FAQs

The short answer is, no, you don’t need to be a professional to work with me. In addition to having specialized training in career work, I also have specialized training in: anxiety, trauma, burnout, stress, and self-esteem.

If you get the sense that my services might be a good fit for your needs, we can hop on a call and talk more. Feel free to schedule a consultation HERE. 

Overall, you can think of the first session as a structured interview that helps me get to know you and the challenges that brought you into treatment. I’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.

Some questions that I like to ask during a first session include:

• What brought you to therapy?
• Have you gone to therapy before? How did that go?
• What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?

You can ask me questions as well. You might be curious about my experience or how future sessions will work.

The most important part of a first session is to experience what therapy is like with me. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with me, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.

Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that I may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can schedule a consultation in my online scheduler.

During our free video consultation, you can ask me what a typical session is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to share what’s going on for you and I will let you know how I think I can help.

It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as trying out the waters together. During the sessions, you’ll be able to see how you feel working with me. My approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.

It’s normal if you don’t feel ready to share everything. During our sessions, I will never push you to talk about things that are too painful for you to talk about. It’s my job to give you space to slowly start to work through the tough stuff. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share

You can also share with me that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Your feelings are welcome as are your feelings about how you feel. I’m here to help you with whatever is going on for you.

• Community support groups start at $79/month
• 1:1 sessions start at $159/session
• I also offer bundled packages with reduced rates for those who want both 1:1 guidance and community support. 

PLEASE NOTE: These Rates are Subject to Change

I am a private pay provider.

There are many benefits to seeing a private pay provider including:

• Keeping your personal information private. Insurance companies keep personal and medical records forever. By working with a private pay therapist, you won’t have any personal or medical information relating to our work together attached to your permanent record.
• Skipping the diagnosis. As a private pay therapist, I am not required to formally diagnose you with a mental health problem the way I would have to if I were submitting your information to an insurance company. 
• Getting as many sessions as you need. Insurance companies put strict limits on how often you can see a therapist and for how long. With a private pay therapist, you get to decide how often you see me and for how long, not your insurance company.
• Keeping sensitive information away from your employer. When you use insurance, your personal mental health records are accessible to the insurance agency, and there are some industries (law enforcement, politics, etc.) where sensitive mental health information, like that found in insurance records, could potentially harm your career.
• Receiving more focused care. Private-pay therapists tend to see far fewer clients than therapists who take insurance, so they have more time and energy to focus on each client individually.
• Reimbursement from your Health Savings Account (HSA) may be possible if you live in Connecticut. Please check with your insurance provider. Because I have a Connecticut license, you may be able to be reimbursed for my services through your HSA.

It can be concerning feeling like things you say or do could “get out.” So I want you to know that unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else, everything you share with me is completely confidential.

Your privacy and trust are of utmost importance.

You can rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.

If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask during your free consultation or anytime during our work together.

You might be asking about how long it will take to make progress because you’re anxious to change, or because it is hard to fit sessions into your busy schedule.

If this is true for you, I want you to know that on average, my new clients start seeing improvements after the first couple of sessions.

By that point, they feel a little more confident in themselves.

Some of my clients find 3-6 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges. Other clients feel more supported by working with me longer-term.

We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.

I am a nationally board certified counselor who has a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, a Connecticut associate counseling license, a career credential, a teaching credential, a coaching certification, and many additional certifications. My clients’ cases are also reviewed by Dr. Nancy Grechko to ensure you are getting the best care at all times. 

I imagine what you’re really wondering is whether or not I can help you. And the answer to that question is that I use research-backed, evidence-based practices in my work. I attend regular training to ensure I stay on the cutting-edge of the most effective treatments for the services I list on this site. 

However, my approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who is the right fit for you. We can explore together whether or not I am going to be that person for you.

I’m here to talk during a free video consultation where you can share what’s going on for you and I will let you know how I can help.

Schedule yourself in my online scheduler today to get your free video consultation HERE.