Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance do you take? I currently accept United Healthcare and Aetna through a 3rd party platform called Alma. There may be additional plans that are subsidiaries of these parent companies. I also accept BCBS and Blue Care Network. I do not accept Medicare or Medicaid benefits at this time.
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me? This is a great question! And a very important one. The therapeutic relationship is one of the most impactful sources for positive therapeutic outcomes, even more so than specific interventions or techniques. I encourage folks to use your intuition, ie does it 'feel' like a good fit. I believe there is a part of you that knows, and this is a good exercise to build your self trust! Additionally, if at any point in our process, if it doesn't feel like a good fit, I welcome a conversation on this, and I am happy to discuss any concerns and can help provide referrals. Its important to me that you feel comfortable saying so and ultimately work with someone who is a good fit. I am not 'everyone's' therapist.
How do you see clients? I am licensed in Arizona and Michigan as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). This allows me to see clients who are physically located in these states. My practice is completely virtual and I use a HIPPA compliant version of gmeet for sessions.
How would you describe your approach? I largely draw from the lens of EMDR, which is based on the AIP model, which basically says that people inherently already know how to move towards healing. Additionally, I am "IFS-informed", and love to integrate parts-work language into the therapeutic process, helping create more understanding of the parts of ourselves that are wanting to be heard, felt, and seen, to move towards more self understanding and healing.
Is virtual therapy as effective as in-person? I really want in-person... Another great question!! In short, I would say it really depends on what you really want. I've been practicing virtually since 2020, and for the large majority of my clients it appears to be just as effective as in person. However there are times when a person just prefers to have the in-person experience and if this is you, its important to honor that wish. However if you are open to virtual therapy, it can also have its perks, no commute time to session, getting to have session from the comfort of your home, and furbabies can attend with you!
What do you charge? For clients that choose to pay out of pocket, my initial session is $200 and each subsequent session is $150. The initial session requires some additional preparation and time after the session to complete the initial assessment and treatment plan, thus the reason for the higher charge.
Why would I want to choose to pay out of pocket when I have insurance? While using insurance benefits can be more cost effective, it also creates limitations. Insurance companies pay for sessions based on what is deemed "medically necessary" which can limit the length of time a person wishes to stay in therapy. And because insurance companies require a diagnosis, this can also be problematic for people who do not want certain difficulties they may be experiencing recorded on their medical record as medical records can be pulled in certain situations for employment, loans, and legal situations. The benefit of paying out of pocket, is more freedom to choose your length of stay in treatment, and more privacy with your medical record. If you do wish to use your medical insurance, and have a policy in which I am not in network with, you may also choose to use out of network benefits, which often reimburse a significant portion of the session fee.
How long do we work together and how often do we meet? If we are billing insurance, we meet as long as there is medical necessity. And if insurance is not involved, we can meet as long as its helpful and productive. My ultimate goal is for you to get to a point of feeling like "I am feeling great and I got this!" This can vary from weeks, to months, to years. Its not unusual to take breaks periodically, and to want to return if something else pops up. Generally sessions are once per week, and typically start to taper down once you are ready, however it can also depend on your preference.
What level of training do you have? I have my Master's of Arts Degree in Counseling with a Specialization in Art Therapy. Since graduation in 2011, I have pursued additional training in EMDR, and am currently working on my certification from EMDRIA. EMDRIA no longer uses the classifications of level 1 and level 1 to denote a clinicians degrees of experience, but rather will have a clinician describe themself as either "trained", meaning they completed their basic training, or "certified", meaning they completed advanced requirements beyond basic training.
How do you do art therapy virtually? While I agree that virtual art therapy can be a different experience than working in-person in a studio setting, it can be effective virtually as well with creating a space for creativity to happen. No special materials are needed, but it does help to have a dedicated space and time to connect with your creative process. To maximize our time in session, I will generally provide an art directive/task to complete on your own outside of session, which can then be discussed and processed together in our session.