Why do people seek therapy?
People come into therapy for many different reasons; sometimes to address specific problems such as depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, personal loss or relationship issues. Others come to enhance their personal growth by being proactive as individuals, and to explore their emotional patterns and lives more closely as part of a growing, improving self-awareness and more genuine sense of themselves. Whatever the case, there is no “right” or “wrong” reason to enter therapy.
At times, people locate a therapist through a fog of emotional pain, where negative thinking patterns or very tangible, distressing crises prompt an inner voice to say: “This is enough. I’ve had enough.” It may be that within this type of crisis, there exists the best present opportunity to work towards real, positive and transformational growth and change.
How quickly can I be seen once I make an appointment?
I am usually able to see new clients within the same week following a free, 30-minute telephone consultation, or by the next week following an initial call. In some cases, I may be able to see new clients within 24-36 hours from an initial call.
How long is a typical psychotherapy session?
A regular psychotherapy session is 50 minutes in duration. During a first visit, this time may be extended to 75 minutes for completion of a full assessment and for taking history information and reviewing client policies.
Will my insurance pay for therapy sessions?
I currently accept private pay and BC/BS clients only. Upon request, I will provide you with an itemized statement (“Superbill”) to submit to your insurance plan, to help you with filing your claims. (This will require me to provide a diagnosis code.) Please see Fee ScheduIe in the “forms” section of this website for general fee information.
How do I pay? What forms of payment do you accept?
You can pay by cash, personal check or credit card. I also accept most Health Savings Account (HSA) Credit Cards. There is a fee for returned checks. Fees are due when the service is rendered. I do not bill by mail.
Will you share my information with other people?
The information we discuss in sessions is confidential, except in very specific exceptions, as required by law. These exceptions include: If I believe that you are at serious risk of harming yourself or someone else, if I have a reasonable suspicion that child or elder abuse is occurring, or if I receive a legal subpoena from a court, signed by a judge, requesting records for a legal proceeding. In order to share or request information otherwise, I will need your written consent and signature on a release or request document.
Can I be in couples therapy if I am not married?
Yes. Unmarried couples seek couples therapy to improve communication and/or to explore their relationship issues. This includes couples from all types of sexual and/or gender orientations; cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. I provide therapy for all couples, including cross-cultural couples entering new partnerships. Dual confidentiality releases are required.
Is it true that you provide or facilitate experiential therapy for pre-teens, adolescents, or adults?
On a very limited basis, I am capable of providing experiential therapy in the outdoors for both youth and adult populations. This service is based on inquiry from clients, scheduling, goals which fit the client, and availability of outdoor space and liability.
Yes. I acknowledge climate collapse and climate change as an existential threat. Pre-traumatic stress is based upon observable climate realities that we see each day. As a therapist, I believe in a process of acknowledgement, grieving, radical acceptance, and voluntary action to confront climate denial.
Do you treat climate anxiety?
I have struggled with substance abuse or other addiction problems for a long time. Why should I see you?
I have thousands of hours of experience with planning treatment for clients with addiction problems. I have provided assessment, intervention and teaching about addiction and relapse prevention for hundreds of clients for over 30 years. I offer a wide variety of recovery approaches and philosophies for recovery, tailored to individual needs. I am sensitive to clients with both mental health and addiction issues. I can help individuals to stabilize after detoxification and rehabilitation or consult with teens or adults to enter quality treatment and recovery programs. I can also help to facilitate recovery “coaches” in the community, to “wrap-around” my clients.
Why should I choose a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) to be my therapist?
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers provide more mental health services in the U.S. than all psychiatrists, psychologists and psychiatric nurses, combined. Throughout New England, Clinical Social Workers are considered to be unique, highly qualified and competent providers of mental health, psychological and family therapy services. Social workers support values of client self-determination and are uniquely trained to understand family, diversity, culture, ethnicity and problem-solving methods.
Will you fix me?
I sincerely believe that my clients can reach places of wisdom within themselves and can gain new knowledge and insights into the source of their own discomforts and difficulty. This is done by their making an effort in and outside of therapy sessions, and by becoming friends with parts of themselves that may have previously become distressing or frightening. I am not a fixer, but instead join my clients in an alliance of goals that they choose for themselves, helping them to feel comfortable and safe making change.