Frequently Asked Questions

I believe that the foundation for good, effective therapy is when the client and therapist work together to create a brave and safe space that allows curiosity, self-compassion, empathy, accountability, and, most importantly, hope, to flourish. With that, it usually means that I will meet you where you are when you step into the therapeutic space, occasionally challenge you when there’s an opportunity for it, remind you to slow down when necessary, and dare you to find hope within your healing.

Change often means we must abandon parts of ourselves and patterns that no longer serve us, which can be uncomfortable. However, I will be there with you and remind you that growth and self-expansion don’t usually happen without any form of discomfort, and discomfort is not always synonymous with being unsafe. In this brave and safe space, you have permission to feel all of your feelings, while processing and learning about how these feelings inform your life experiences.

Using insurance for mental health counseling is a choice and preference. However, there are benefits in private pay counseling!

Insurance companies mandate a diagnosis and oversee your health records to decide what they will reimburse accordingly. This means that insurance companies would have access to your mental health care information, and may limit your coverage to only a set number of therapy sessions per year, regardless of what you are experiencing.

Lastly, you would be limited to in-network providers, which may be an obstacle to working with therapists who are not listed with your insurance panel.

Our past often informs our present and future. Discussing the past in therapy is a way for both you and your therapist to gain understanding of how your past experiences play a role in your current life, and can provide new insight, relief, and even hope!

It is normal to feel guilty sometimes when we process the behaviors of our loved ones, especially when those actions hurt us. However, in therapy, what we seek is an explanation for how the people, situations, and environments in your life inform your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. The point isn’t to villainize your loved ones or to seek scapegoats for your problems, but it is for you to have a safe and guilt-free space to explore the complexities and nuances of your relationships with someone who is unbiased.

The short answer is: it depends!

Believe it or not, I work with all my clients with the hope that someday, you will no longer need me to live your best life. Depending on your therapeutic goals, the time commitment required would differ. I will work with you to make sure that we have ongoing conversations to check in on how you feel about your therapeutic progress.

In therapy, unconditional positive regard and compassion are given freely to my clients. However, the price you pay is to cover the continued education and supervision that allows me to continue to grow as a therapist so that I can best serve you.

Similar to other services such as seeing a medical doctor, financial advisor, lawyer, physical therapist, joining a gym, or even attending a meditation retreat, therapy is an important investment in your mental wellness, which can result in immeasurable returns on investment on your present and future.

Therapists may have different reasons for why they don’t take insurance. Some of these reasons may include that becoming credentialed with insurance panels cam be a grueling and expensive process. Next, it has been a historical injustice and issue that mental health professionals do not get reimbursed at a fair and equitable rate for their expertise, education, and time invested in the work.

Personally, it is a hard but calculated decision to become a private practitioner who is not in-network. I acknowledge that this may make my services inaccessible to some. However, to combat this, I am happy to provide superbills if you have out-of-network benefit, and I also offer sliding scale services for those who are in lower income brackets.