Common Questions Answered about Therapy with me

Starting therapy often comes with a lot of questions. My hope here is to give you a sense of my voice and perspective. These answers aren’t exhaustive (for that, you can always consult Google or ChatGPT! 🙂), but they will give you an idea of what it’s like to work with me.

What is therapy?

Therapy is a space for you to grow, heal, change, and process — all within what we call the therapeutic relationship.

Your goals in therapy might be to decrease unwanted symptoms (emotions, thoughts, behaviors) or to have a supportive place to navigate a transition (parenting, career, beginning or ending a relationship, etc.).

What’s unique about therapy is that I’m trained to reflect, parse out, and amplify you. Sometimes we think we can do this work alone. Of course you can! It just usually isn’t as efficient. 🙂 In the right therapeutic relationship, profound growth can occur.

I also want to be clear about what therapy is not:

• Therapy is not advice. My job is to help you tap into your own inner wisdom.

• Therapy is not friendship. While I am warm and caring, my style is to let you take up space — you don’t have to give that back to me.

How do I start therapy with you?

We always begin with a consultation. This is a chance for us to get to know each other and see if we’re a good fit.

For you, it’s about noticing whether you feel comfortable with me. Research shows that a good therapist-client fit makes a big difference in outcomes. On my side, it’s about hearing your goals and making sure I’m the right person to help you. If I’m not, it would be unethical for me to take you on.

If we both decide to move forward, we’ll set up a recurring weekly appointment. 

👉 You can schedule a consultation with me directly here.

How do I know if we are a good match?

Sometimes this is the hardest part of therapy!

Often it comes down to a gut sense — maybe you feel at ease, or maybe you feel seen during our consultation. One client once told me I “asked the right questions.” For others, it’s simply that they left our first conversation with more clarity about the path ahead.

I welcome people with all bodies and life experiences into my practice. And I empower you to find your unicorn therapist if there’s something important to you in that match.

What will we discuss in therapy?

You decide what we talk about: past, present, or future. Often we focus on what feels alive right now. Change happens in the present — the past teaches us, the future guides us, but the present is where we reorient.

“What feels alive” might be an event from your day or week, or something that’s been weighing on your heart. You set the limits and the focus. My job is to deepen the conversation, ask curious questions, and explore with you.

Although much of our work is talk-based, I’ll also invite you to notice what’s happening in your body. Fidgety hands? Lump in your throat? Tightness in your chest? Our bodies hold information we sometimes overlook, and slowing down with that can be powerful.

How long will therapy take?

It depends. Some people end therapy once they’ve reached their goal. Others continue for support, integration, or ongoing growth. We’ll talk openly about your wants and needs, and I’ll honor your preferences around ending.

Do you take insurance?

I don’t bill insurance directly, but I provide superbills for you to submit for out-of-network benefits. A superbill is essentially a detailed invoice with the information your insurance company requires.

You’re welcome to pay with debit, credit, or FSA/HSA cards. Payments are securely stored in SimplePractice, my electronic health record system, and charged within 12 hours of each session.

Okay, but why don’t you just take insurance?

Great question! There are many reasons, and I’ve linked to a few resources that outline them in detail:

• Benefits of Seeing an Out-of-Network Therapist vs One within Your Insurance

• Reasons to See an Out-of-Network Therapist

When are you available?

I work weekdays 7-11 am/ 9-1 pm MT / ET. I offer couples intensives in the evening and on weekends. 

👉 You can see my availability and schedule a consultation directly here.

What is a couples intensive?

Finding relief in relationship problems can amplify the peace in our lives and wellbeing. While individual work needs time and integration, sometimes couples problem just need focus and awareness. Not to mention, it can be hard to align multiple schedules to get in on a recurring basis. Couples intensives are 3-7 hours and sometimes 2 days in a row to quickly identify, amplify, and reorient to a relationship problem. This may be in response to a betrayal, transition, rough patch, etc. 

I don't know if I believe in therapy... I can do this by myself.

Absolutely. Many people make meaningful change on their own. Therapy isn’t about whether you’re capable; it’s about pace, precision, and support. Think of it like fitness: you can get strong solo, and sometimes a coach or a dedicated space helps you go farther, faster, and with fewer injuries. My role is a catalyst—steady structure, trained attention, and clear feedback so small, high-impact shifts don’t get missed.

Final Thoughts

Therapy is a big investment of your time and energy. My goal in answering these FAQs is to give you a feel for my style, so you can sense whether this is the right fit for you. If you’re curious, the best next step is scheduling a consultation.