How does therapy work? What can I expect a session to look like?

Different forms of therapy often structure sessions differently. For the first few sessions, we will look at the big picture - What is going on in your life? What are you struggling with? How did you get here? These sessions will be generally more structured, and are designed to help us orient to the nature of the work ahead. After this point, we will shift gears. I am a firm believer as a therapist that the psyche is naturally oriented towards healing and growth, and if we show up to what is unfolding - as it is in the present moment, warts and all - this is how we move towards integration. As such, I encourage clients to speak freely about what is on their mind, including dreams, fantasies, and stray “random” thoughts. From there, we can engage with what is so with kindness and open awareness. I may ask thought-provoking questions, share reflections, or point attention towards things that may be outside of awareness. This can feel strange at first! Seldom do we have space to engage with ourselves in this sort of way.

What if I don’t know what to talk about?

Contemporary society somewhat conditions us to the notion that most difficulties are fundamentally problems of methodology. That is, that if we find the “right” way to investigate our life, progress will be smooth and rapid. However, in my experience working with clients, to use a therapist cliche, healing is rarely a linear process, and no singular way of approaching the mind works well for all people at all times. In the long view of the history of therapy, there is nearly always a form of therapy that is “in” - a universal and radical new therapy that can solve everything from the deepest trauma to the common cold, and more. At least, until the next one arrives.

Therapy is fundamentally a space we can, ideally, bring our full selves to bear on the events in our life. We often spend so much time living by rules of “appropriateness” that require us to split ourselves into parts. We have a “work self,” and a “partner self,” and so on. But the more we allow in to the therapeutic process, the more we have to work with. In other words, our job in therapy is to show up to who we are, as we are. Not knowing what to talk about rarely, in my experience, means that there is nothing to talk about. Almost always, if we follow where the mind organically takes us, we usually will end up somewhere meaningful. Sometimes this can look like discussing a difficult or emotionally intense event from the previous week. At other times, we may find value in talking about something we couldn’t get off our mind the previous week, or strange dreams we may have had. Or, sometimes we just let our mind think out loud, and see what we find.

I have a specific problem that I’m trying to solve, and I don’t really want to talk about anything else. Can you help with that?

Most people come to therapy with a specific complaint; sometimes it is a relationship issue that keeps recurring, an addiction, or feelings of anxiety or depression they would like to resolve. This is common. In depth psychology, we view problems as expressions of a greater whole. In other words, the “problem” and the “whole” are inseparable, and fundamentally interdependent. Neither can be understood in isolation. Part of the tricky task of therapy is to step outside labels of “good” and “bad” parts of self, as when we do so, we tend to split the self, in the words of M. Esther Harding, into the “I”, and the “not-I”. Our problems are expressions of who we are in this moment of time, not a separated or isolated part of self. In other words, it is only by widening our sense of who we are that we can liberate the adaptive potential hidden inside even our most hideous “problems”. I do sometimes utilize and share coping skills and strategies with clients, but they are not the main focus of my work.

If this resonates with you, we are likely a good fit. However, if this sounds like it doesn’t work for you - great! But we are likely not a good fit. If you are looking for specific, focused help with a particular problem, or you are primarily seeking improved coping skills, you may have better luck searching for a solutions-oriented therapist.

How will we meet?

Currently I am only offering sessions online, via telehealth. I use a telehealth platform called Doxy.me for sessions, which is accessible both on a laptop or mobile phone. If, for logistical or technical reasons, video calls are not feasible for you, I can meet with clients via phone. However, video is preferred.

Can we meet in person? I would prefer that.

I believe that in-person sessions are important and in some ways preferred to telehealth, however, due to logistical reasons I do not currently have an office and am only able to offer telehealth sessions at this time. It is my plan to eventually offer in-person sessions to clients, however, I am unable to provide a timeline for when this will be available.

How much does this cost?

I currently charge $145 for 50-minute sessions. I use an online system to bill for sessions, and your card will be charged the day of a session. Most major debit or credit cards are accepted.

Do you offer sliding scale sessions?

I strive to keep my practice equitable; I do have a limited number of sliding scale spots, and I generally will work with clients to find a rate that is based on an assessment of financial needs and limitations. I believe that therapy should be accessible, and not something behind a barrier that prices out the people who need it most. That being said, my base rate is set at what it is to create space for those with higher need.

Sliding scale sessions are generally $70-120, and rates are set depending on client circumstances and need. I am only able to offer a limited number of sliding scale slots. Please inquire if you feel this is something you need.

Can I use my insurance?

I am currently able to see clients in-network through United Healthcare, Aetna, and Cigna. If you are covered by these insurance plans and may wish to use them for therapy, please let me know prior to scheduling your first session.

Clients not seeking to use insurance, or not under an in-network plan may be able to seek reimbursement through their insurance for sessions with me as an out-of-network provider. I also do not bill out of network insurance directly. At request, I can provide a superbill containing dates of service, costs, and diagnosis codes (if necessary), which clients can submit to their insurance for reimbursement. Because each insurance provider, and plan, operate differently, I am not able to make any guarantees regarding timeliness or amount of reimbursement. If finances are of concern to you, and you are planning to submit bills for out of network coverage, I strongly encourage you to speak with your insurance in advance to gain insight on what that may look like.

Don’t see your question here?

Please feel free to reach out via email - while I can’t promise I can answer every question, I will do my best to help.