Frequently Asked Questions

What are therapy sessions like?

Sessions are active, collaborative, and focus on what is happening for you in the moment, both what is spoken and unspoken. We’ll talk about brings you to therapy, both the internal circumstances (any symptoms or emotional difficulties) as well as the external circumstances of your life (relationships, work, challenges) to better understand you. Together, we’ll pay attention to what you’re experiencing as you experience it, what happens in your mind and body, and the ways you may automatically move away from difficult thoughts, feelings, sensations, topics, etc. I’ll help you notice your patterns with curiosity and compassion, and we’ll work at a pace that allows you to stay within what you can genuinely tolerate.

You are always an active participant in deciding what you want my help with. My role and training is to help you see what may be getting in the way of the life and relationships you want, while supporting your capacity to face what has felt difficult or overwhelming. Together we will help you develop the ability to experience yourself fully, so that old patterns such as avoidance, anxiety, depression, etc. no longer have to run your life.

What is ISTDP?

I practice Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), an active, emotion-focused approach that helps you get to the underlying causes of the problems that bring you to therapy. Rather than focusing only on what is happening around you, we also pay close attention to what is happening inside you - any thoughts, feelings, impulses, anxiety - and the automatic and often unseen ways you may protect yourself from experiences that may once have felt too difficult.

The work is collaborative and carefully paced. With your permission, I’ll help you notice these patterns as they happen and support you in developing the ability to tolerate and experience your emotions more fully. Over time, this can help you move out of old patterns of avoidance and toward greater freedom, healthier relationships, and a life that feels more like your own. “Short-term” does not mean rushed, and there is no predetermined timeline; the length and pace of therapy depend on you, your goals, and what you are able to take on.

How often do we meet?

I meet with clients on a monthly basis for 90, 75, or 60 minutes depending on your needs and tolerance. Additional sessions (bi-weekly or a 3-week block) may be added as needed. This schedule naturally creates focus in our sessions and allows for full integration of the work in between sessions. This process maximizes the potential for you to make legitimate progress toward your goals.

How long do I need to be in counseling?

The total duration of your therapy is up to you - some people come for a handful of sessions and feel equipped to move on. Others prefer to do deeper work and commit to longer periods of time.

Is counseling hard?

Yes, it can be. Sitting with painful thoughts and emotions and uncovering new things about ourselves can be quite challenging. But that’s exactly what I’m trained to support you in, and processing these previously avoided thoughts, feelings, impulses, and sensations allows you to break through the barriers you currently feel so constrained by.

What happens during an Assessment for ADHD or Autism?

The assessment is a collaborative process designed to help us understand how you - or your child - experience the world. We’ll talk about your experiences, strengths, challenges, relationships, school or work, and the things that have felt harder than they seem to be for other people. For autism assessments, I use the MIGDAS-2, which gives us a chance to explore how you communicate, connect with others, experience your senses, and engage with the things that are important to you. When helpful, I may also gather information from parents, caregivers, teachers, or other people who know you well.

I’m particularly attentive to girls and women, who may have learned to hide or work around their difficulties in ways that make ADHD or autism harder to recognize. I’m not looking only for the most obvious or stereotypical signs. Instead, I want to understand the whole picture, including the effort it may take to appear as though everything is fine. At the end of the assessment, we’ll talk together about what I found and what it means for you moving forward.

How are Assessments for ADHD or Autism scheduled?

Assessment sessions are scheduled just like therapy sessions, for 60, 75, or 90 minutes. The frequency of these sessions is monthly with bi-weekly or 3 week blocks also available. Again, some space between sessions allows for more self-reflection, clarity and insight about the patterns you may be experiencing that may have gone unnoticed or otherwise explained.

How long does an Assessment for ADHD or Autism take?

The average length of sessions to complete a full assessment is 8-12. This can be vary depending on the individual, their unique neurobiology and processing, whether intermittent therapy or psychoeducation is also needed to support the assessment process, and other factors. This does not include any additional time spent gathering collateral information from other sources, such as family, significant others, school, teachers, employers, etc.

My goal with assessing any individual is to be thorough, efficient and accurate.

What if I'm not sure if I have ADHD or Autism?

You don’t need to be sure before you come in. In fact, uncertainty is one of the reasons an assessment can be helpful. You may have spent years wondering why certain things seem harder for you, or you may have been given other explanations that never quite felt like they told the whole story. We can start with your questions and experiences and work from there.

An assessment is not about trying to make a diagnosis fit. It is about carefully looking at your experiences and considering what best explains them. Whether the answer is ADHD, autism, both, something else, or no diagnosis at all, my goal is for you to leave with a clearer and more compassionate understanding of yourself.

Do you accept insurance?

I am an out-of-network provider, which means that I do not bill insurance. I am happy to offer you the necessary paperwork in the form of a superbill to file with your insurance provider for possible partial or full reimbursement.

Please know that not all insurance plans offer reimbursement and that some may have a deductible or an allowable amount that you must meet first. It is best to call the number on the back of your insurance card and speak to a representative about what your specific benefits are. I will provide you with a written guide that you can use to facilitate this conversation to make it as easy and succesful as possible.

How much does it cost?

My fees are $350 for 90 minutes, $325 for 75 minutes, and $300 for 60 minutes.

What if my schedule changes?

Sometimes one of us may need to reschedule due to an unforseen life event. I intentionally keep my caseload small so that I can accomodate schedule changes. My attendance policy is detailed in your intake paperwork and I'm always happy to answer any questions you may have.

How do we get started?

Click the button below to schedule a free 20-minute consultation with me. I can’t wait to hear from you.