I believe that transparency and authenticity are keys to good therapy. When I first begin working with folx, we discuss the nature of the therapeutic relationship as one in which I am planning for my own obsolescence. My goal is to work myself out of a job! That requires that I not just deliver treatment but I also help you understand what we are doing, so that you can maintain the gains far beyond the therapy room.

Therapists have to be authorized to provide telehealth in the state you are located in at the time of your appointment. For an updated list of all the states where I am authorized to practice, you can check out this website. If you tend to go out of the U.S. frequently, there are some countries were it is permissible to continue to receive telehealth while you are abroad. We would likely just need to look into this together and determine whether I or someone else would be the best fit for you.

I am happy to schedule a free 20 minute consultation with you to hear what you are looking for and help you determine if I am the right fit. I usually encourage people to think of a list of questions that would be deal breakers and a list of qualities that would be bonuses. Please also feel free to check out my blog here to get a sense of my style and approach.

First appointments are usually a bit longer than the average ongoing individual psychotherapy appointment because there is more that we need to cover before formally deciding to work together. If you and I both have the availability, that appointment might last as long as 90 minutes. In the first 10-12 minutes there is information I am legally required to disclose to you about my credentials and policies. This information is all the same as what’s in the paperwork, so if you have any questions about the paperwork, be sure to bring it up then. After that, we will get into specifics about the reason you sought services. I’ll then ask you questions about many different parts of your life, history and culture. After we have finished what I sometimes tell kids is their ‘celebrity interview,’ we will transition to discussing treatment planning.

One, this is voluntary. I don’t want you to ever receive the message from me that I am compelling you to stay. This is a partnership, and my goal is to be your faithful copilot until you are ready for lift-off on your own. As a general rule, the more focused we are on a specific goal, the shorter the time in therapy. If during most appointments the majority of the time is focused on meeting your specific goal, the average length of time in therapy is between 10 and 20 appointments. The biggest factors extending the length of treatment are when folx have multiple goals or are really struggling to complete practice between appointments.

Appointments are typically 45 minutes in length once per week. Sometimes we increase the time between appointments once we have built a little momentum. Sometimes people have a specific timeline to meet a goal and when I am available, I will offer something called an intensive, which can involve meeting multiple times a week. One of the treatment approaches I offer for post-traumatic stress sometimes involves 90 minute appointments weekly. We can discuss what makes the most sense for you based on your treatment needs and schedule.

Some of the treatment approaches I’m trained in (e.g. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)) are considered transdiagnostic. That means that the treatment works well across many categories of things folx struggle with. That said, no one can be an expert in everything, and something to know about me is that I’m not territorial. I want you to get the best help possible. If the best help is not with me, I will help you look for someone who might be a better fit.

So here’s some great news: a specific type of treatment was developed just for such circumstances because it is so common. The two approaches I utilize most often in these circumstances are supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions or SPACE and parent management training. While I am not certified in either approach, I have years of supervised experience helping parents change how they respond to their young people. You did not create the problem, but you can be part of the solution.

Right now I don’t but I am hoping to one day. Please check back here for updates to this question. Right now, all payments are out of pocket, though I would be happy to provide you with a monthly “super bill” that you can submit to your insurance company and see if you can get reimbursement under your out of network benefits. If you have Medicaid, you have to work with someone who is in-network with Medicaid. Unfortunately, that is not me at this time. If you live in Colorado, I’m happy to help you try to find someone who is in network with Medicaid as I’m most familiar with Medicaid providers in Colorado. If you live in a different state, you might try searching on your state’s Medicaid portal to find a provider. For additional information about fees, please check out this page.