Why should I see a therapist?

Therapy is useful when the usual things you try to cope with difficulties don’t seem to work anymore.  You may feel overwhelmed or frightened by anxiety or depression.  You may be missing too many days at work.  Talking to friends or family helps but when they are part of the problem or when you feel like you can’t burden them, a therapist can be the perfect person to give you a fresh perspective. 

Why should my child see a therapist?

Children can benefit from therapy for a variety of different issues.  For example, sometimes children have trouble coping following a trauma such as a car accident or dog bite.  Other children might need help learning to live with ADHD.  Some signs that a child might need to see a therapist could be frequent calls from his/her school because of behavior problems, threats of suicide, fighting, or extreme temper tantrums.  Sometimes a parent just gets a feeling that something is wrong and wants a professional opinion.

What happens in therapy?

I spend the first session gathering as much information about you, your family, and/or your child as possible.  I also do my best to make you feel comfortable. Sometimes, I may need to talk to your child’s teacher or your doctor.  (I will not do this without your express written permission.)  Once you and I reach an agreement on what you would like help with, I will develop a treatment plan.  A treatment plan is a kind of roadmap that lets you and I agree about what you want to achieve in therapy as well as monitor your progress. 

What therapeutic techniques I use will depend exclusively on what we are dealing with.  For example, if you are facing a difficult decision or are at a crossroads in your life, I may use brief, solution focused therapy.  If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, I will most likely use cognitive behavioral methods. I have a certificate in Cognitive Processing Therapy which has been recognized as being highly effective in treating PTSD.

I frequently give homework in the form of journaling or trying out new skills to help you put real change into practice.

Should I shop around for a therapist?

Absolutely.  One of the biggest predictors for success in psychotherapy is a feeling of rapport between the client and the therapist.  You should feel comfortable on your first appointment or consider another provider, it’s entirely up to you. 

What does a session cost?

An initial session is $140, each fifty-minute session thereafter is $120. Sliding scale available.

I accept cash, checks, Visa/MC, and IEHP insurance. I am also a TRICARE non-network provider.