Individuals, Couples, Groups

My fee is $125 per session.

1. Serving those without insurance coverage: I work with patients who could benefit from interpersonal counseling and psychotherapy and who do not have health insurance but are willing to pay a fee for service. I accept applications for a sliding scale and it is my hope that I can help people in the community who are otherwise unable to obtain the services they need.

2. Serving those with insurance coverage: I accept payment directly from some insurance companies, including HUSKY, Anthem, Cigna, and United Health Care. It is important to note that each patient's plan may have unique criteria or deductions, so I recommend to each patient to contact their insurance company prior to service. At time of service, I work with patients to verify coverage and obtain the requisite authorizations.

3. Serving those with insurance coverage, but as an out-of-network provider: I work with patients that pay fee for service, with an intention of requesting reimbursement from their insurance carrier. I work with patients to provide the required documentation to get reimbursed from the carrier. That typically requires a formal diagnosis and some paperwork, but once it is completed the first time, the process is relatively simple. You may want to check with your insurance provider and see what is required to obtain reimbursement, and if they pay for out-of-network services.

You will be asked to pay for each session at the time it is held, unless we agree otherwise. You will be asked to pay for any missed appointments unless you provide 24 hours advance notice of cancellation or unless we both agree that you were unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control. If it is possible, I will try to find another time to reschedule the appointment.
Appointments last 45-50 minutes. During the first session, we can both decide if I am the best person to provide the services you need in order to meet your treatment goals.
As far as how many appointments you will need to meet your treatment goals, there is no set amount, although insurance may only reimburse for a certain number. It is very important to me that you feel in control of your own treatment, and I will make a point to regularly check in with you about how we are doing, what is working, what is not, and when you feel you are at a point where you ready to end counseling.

I work with people experiencing a wide array of problems. I am interested in exploring any and all issues that may come up in an individual’s life. I refrain from declaring a specific specialty because in my experience, whatever the details and manifestation of a person’s problems, it is usually some deeper, existential issues that left the door open to these problems. So, in a way, my specialty is in increasing self-awareness and making positive change, no matter what the presenting problem is.

A counselor (LPC), marriage and family therapist (LMFT), and a social worker (LCSW) are all master’s level, mental health professionals that offer various forms of counseling and/or psychotherapy. To over generalize, a counselor works primarily with individuals, although many work with couples and families, an LMFT specializes in family problems, although many work with individuals, and a LCSW would do similar work with an emphasis on social justice and community assistance. A psychologist (PhD) may use a similar approach as a counselor, but would have received extra training in assessing and diagnosing mental disorders. An MD is a medical doctor and can prescribe medications. This is a very limited explanation of the differences, and in fact there are probably as many differences between professionals in each field as there are between the different fields.
In my experience as both a giver and receiver of counseling services (and based on the latest research), the fit between the personalities of the therapist and client is the most important aspect by far. More important than the level of training, the type of degree, the years of experience, even the gender of the therapist, is that therapist’s ability to connect and form a strong bond with their client.

This is a controversial topic that many people have opinions on. I think the jury is still out on this one, but there is a particular view point that seems wise and sensible.
Drugs won’t solve a person’s problems, but they can alleviate symptoms and enable a person the find the energy to begin to do the hard work of making changes in their lives that will lead to better health and happiness. If medication is something you are interested in, I could explore this question with you to determine if medication would be helpful, and if medication is something you want to try, I can help you find a good doctor.