Are you accepting new clients? 

I currently have occasional openings in my busy schedule. Please feel free to ask for a consultation to talk more about your needs and my availability. If I can’t take on new clients when you contact me, I’ll be happy to point you toward other similar therapists in the area who may be able to.

Who do you see in your private practice? 

I mostly work with people who have lived experience as women or girls (preteen+) who have had their lives turned upside down by experiences like rape, accidents, illness, injuries or big losses. I do also sometimes work with men and boys who have had such experiences or are interested in processing something related to them (e.g., partners of trauma survivors). Together we work on rebuilding a sense of safety, and developing skills to get the big reactions back in control. When things are feeling more balanced, we start working toward building a greater understanding of the traumatic events, and a positive vision of the future.

What happens in a counseling session?

At first we'll focus on getting to know each other so that you feel safe to talk. When you're ready, we'll talk about why you came in, identify some goals for our work, and discuss options for addressing those goals. As the client, it's important that you feel in control, so we'll talk about what to do if you become uncomfortable or distressed, and I'll check in with you a lot. Once you start to feel more comfortable, I'll help you figure out approaches to your goals that work best for you, and make a plan for using them. We may use specific therapy techniques, or we may “just talk.”

One option is that you can have my professional therapy dog, Nova, in our sessions. Nova can just hang out in the room to help you feel safer and more comfortable, you can pet her and give her treats, or we can bring Nova into your work more actively. When using Nova actively in your therapy, we might teach her tricks, read her poems or tell her secrets (with or without me listening in!), talk about her experiences, notice her reactions, etc. as a way to approach your therapeutic goals. You can let me know what you’d like to try!

How long is a session? 

Typically, sessions are 55 minutes long. This is a bit longer than the typical 45 or 50 minute sessions that most therapists offer. I find that longer sessions are more satisfying for my clients. I also sometimes have 85 minute sessions available for those needing more time, especially  those working through bad experiences using EMDR.

How often will we meet? / Can I come for sessions only when I need them?

My expectation is that we'll be meeting at least once per week. Without that consistency, we'll be spending more of our time warming up to the topics that are important to your work or getting back to where we left off. There may be times when you don't want to come to our sessions or don't feel like you need therapy that day. These moments when therapy seems less appealing are every bit as important as the times you are more motivated to come. I find that they are often the sessions that have the most lasting effect! That said, life is complicated and sometimes meeting weekly just doesn’t work. I’m happy to work with you around that.

What forms of payment do you accept? 

I accept cash, check, Visa and MasterCard. Some of my clients receive Victims Compensation funds to help pay for therapy. In that case, I will not charge you for the portion of my fee covered by Victims Comp, and I will bill them directly. I accept Medicaid for groups only.

What insurance plans do you take? 

I am able to accept payment through Colorado Medicaid (regions 3 and 6 only), but I accept new Medicaid clients only for my groups. I am covered as an out-of-network provider by most PPO insurance plans. I can provide a super bill for each session, which you can send to your insurance carrier for reimbursement. Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan.  Please check your coverage carefully to verify specifics of your particular insurance coverage. You may want to ask the following questions: 

What is my deductible for out-of-network mental health benefits, and has it been met? 

How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover? 

How much (cost and number of sessions) does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider? 

Is approval required from my primary care physician?

Which diagnoses are covered? (Most of my clients are eventually diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

How to make an appointment? 

Making an appointment is easy. Call or text (720) 340-6261 or email me. Text and email are most likely to get a quick response from me. We will usually be able to find a time to meet within the next week. It can be difficult to reach me live on the phone, as I am often in session with clients or otherwise unable to have a confidential phone conversation.  You will be more likely to reach my voicemail. I hope you will leave a message. I will get back to you as soon as possible.  I try to respond within 24 hours.

What if I don't know if counseling is for me? 

I offer a free 30 minute consultation by phone or in person to help you make this decision. If you are interested in bringing Nova into your sessions, we can schedule a time for her to come too. Counseling can be a big step toward making your life better, and it's important to find someone you feel comfortable talking to. After our consultation, or after any session, if you feel that you may need a different therapist, I will be happy to provide you referrals. It's completely fine if you decide not to continue with me! My goal is to help you get on the best path forward for you, whatever that may be.