Individual Therapy

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Reaching out for professional help can be one of the hardest calls people make! Ideas about “strength”, the shame around mental health, and the fear of change can make it incredibly difficult to do what you’re doing. But you are here and I am here to help!

What To Expect

The empirical literature indicates two things very clearly: therapy works and the biggest predictor of positive outcomes is the quality of the bond you form with your therapist. In other words, that they “get me.” I therefore believe it’s vital that you feel safe, valued, and understood as one human being connecting with another. That connection is the foundation and engine for the rest of our work.

I like to understand therapy as a shared endeavor at pattern finding. I find that things like depression, anxiety, or struggles with intimacy are not distinct symptoms that we need to fix. This approach can lead to a return of these symptoms after therapy is ended as the underlying causes are left unaddressed. Rather, I believe these experiences are manifestations of larger patterns that need to be understood and processed to heal the root causes.

I therefore take a warm, active approach to therapy that seeks to increase your ability to recognize your patterns, identify the roots of those patterns, and explore new ways of being with yourself and others. I often use our relationship as a sort of laboratory to help you experiment with new behaviors in a safe, validating environment before trying them out in “real life.” My aim is therefore not to simply help you decrease whatever pain brings you to me but to help you find richer, more vibrant ways of being in the world.

My Approach To Therapy

My theoretical framework for therapy is rooted in the psychodynamic/psychoanalytic tradition. However, I have been trained in and utilize a range of interventions from various modalities. These include but are not limited to:

  • Psychodynamic theory conceptualizes symptoms as expressions of habitual ways of managing painful emotions. My particular tradition emphasizes an exploration of the relationships you have in your personal life and utilizes the therapeutic relationship to explore and alter any patterns you find unhelpful.

  • Systems theory emphasizes that humans are imbedded within various systems (family, school, work, culture, society, etc.) that necessitate understanding the experience of the individual within that system. For example, a medical view of depression might explore deficits in neurotransmitters. A cognitive behavioral view might emphasize negative automatic thoughts and behavioral withdrawal. A systems view might emphasize and explore internalized sexism and the impact of disparities in health outcomes on depression.

  • Structured exploration of interactions between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that produce symptoms.

  • Emphasizes goal of changing our relationships to our emotions rather than changing the emotions themselves.

  • Exploring and resolving ambivalence to increase motivation to change.

  • The vast majority of therapists are aware of the research indicating fit is the best prognostic for therapy. Many therefore welcome you trying 2 to 3 sessions to see if their style will work well for you.

  • I do not take insurance for therapy. I utilize a preferred provider organization (PPO) superbly format to provide therapy unencumbered by the limits of insurance.

    In regards to payment, I will bill you directly for each session and provide a superbill you submit to your insurance. Please refer to the “Insurance Information” Tab Under “Appointment Details” for further information.

  • Psychologist have a doctoral degree in psychology and provide talk therapy whereas psychiatrists have a medical degree and provide medication services.

    I frequently successfully treat clients without the use of medication. However, medication can be an important adjunct to therapy. In those cases, I can facilitate a referral to a trusted medication provider.

  • I charge $225 for a 50 minute session.

  • The standard within the field is one session per week. It is often helpful to increase frequency during times of crisis. I typically do not conduct sessions less frequently as this can limit the impact of treatment. However, it is often helpful to decrease frequency as a client is transitioning out of therapy.

  • I generally prefer to provide in person therapy as I believe this maximizes the information I am able to utilize. However, telehealth has proven effective and I will work in this modality if it is the client’s preference.

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