Is telehealth (online therapy) right for me?
It could be right for you if:
you regularly have a private space to talk.
you prefer being in the comfort of your home during appointments.
you have accessibility needs and telehealth makes it possible for you to attend regular therapy.
you have a reliable internet connection.
your have a busy schedule and commuting would prevent you from attending sessions otherwise.
you do not need a high level of care that requires more intensive support (ie: frequent suicidal behavior, recent hospitalizations for mental health crises or disturbing and unmanaged psychosis)
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
My therapeutic approach is eclectic! I customize my approach for the needs of each client. Since therapy has the best outcomes when the therapeutic relationship is strong, my priority is cultivating a safe, supportive, and authentic connection with my clients.
I draw mostly from relational, emotionally-focused, and somatic approaches. I center compassion and acceptance while challenging clients to identify where they’re living out of alignment with their values so they can take action to live more authentically.
My work is largely informed by trauma-informed care, feminist theory, particularly that of queer and/or Black feminists (shout out to adrienne maree brown and Angela Davis), climate consciousness and de-centering humans, liberation psychology, and depth exploration (making the unconscious conscious).
Do you work through the traditional psychology medical model?
Short answer: no. Long answer: a little bit. I do not believe what we classify as mental disorders are caused by chemical imbalances or a result of a “broken brain;” I do not believe they are an individual’s issue. Still, what we call mental disorders cause symptoms in our mind-bodies that often require medical intervention (like digestive problems, high blood pressure, chronic pain, sleep issues).I believe most mental disorders are caused by experiences of trauma and chronic stress— either interpersonal or systemic. I mean, look at the current condition of our society: high rates of poverty, abuse, and incarceration! Of course people are chronically traumatized and stressed. Regardless of the cause, people deserve access to therapeutic interventions so they can find relief, whether that’s psychotherapy, medication, or another form of medical intervention. At the end of the day, psychiatry and psychology is rooted in a very violent historyand it can be lifeline for people.
How do I know if you’re the right therapist for me?
I tend to work best with people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community (or their enthusiastic allies) who want an equitable, collaborative therapeutic relationship and do not want traditional psychotherapy (ie: blank slate therapist, talk therapy only, interventions that don’t hold space for the impact of environment and systems). Many of my clients are suspicious of psychology and psychiatry, and have had harmful experiences with healthcare providers in the past.
I’m probably not a good fit for people who want a quick fix, talk therapy without body-based interventions, consider the medical model the pinnacle of mental health care, or folks who aren’t concerned with the connection between individual healing and collective liberation.
How long do therapy sessions last and how long does the entire course of therapy take?
A typical session lasts 50 minutes and we see each other weekly or every other week. I can sometimes accommodate longer sessions (75 minutes). The length of therapy is dependent on what you’re focused on and the level of care you need. Attachment and relational wounds often need long term support. I prefer to work with folks long term (more than 1 year) so that we can really go deep. We can discuss your expectations when we begin therapy and check-in to decide when you’re ready to transition out of therapy.
How much does therapy cost?
$180 for individuals. $225 for couples. I hold lower fee slots in my practice for people experiencing financial hardship to make my services more accessible. Please reach out if you’d like to work together but cost is an obstacle. Even if I can’t accommodate you, I’ll send you referrals for people who can.
Why don’t you take insurance?
We all know the health care system in America is a mess so I’m going to be real with you: dealing with insurance is usually a nightmare for private practice therapists. Reimbursement rates are often too low to fairly compensate our time and sometimes insurance companies do clawbacks, which is when they decide to take back money they’ve already paid you (often thousands of dollars) because they retroactively changed their mind about it being eligible for coverage. It’s not a sustainable system for most independent providers. Also, your medical documentation as a client isn’t private when you go through insurance, which means people review the details of your therapy notes to determine if they’ll cover your sessions.
To keep my caseload low enough to provide consistently high quality care, I decided to be an out of network provider, which means I don’t bill insurance directly and I can’t guarantee that my services will be reimbursed by your insurance. Most PPOs provide partial reimbursement if you submit a superbill, but you have to check with your insurance beforehand to know for sure. I’m happy to provide one.
What can I expect at my first appointment?
For our first appointment we’ll mostly be getting to know each other! We’ll explore your goals and needs for therapy.You’re welcome to share as much or little as you want during our intake session. You can tell me your hopes for healing. There’ll be time for questions and feedback. Since we’ll be doing teleheath, I recommend setting up a private space in your home or outdoors where you won’t be interrupted. You might want resources nearby to help you feel more comfortable like water, blankets, animals, tissues, snacks, plants, or anything else that feels like a resource. I’ll also go over my practice policies and limits to confidentiality.
Who are you? How do you identify?
I love rummaging through paradox and live strongly from a “both/and” way of being. I’m committed to being transparent about who I am and as someone who has worked to defy strict categorization I don’t want to be defined by a list of checked boxes. With that being said, I understand the importance of using identity categories to communicate our experiences and find our people. I am neurodivergent, white American (Irish/German descent), mid/plus size, queer, and living with invisible disabilities, among many other things. I’m also a yoga teacher, writer, artist, hiker, dancer, avid reader, and sexual health educator. I hold space for these identities remain in flux. I like to give myself the space to transform. I’m open to answering any questions you may have about my identities.