Frequently Asked Questions
The Nuts and Bolts
Where is your office?
I am only providing therapy through video sessions.
What are your hours?
I am available for sessions on Tuesdays thru Fridays, 7am – 5pm, and on Saturday mornings.
How long are your sessions?
Sessions are 50 minutes for individual therapy. EMDR focused sessions can be up to 90 minutes.
Do you accept insurance?
I am paneled with Kaiser, First Choice, Premera and LifeWise. For other insurance companies, I can provide an out of network (OON) summary of payments each month which you can submit to your insurance to reimburse at their OON rate.
How do I set up an appointment?
Please give me a call at (480) 779-8106 to schedule an initial, no-cost consultation. We will work out an appointment time if we decide to work together. I will also provide you with intake forms to review and sign online through my secure portal.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel an appointment, please do so at least 24 hours prior to the session to avoid being charged for the session.
Do you verify coverage?
I cannot guarantee benefit coverage. Not all insurance companies are created equal – the same goes for each insurance policy. I am happy to check your policy, but it is up to you to contact your insurance company to find out what your deductible, copay, and coverage is. I will however let you know if I am in network or not. And I can also provide you with a super bill for reimbursement from your insurance if I am out of network with your carrier.
Creating the Environment
What kinds of people do you work with?
I work with individuals of all genders ages 15 and older. I am LGBTQIA affirming, and my goal is to see you become more comfortable and secure in who you are.
What about couples therapy?
I work with both individuals and couples.
What is a session like with you?
You will likely find it pretty easy to talk with me, and at times, it’ll feel like a conversation with a good friend. I do not provide a lot of direction for the session, but will respond with questions and provide feedback to help you become clearer on what you are working through. That said, I’m not a silent therapist who simply repeats, “so how does that make you feel?” I am pretty open with who I am, my thoughts and feelings, but all of this is to provide you with a sense of connection with me, and to help you feel more comfortable.
What is your professional training and experience?
I have a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, which trained me in relational psychodynamic therapy. I have had additional training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Somatic Engineering, and EMDR. I have been a therapist for five years, and have worked in community health with hundreds of clients of all races, genders, and sexual identities dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, psychosis, and trauma recovery.
What type of therapy do you use?
I’m fairly eclectic in my work. I borrow from different modalities based on what my clients’ needs. There is no cookie-cutter approach that works for each person; I stay flexible and responsive to what is coming up for each person who sits with me.
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
From my experience, and the research bears this out, the type of therapy is not as important as the connection and rapport between you and me. Of course, you will be glad to know I am trained and experienced, that I’ve been licensed and have a track record of actually helping others – that is a given. However, if you don’t feel comfortable with me, no matter how good I am at CBT or EMDR, and if you don’t believe I am whole-heartedly supportive and in your corner, you’re not going to want to talk about what is going on deep inside.
During the initial consultation, you are welcome to ask me questions about how I work and who I am. But more importantly, you’ll also be able to get a feel for how comfortable you are sharing with me about what you are concerned about in your own life.
I am also part of a large network of therapists through Shelterwood Collective. If I am not the therapist for you, I am happy to help you find someone who is more suited to what you need.
I see you have a theology background. Are you a Christian counselor? Do I have to be a Christian to work with you?
I do have a master’s in Theology and Culture, and used to be a pastor in a Christian church. However, I’ve done a lot of work deconstructing my history and my faith, and my continually evolving spirituality is a source of life and meaning for me.
I’m fascinated by walking alongside peoples’ journeys, inviting possibility and curiosity, and comparing notes. This means that I borrow from my Christian background when appropriate, but I primarily utilize a psychological lens with my clients so they can develop their own sense of meaning, purpose and direction.
In short, if you are a Christian, you’ll find that I have a shared understanding of where you’re coming from. However, even if you are completely against Christianity, or have experienced trauma in the context of the church, you will find me deeply sympathetic and focused on seeing you become whole, and not trying to convert you to any particular faith structure.
Where do I start?
I am currently accepting new clients. To schedule a free initial 15 minute consult, please fill out the form to the right and let me know.