FAQ

Therapy is a unique experience that is unlike any other relationship in your life. Your therapy is focused solely on you and is unconditionally accepting and validating. It is also a space where you are challenged to think differently. In a therapy session, you will talk about your concerns, and I will ask questions and provide guidance to help you understand yourself better and learn new ways of approaching your life. As you gain insight and understanding, you will likely notice opportunities for growth and change to apply in your day-to-day experiences. I will continually help you think deeply about what you need and help you get there.

You might be pleasantly surprised at some of the ways you change in therapy. Therapy can give you a different outlook on your life. I find that, as my clients begin listening to themselves more, they feel empowered to live life on their terms. This is a profound shift and can have long-lasting impact.

What each individual hopes to achieve from therapy is unique, but in general, you can expect to gain:

• skills to help you with mental health issues, like anxiety and depression
• a greater capacity to manage and listen to your emotions
• improved confidence
• better relationships and communication
• greater self-worth
• overall improvement in life satisfaction
• clarity about what you truly want and need
• healing from trauma and emotional abuse 

I use a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based approaches, like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). These approaches are all evidence-based. I find them the best combination to help clients balance taking action with self-exploration and self-acceptance.

I work best with clients who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, introverts, highly-sensitive people, or anyone who felt marginalized in their lives. These are my people…the ones who are “different” and don’t necessarily fit into society’s norms. I also enjoy and have expertise working with people who struggle with generalized anxiety, social anxiety, depression, and low self-worth.

I am an out-of-network provider with most insurances, and I can provide a receipt for insurance reimbursement. Many insured clients are reimbursed for at least part of their session fee, but it will depend on your individual plan.

Out-of-network benefits don’t have to be complicated, and I can help you navigate them. You can start by using the following document as a guide, and we can discuss the answers together.

Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company:  PDF or DOCX 

If you need help understanding out-of-network benefits, please contact me.

This varies from client to client. Most likely, we will meet weekly at first. However, some clients may prefer to meet every-other-week due to their specific needs. I am flexible, and we will discuss treatment frequency during our first couple of sessions.

This varies greatly from client to client. These patterns have probably taken a long time to establish themselves in your life, so it can take some time to undo them. Some relief can be felt as early as the first session, but in my experience, it takes about 3 months of weekly meetings to see more noticeable, lasting change. We will discuss your expectations for treatment length in our first session.

Again, this depends on the client. Some clients are in therapy for a few months, some for years. You can expect to be in therapy for 3 months initially, and at that point, we will evaluate your progress. We will also continue to reevaluate your progress periodically throughout our time together. I also enjoy working with deep thinkers and folks who are interested in creating long-lasting, substantial change in their lives. Many of my clients underestimate themselves, so however long we work together, I will remind you to be patient with yourself and your timeline of healing.

I see clients online via a secure video platform. I have been conducting therapy online for the past 5 years, and I have found that online results are equal to in-person meeting. Telehealth also allows for the greatest convenience and flexibility, especially during the harsh Chicago winters. At this time, I have no plans to go back to in-person meetings.

If you’ve read through my website and are feeling sure that we’re a good fit, then you can schedule an intake appointment without the free phone consult. Just use the form on the contact page and request an appointment, noting that you’d like to skip the phone screen. Keep in mind that intake appointments are full fee and are subject to a stricter cancellation policy.

Going to therapy can be uncomfortable because it often means digging into some challenging and painful topics. However, if you are uncomfortable facing certain issues, we may be an especially good fit. My approach is calm, gentle, and accepting, and you will always be in control in our sessions. While I will ask questions and challenge you, I will never shame you or force you into something that makes you feel uncomfortable. I understand that each of us is on our own timeline of healing.