faq

Therapy can be very helpful for people who are struggling with issues such as low mood, high anxiety, shame and guilt, loneliness, obsessions and/or compulsions, overwhelming worries, suicidal ideation, troubles with relationships, and difficult life transitions. When we find that our world seems to be getting smaller and smaller and we feel trapped in the day-to-day, that might be a good time to seek out therapy.

Other people have done therapy before and have established diagnoses. If you notice your symptoms worsening or the skills you used to use no longer feeling as effective, that could be an indication that it might be time to start therapy again.

Ultimately, only you can say for certain whether or not you need therapy. You are the one who best knows who you are and what you need. And, requesting a consultation or going to a first appointment doesn’t have to be a long-term commitment – it can be something you’re just trying out to see if you find it helpful or not.

We’ll discuss (1) what you’re looking for from therapy, (2) the kind of therapy I am able to provide, and then (3) we’ll come to a decision together on whether or not this feels like a good fit. If yes, we’ll schedule an intake appointment. If no, I will offer referrals or suggestions depending on your situation.

All you need to do is show up, just as you are. If you’re the kind of person that likes to make lists of things to talk about, we can work with that. If you’re the kind of person that just goes off of vibes, we can work with that too. All I ask is that you show up, just as you are.

The progress made from therapy is gradual and takes time. There are many ways to mark it, and it will look different for everybody. When we first meet, we will talk about the goals you have for yourself and what you want to get out of therapy. These are things we will refer back to over our time together. If we’re meeting those goals, that’s a great indication that something is working. If we aren’t meeting the goals, it can mean either that the intervention we’re using isn’t working as well as we’d hoped or that the goals we set were too big and we need to reevaluate. In either scenario, we will work together to figure out next steps.

It is not uncommon that we need to edit goals over the course of treatment. Sometimes it is because we realize we want something else for ourselves. Other times it’s because we realized there are several smaller goals we need to work on first before moving on to something bigger. It’s great to have big goals for ourselves and it is important to be realistic about the steps necessary for us to get there. We can only start where we are.

No – at this time I only provide virtual sessions for residents of Washington state.

Yes – I am only licensed in Washington state, which means that you have to be in Washington when we meet.

Monday – Thursday; 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

I have a 24-hour cancellation policy. If you cancel less than 24 hours in advance or no show, you will be charged for the full amount of the appointment. Exceptions can be made for emergency situations or extenuating circumstances.

We will try to troubleshoot any technology issues together. If there are problems with the internet connection, we will transition to a session over the phone. If that is also a problem, we will reschedule.

No. I do not use AI in my practice (this includes in my note taking/documentation and in my research/continuing education).

I am currently in-network with Premera and LifeWise. If you have a different insurance provider, you may have out-of-network benefits that we can work with.

Every person I work with keeps a card on file with me that will be charged after our appointments. This can be any major credit/debit card (Visa, Discover, Mastercard, American Express) or an HSA/FSA card.

When someone expresses an interest in working with me, we start first with a 15 minute consultation (free). If we mutually decide to work together, we then schedule a 55 minute intake appointment ($200). In the intake, we will discuss when to meet and how often to meet in the future for 55 minute individual therapy appointments ($170).

A card is kept on file and is charged the same day as the appointment.

If I don’t take your insurance, there is an option for what is called a “superbill.” This is a form I can provide and you would submit to your insurance to potentially receive some reimbursement for what you have already paid for my services. Not every insurance carrier offers this as an option and you will need to look through your plan to see if you have out-of-network benefits. It is highly encouraged to call your insurance provider to ask about these benefits and see if you qualify.

If I don’t take your insurance and you are interested in finding out if your plan has out-of-network benefits, here are some questions you can ask when you call:

• Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
• Is there a deductible for out-of-network services? If so, how much?
• Is there a max out of pocket for out-of-network? If so, how much?
• Are there any limitations on out-of-network mental health benefits?
• What is the reimbursement percentage for costs?
• What is the process for submitting claims for reimbursement?
• What documentation do I need to submit a claim?
• How long does it typically take to receive reimbursement?