People usually start looking into therapy when they experience intense emotional pain or increased dissatisfaction. In therapy, I provide a safe environment in which you will feel encouraged and supported to explore why negative emotions are triggered, what the root of your pain is, and how it prevents you from moving forward. Through in-depth exploration of different aspects of your life, we will identify what changes will improve the quality of your life. In our work together you will develop new skills to manage stressors and integrate them into a more fulfilling life.

Everyone can use some help when they are overwhelmed with daily life, adjusting to transitions, or major events such as grief, divorce, job loss, etc. Many people tend to approach a trusted friend or a family member for emotional support. If that has been working well for you – you may not need to see a therapist. Some people do not have this kind of support or choose to seek professional help for variety of reasons. One common reason is to maintain confidentiality, especially when issues are related to other family members. The people who are closest to you can be emotionally involved and impacted by your problems and consulting with them can create additional problems; they may be judgmental or they may give you self-serving advice. The confidentiality and neutrality that a therapist offers eliminates these issues. When friends or relatives are not providing sufficient support, the professional experience and valuable knowledge of a therapist can make a huge difference.

Everything you say in therapy sessions is kept confidential. The only exceptions required by law, are if you express intent to harm yourself or anyone else. As a mandated reporter, I must notify the appropriate authorities if I suspect that another person is at risk. Likewise, if you express intent to harm yourself, and we can not agree upon a solution that ensures your safety, I will need to take steps that may compromise confidentiality.

Therapy will be a different experience for different people, depending on their issues, personality, and goals for therapy. During the first few sessions, we will try to understand your current situation and why you are seeking help at this time. I will be attuned to your story, attentive to your needs, and I will ask questions to navigate our dialogue. As treatment progresses, we will explore other aspects of your life and we will dig deeper to increase self-awareness and identify unsettling internal conflicts. My job is not giving you advice; advice is usually what works for the person giving it and not necessarily for you. My role is to guide your self-exploration and support you through ambivalence and uncertainty.

My fee is $180 for a 50-minute session. I do not offer a sliding scale. Payments are collected by credit card.

I am in-network with Aetna, Anthem/BCBS, Cigna, Oscar, Oxford, and United HealthCare. Be mindful that you are responsible for any missed or cancelled appointments as these cannot be billed to insurance. If you intend to use insurance, you should contact your insurance company and ask the following questions: What is the co-payment amount for which I am responsible at each session? Do I have a yearly session limit and, if so, what is that limit? Do I need to obtain a referral or a pre-authorization to use my mental health benefits? If so, can you tell me the steps I need to take to obtain such authorization? If you have out-of-network benefits with another insurance, I will assist you with the reimbursement process. Out-of-network benefits may cover all or a percentage of the fees. If you intent to use this benefit, you might want to ask your insurance company: Do I have out of network mental health benefits? If so, what percentage of the session fee do you cover? What is the deductible, and how much of the deductible have I met? How many sessions are covered, and in what time period? How do I access the form(s) needed to submit a request for reimbursement?

I believe that consistency is key to achieving your goals. Therefore, I ask that you attend weekly sessions for at least the first six months. After that and depending on your specific situation, sessions may be less frequent. Sessions cancelation should be done at least 24 hours before your scheduled time. Your appointment time is reserved for you and if you are unable to use it, I would appreciate as much time as possible to be able to offer the time to someone else. If appointments are canceled with less than 24 hours notice, the full fee will be charged.

Psychotropic medication can be effective to treat symptoms and is sometimes needed in conjunction with therapy. I am not licensed to prescribe medication, however, I can make referrals if we feel that medication would be beneficial. Medication alone cannot solve all issues. Therapy is designed to get to the root of the issue and support long-lasting changes.