FAQ

Sessions typically last for 55 minutes. I will make every effort to begin and end on time as I value and respect your time.

Finding the right therapist is about meeting with someone with whom you connect and feel that you can share your deeply personal experiences with. Therapy is an inherently vulnerable experience and it will only be helpful if you feel comfortable and safe to approach difficult issues with your therapist. I encourage you to ask questions and most importantly trust your gut when you first talk with a therapist. It can feel overwhelming and frustrating if the first few therapists you meet with are not right for you. I urge you to not give up and to be open to meeting with someone else should you not be successful the first time around. Finding a therapist is extremely personal and worth the work it can take to find the one who can help you. I will be more than happy to provide you with referrals should it become apparent that we are not a match.

Whether this is your first or fifth time starting therapy, it can be anxiety provoking meeting with someone new. I am here to help the process feel as relaxed as possible. During our first 1-3 sessions, we will talk about what has brought you to see me, your family history, and your goals for getting help. I will spend some time getting to know you and what makes you tick! Our initial time together will be an opportunity for us to see if we are a good match and to determine if you feel that I might help you. At the end of the first and every session, we will check in about how the session felt and our roadmap for going forward.

Prenatal and postpartum therapy has a bit more structure to it due to the time limited nature, however you can expect that the first few sessions will be dedicated to hearing your story and exploring your hopes, dreams and fears as they relate to welcoming your new baby. We will also set goals, lay out a plan for what topics we are likely to cover and address a general timeline for our work, which is always flexible (generally 4-6 sessions before the birth and 4-6 after the birth). I prefer to work with clients both during the prenatal and postpartum phase. It offers continuity of care and a reliable source of support during the months leading up to and after baby arrives.

The therapeutic relationship is bound by strict laws around confidentiality and maintaining your confidentiality is one of my highest priorities. That means that everything we discuss remains between us with a few exceptions. One, is if you provide me with written permission to speak with another person (such as your doctor) about our work together. The other is my commitment to safety. I am a mandated reporter which means that I have to report to authorities if you are an imminent danger to yourself or anyone else, or if an elder or child is in an abusive situation.

If you are here it’s likely the idea of seeing a therapist has been on your mind for a while. One of the first questions I encourage you to ask yourself is, “How is this issue affecting my overall quality of life?” If you feel that you have noticed a marked decrease in your ability to enjoy your day to day activities and your relationships with others, then it might be a good time to connect with a therapist. Deciding to seek therapy is a brave and personal decision and only you know if you are ready for it.

I prefer to see my clients on a weekly basis until the goals we have set are met or if it becomes clear that a referral to another provider would be most appropriate. It is my belief that therapy is most effective when it is consistent. Like most things, you have to put the time and effort in to get the results you are seeking. My hope is that it is something you look forward to and you come away from our sessions feeling better than when you arrived.

There is no right answer here. I would prefer that therapy be an investment you make that pays off sooner rather than later and I place great focus on setting realistic goals with my clients. I am continually checking in to see that our work is providing some concrete benefit to you. Many of my clients begin to feel relief within the first few sessions and it is not uncommon to feel somewhat better after the first meeting.

Unfortunately, I do not accept insurance, but I will gladly provide you a superbill to submit to your health insurance provider for partial reimbursement if available. I encourage you to call your insurance company to understand any out of network benefits you might have access to.

I do have some weekend and evening availability. Please contact me to discuss scheduling.

I am currently available for online (telehealth) sessions at this time and am not seeing clients in person. I use a secure web-based video platform that keeps our conversations private. For online sessions, all you need is a computer or device with a camera and an internet connection. Additional information about online therapy can be found here.

When I am seeing clients face-to-face, I offer therapy sessions at my office located in the Coombsville neighborhood, less than 10 minutes from downtown Napa. It is a quiet and peaceful setting where inspiration and nature abound.

I consider therapy an extremely collaborative process and we will continually check-in to discuss whether our work together feels helpful, if our connection is strong and if we are moving towards meeting your goals. The connection between client and therapist is deeply personal and if it feels like I am not meeting your needs or you would be best served by another provider I will offer referrals and help you get connected to a someone who might be a better fit.

I accept payment via credit or debit card and HSA/FSA funds using the online payment system. I request that clients keep a credit/debit card on file for missed or canceled sessions as well as clients who enroll in auto-pay.

Please see my fees page for additional information.