FAQ

Starting therapy can be an anxiety producing event. In fact, research suggests the average person looks to start therapy numerous times before actually reaching out to a therapist. I understand and respect the difficulty and vulnerability of making that first contact. It can be challenging to begin therapy but it can be the most valuable and rewarding gift a person can give to themself. Today, I encourage you to put that fear aside and contact me. We can get started creating a life you deserve. One with love, light and happiness.

• What can I expect therapy to be like?

Therapy is a non-judgemental place to be honest with yourself. You can discuss your feelings freely without worrying about upsetting the people you care about. You can explore your past, the present and what you desire in your future. In therapy, you can learn to cope with your past experiences, while learning how they impact your current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. You can also identify ways to change negative beliefs, symptoms of trauma, unhealthy relationship dynamics, and receive support in successfully achieving your future goals. Therapy sessions are 50 minutes unless longer sessions are requested.

• Why should I talk to a therapist when I could just talk to a friend?

Friends can be an excellent support; however, they typically aren’t able to be objective because they are personally involved in your life and if they’re a good friend they are supportive and loyal. They may not be honest with you about unhealthy patterns and behaviors because they don’t want to jeopardize their friendship. Also, they are generally not educated in psychology and the many effective modalities that have been supported by research to assist a person through psychological challenges.

• Why does the therapy intake cost more than the following therapy sessions?

The intake (initial appointment) is when a client and therapist meet each other. The client typically explains their present concerns, past experiences, and identify what they would like to improve for a better future. The session time is the same as an individual session, however there is a significant amount of work for the therapist to complete after the session. For my clients, I enter their information in the client portal so that they are easily able to send confidential messages, schedule or reschedule their own appointments, receive assessments, homework assignments, and share their own documents. I also enter the information they shared during the session. Lastly, I create an individualized treatment plan.

• What is confidentiality?

Confidentiality is a legal requirement for a therapist. It is an expectation of the licensing board that all therapy interactions be private and not shared without the written consent of their client. The discussions in therapy remain solely between the therapist and the client. A client’s information would never be shared with anyone without the client’s written consent. The legal exceptions are if a judge subpoenas a client’s records, or if a person is actively suicidal, homicidal or if they disclose current child or elderly abuse and have identifying information of the victim. I would always discuss any limits to confidentiality with a client prior to any mandated reporting.

Confidentiality in Therapy: Understanding its Importance and Limitations
Confidentiality in therapy refers to the obligation of therapists to keep all information shared by their clients private and secure. It forms the foundation of trust between therapists and their clients, creating a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore and address their concerns. Confidential information will not be shared without the client’s written consent, except for the following limitations.

Mandatory Reporting: Therapists have legal and ethical obligations to breach confidentiality in certain circumstances. For instance, if a client expresses an intent to harm themselves or others, therapists are legally bound to report it to ensure the safety of the client or others involved. Therapists are also required to report cases of suspected abuse or neglect involving minors, elderly individuals, or vulnerable populations.

I would always discuss these concerns with my client prior to making a report.

Legal Proceedings: In cases where therapists are subpoenaed by a judge, confidentiality may need to be breached to comply with legal requirements. However, therapists strive to disclose the minimum necessary information and work to protect their clients' privacy whenever possible.

Insurance Companies: Insurance companies will not pay insurance claims unless, a client is diagnosed, and the diagnosis is on the list of payable disorders. Insurance companies are also able to access client records, dictate treatment, determine necessity of treatment, and the number of sessions a client is allowed to have. I am not in network with insurance companies due to the lack of confidentiality and their ability to overstep the client’s right to determine their own treatment needs.

For clients that would like to use their out of network benefits, I am happy to create a monthly Superbill to provide your insurance company, requesting full or partial reimbursement. Please realize, I will have to diagnosis you (provided you meet clinical criteria), to create a Superbill and I am not responsible for any reimbursement issues between you and your insurance company.

Telehealth: Due to the nature of telehealth, I can ensure privacy and confidentiality on my end during the therapy sessions. However, the client holds the responsibility of ensuring they are having their session in a private area. Many of my clients use headphones to assist in protecting their confidentiality.