Frequently Asked Questions

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Therapy has often been considered taboo and is therefore likely to be misunderstood. Psychotherapy (therapy) is an interactive process where a trained and  qualified individual (therapist) partners with an individual, couple, family, or group to support them in experiencing happier, healthier, and more productive lives by working through personal and relational challenges or concerns they may be experiencing. Therapy is also helpful for people who are not having difficulty but want to be proactive in enhancing their lives. Therapy is therefore for anyone who is honest enough to acknowledge that there is room for improvement and greater understanding in their personal or interpersonal experiences, who desires to be their best self, and who is willing to be supported in working toward that goal of wholesome change.

Everyone is impacted by various unexpected and sometimes undesired challenges, such as major illness a relationship breakup, or an absence of purpose and personal direction. Even if not challenged in these ways, most people acknowledge that they can and should experience life more fully and meaningfully. Sometimes, our experiences can lead to beliefs and behaviors that hurt rather than help us or the ones we love. As an example, the  National Institute of Mental Health data shows that more than a quarter of U.S. adults and nearly one third of adolescents experience anxiety, depression, or another mental health disorder (i.e. the condition is intense enough to negatively impact job performance, school work, personal contentment, and relationships with others) each year. Therapy uses proven procedures to help us develop healthier, more effective and fulfilling habits and lives.  

Because each person is unique, it is very important for your therapist to create an environment of safety and trust so that a legitimate partnership can be developed. Based on your specific needs, your therapist will use evidence-based approaches to collaborate with you to achieve specific goals that you set for yourself. Therapeutic approaches may be psychoanalytic(exploring and addressing unconscious thoughts that influence feelings and behaviors), cognitive-behavioral (identifying and changing thought-patterns and belief-systems that generate unhelpful or even harmful behaviors); or integrative (a combination of techniques and interventions borrowed from various proven approaches). Regardless of the approach used, therapy occurs in a supportive environment that empowers you to speak openly with a neutral, non-judgmental, and objective professional. All approaches to therapy focus on helping you gain new understanding and appreciation of yourself, others, and your experience, as well as new skills and perspectives, and wholesome outcomes. 

 Marriage and Family Therapy, like psychiatry, psychology, or social work, is one of the core mental health professions. While other approaches to therapy may be person- or problem-centered, Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) evaluate and treat mental health and emotional disorders and other health and behavioral problems through the lens of the family system(the idea that a your thoughts, feelings, and behavioral patterns are connected to your family’s collective experience). MFTs also support personal and relational exploration, development and enhancement from a family systems perspective.

You can benefit from therapy if you are experiencing personal or relationship challenges, if you are struggling with disruptive habits or fears, or if you are trying to understand yourself more deeply and grow as a person.  Specific issues include the following:

Anxiety or depression ▪ Mood-swings ▪ Family conflict or strain ▪ Insecurity or overwhelming fears ▪ Contemplating a new relationship or preparing for marriage ▪ Relationship difficulty or breakup ▪ Intimacy issues ▪ Faith crisis ▪ Major illness ▪ Grief and bereavement ▪ Substance misuse or abuse ▪ Desire for greater perspective and personal growth

You may wish to attend therapy as an individual, as a couple, as a family, or participate in group therapy.

Therapy is often effective on its own; however, at times people may be experiencing problems that involve chemical imbalances in the body or biologically triggered changes in moods or behaviors. Medications have proven to be helpful in relieving symptoms of some conditions. In these cases, the combination of medication (to reduce symptoms) and therapy (to address the cause of the condition) has shown to be more effective than one or the other on its own. For many clients, progress in therapy may allow for the reduction of the need for medication. MFTs do not prescribe or regulate medications but collaborate with psychiatrists or other medical professionals who are trained and licensed to do so. 

I use a Fee-for-service (FFS) model which requires that payment be made at the time you receive care. I am out of network for insurance services. I accept all major credit and debit cards. Please see the "Fees" page or contact me for more details.

Trust is the most important part of my relationship with my clients and is a central standard in my professional code of ethics. Because therapy is privileged and confidential, I will not share client-related information with anyone unless you specifically consent and direct me to do so in writing. 

The same law that protects you as a client and requires that your confidentiality be maintained in therapy also obligates me to make an exception in very specific serious circumstances. I am mandated by law to report the following situations if brought to my attention in therapy:

§ Suspected abuse or neglect of a child(ren), dependent or elder adult(s), or a disabled person(s)

§ A threat to inflict serious physical harm on another person

§ A threat to inflict serious bodily harm on yourself, if I am made aware that despite attempts to secure your safety, you have a plan to hurt yourself and the means to carry out the plan 

§ If you are involved in a legal proceeding in which your mental health becomes a subject, the court may issue an order for information. While I will seek to protect the confidentiality of your information, there is a possibility that the court’s order may prevail 

Therapy sessions usually last about 50 minutes and are typically scheduled on a weekly basis. The total number of sessions is dependent on the nature of the issue(s) being worked on, your commitment to work towards the goal(s) agreed on, and the rate of progress you actually experience. Short-term therapy can last for up to 12 sessions, whereas longer-term therapy can range for up to 50 or more sessions.