ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THERAPY ONLINE AND IN TEXAS

Frequently Asked

Questions

Deciding when, how, and who are some of the most critical parts of your therapy journey. I want to help you shed some light on what that might look like and how it could feel along the way. If you don’t see your question below, I love to talk about all things therapy (president of the fan club, remember?), so don’t hesitate to ask me!

Hey, you’re doing something awesome for yourself by deciding to come to therapy. 

Thanks for that.

  • While I do take Aetna, most of my clients use their out-of-network benefits or pay out-of-pocket for therapy sessions. As the choice to involve insurance companies requires a formal diagnosis and decreases confidentiality, my clients often find that the limitations imposed by insurance companies are not worth getting stuck with a therapist that does not specialize in their needs or is not a good fit.

    When you use out-of-network benefits or pay out-of-pocket, you have increased freedom and flexibility in your choice of therapist as well as the duration, frequency, and length of sessions.

  • I recognize that my clients lead busy lives and that it may be that Saturday mornings are your only available time to meet. For this reason, I offer limited telehealth-only sessions on Saturday morning. At this time, I do not plan to offer evening sessions, but have many available slots throughout the week.

  • These words point to the difference in training and schools of thought for those in the mental health field. As a social work trained psychotherapist (with a master’s degree in Social Work), I can support you with the same counseling and therapeutic approaches that a clinical therapist (with a master’s degree in Counseling) will give you, in addition to some other unique benefits.

    While clinical therapists and social workers are both effective and highly trained professionals, the social work field tends to view clients through a systemic lens. This training allows social workers to consider how all levels of the systems of which you are a part impact you (e.g. maybe you're anxious because the world is a hot mess right now).

    The social work field as a whole is deeply concerned with social justice and ensuring that all persons have access to resources and are able to get their needs met. For me, this means that I’ve worked with individuals across the spectrum of life’s difficulties, and some who were at their lowest point. I believe in a positive future for all of us, and I have many tools to help you feel empowered to reach for a better tomorrow.

  • If it feels right, it’s more than okay; it’s encouraged actually. All feelings are welcome here.

    I encourage you to show up with your whole authentic self. Sometimes that might mean tears, anger, or unexpected laughter. We will get through all of it, together.

  • Nope! In fact, you don’t even have to sit in a chair or my office. You can do therapy online from your bed, car, or wherever (within the state of Texas) you feel most comfortable. Alternatively, if you are in Houston, I invite you to ask me about a walk and talk session.

  • As a therapy-goer myself, I understand that needs change and a good match is central to effective therapy. I’m a huge fan of therapy (not just therapy with me) so whatever the reason, I want to support you if it’s not working. If at any point you feel we’re no longer suited to creating the change you need, let me know however you feel safest. Although this can be hard to bring up to me, please know that I want to celebrate your choice to prioritize what’s right for you. We can make a plan to connect you with a new clinician or discontinue your sessions. Or, we can put our sessions on pause until you have the space in your life to do the introspective work that therapy requires.

  • We’ll begin working together once per week. Along the way, you may decide you’d like to try something different. I have seen clients as often as twice per week or as occasionally as once per month (and many variations in between).

  • Most definitely. Virtual therapy is a great way to connect across the vastness that is Texas without the worry of commutes, schedules, or traffic. I limit my in-person sessions to one day per week (Friday) because I find that many of my clients feel most comfortable being vulnerable in their own safe space.

    I use Zoom for virtual therapy, so you’ll get a recurring link for our standing appointments—easy to remember and accessible anywhere in Texas!

  • It makes sense that you want to be sure that the therapist you choose is qualified and equipped to work with your specific needs. While my focus is on working with those walking (or considering) alternative paths and men and women who are overachievers, my experience extends beyond those categories. While I have a background in education, I still do my best work with older teens whose challenges are reminiscent of my older clients. I can help young adults who are processing through grief, and high school students that are struggling to find their identity outside of academics. I can help middle aged women who are living with depression, and I can help professional men discover the family “stuff” that’s getting in the way of work performance.

    If you have a unique situation (all of us do), I encourage you to contact me and let me know where you need support.

  • No.

    Just, no. Going to therapy is like hitting the reset button for connecting with yourself, your life, and your purpose. As a therapy-goer, I feel that my relationship with my own therapist is a source of grounding in my life that allows me to give back to the people I love. This is what I hope to help you cultivate, but even if that’s not your experience, you deserve to know that looking after yourself is not selfish.

Curious about something else?

What to Expect

For therapy veterans and newcomers alike, getting started with a new therapist is an intimidating experience. But, it doesn’t have to be fraught with uncertainty. 

I am a big believer in providing you with all the information you need to make sure you feel held and supported at every step along the way. 

So, I’ve created a guide of what you can expect at some of the key steps of your therapy experience—like a highlight reel for feels.

After Your Consultation

Once we decide to move forward together in our consultation call, I will send a link via email to register for my online portal to complete your intake forms. I like to get as much info there as possible to ensure our time together is intentionally spent. For this reason, those forms are long and a little invasive—feel free to skip anything that’s too much, we can talk about it together. 

A couple of clinical assessments (think BuzzFeed quiz but more technical) will come by email separately (Sorry!), as well as a checklist of all the forms for simplicity. If you are using insurance for payment, you will also receive a separate email for that. 

Once all your paperwork is in order, I’ll reach back out to confirm and offer some reminders. If we are meeting virtually, I will send you a recurring Zoom link that we will use for all our sessions. 

From there, it’s time to begin!

Your First Session

All that paperwork you did means you’ll be able to jump in with both feet. I try to avoid making this feel like an interview, but new things can always feel a little awkward, so I’m prepared to go at your pace. 

I’ll ask some questions to start an organic conversation, but there’s no pressure for any particular outcome this session. Don’t be nervous about getting it wrong—you can’t! 

A Typical Session

During our 50-minute sessions, I like to make sure you feel safe and comfortable in the here and now before we work on progressing. We’ll usually begin with a review of where we left off last time and where you’re at right now. We’ll structure your sessions based on your mood, needs, and what we accomplished previously together. 

Your Therapy Journey

I love supporting people who want therapy to be a part of their lifelong developmental journey. When you’re ready to alter or conclude this chapter in your therapeutic experience, let me know, and we can create closure together.

Some Virtual Session Tips from Your Friendly Neighborhood Therapist Here in Houston

  • Use your laptop (so you don’t have to hold your phone the whole time). 

  • Be somewhere you feel free to express yourself freely (so maybe not your work conference room).

  • Help yourself be present by making the call full screen and setting your devices to Do Not Disturb.

  • Legally, you must be in one location (i.e. not driving, walking, or biking should you be so bold).

  • Provide the address if you are not at home in case you were to, for example, faint, and I needed to send emergency services to your location.

Do You Have More Questions?