekly to continue our work.
At the other end of the story, as you’re feeling better and believe it’s time to proceed without our meetings, we will discuss the best way to finish up. We’ll review and celebrate your accomplishments, and conclude with a final session. After then, I close your file and it remains confidential.
Of course, I’m here if you ever need anything, but it’s always exciting to see my clients ready to fly solo and live the live the dream about!
How long does therapy last?
Sessions occur weekly, at the same day and time each week. The number of sessions will ultimately be determined by you and how you feel about your progress. I don’t work in “brief psychotherapy” modalities, but if you feel like you get where you want to be in just a few sessions, that’s great!
It’s not uncommon for someone to begin working with me for one concern, and the insights and understandings they develop lead them to continue working on deeper issues. I’m here for you, and as long as you’re benefitting from our work, we can continue.
Do you treat children?
I do my best work with adults, so inquiries about child therapy will be referred to local therapists who focus on that age group.
Do you take my insurance?
I do not accept insurance. There are several advantages to working in this way. I am happy to discuss my reasons for not accepting insurance.
Are you a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist?
We hear a lot about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) these days. Simply put, CBT focuses on how your thoughts and actions affect how you feel. This often involves activities such as learning to control your automatic thoughts, and challenging your irrational beliefs. Of course, there’s a LOT more to it than just that, but that’s the general idea.
I work from an integrative perspective in therapy, with the belief that your therapy should be as unique as you are. There are some difficulties that CBT can be very effective with, and I pull ideas from this school of thought when it’s appropriate. Also, because Mindfulness and CBT fit nicely together, my clients who embrace Mindfulness work often get a healthy dose of CBT in the process.
My “therapeutic home base” is more in the Relational Psychodynamic camp. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, but as a starting place, I find it very helpful. We try to understand what you learned about the world growing up, and how you develop and maintain relationships. These insights often give us important perspectives on how you think, act, and feel today.
If you really want an expert CBT therapist, I will try to help you find someone who specializes in that kind of work.
What are your fees?
My rate for individual and couples counseling is $140 per 45-55 minute session.
Are you a Christian counselor?
I am a clinical counselor, and do not unilaterally introduce religion as a starting point for therapy. However, I also recognize that religious faith is an important (and often complicated) part of many people’s lives, and may have an important role in our discussions.
No matter what your belief system, if you feel it’s relevant to our work, I encourage you to bring it up in session.