What are some of the reasons people seek therapy?

There is often this misconception that you should only consider therapy when “something is seriously wrong”. However, you can seek therapy for any reason and at any time. You can consider therapy to address specific challenges that are impacting your well-being (e.g., communication problems, relationship conflict, parenthood struggles, family stress, cultural/religious concerns). You can also consider therapy to strengthen your own voice, to have a space for reflection for decision-making, to continue building meaningful connections with loved ones, to navigate life transitions, and/or to determine how to live your best life.

Will the information I share in therapy be kept private?

In order for you to feel comfortable disclosing information about your life, it is helpful to know how your information is protected. There is a U.S. federal law (HIPAA) that protects and secures the information you share in therapy and also informs you of specific situations in which your privacy cannot be maintained. Aside from the specific situations mentioned below, I will not disclose any of the information you share in therapy, or any content that would reveal your identity. Maintaining your confidence is part of our code of ethics. Here are some of the special situations in which confidentiality can be broken without your consent:

• If you are an immediate danger to yourself or others.

• If there is a reasonable suspicion of child, elder, or dependent adult abuse.

• If you are deemed “incapacitated.”

• If your therapist receives a qualifying court order.

If you are submitting claims to an insurance company, the superbill will contain a mental health diagnosis, a service code, and any necessary information required to justify billing or payment of services.

Before your first session, I will provide you with an informed consent that will clearly explain confidentiality and any limitations to confidentiality. If you have any questions about it, you should never hesitate to ask.

Will I be judged?

It is a common experience to fear being judged by your therapist especially when you are taking the risk to share private information that makes you feel vulnerable or exposed. While you might feel vulnerable sharing parts of your life, therapists are accustomed to hearing a range of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, experiences and fears that people have - including the feeling or fear of being judged. If you are feeling judged, you are absolutely welcome to share your concerns with me.

Why should I consider seeing an “out-of-network” provider?

I am an out-of-network provider for insurance (please refer to Fees and Insurance for more information). There are some benefits to considering an out-of-network provider:

• You can find a therapist that can meet your specific needs based on their specialties.

• Typically a shorter wait time to be seen for your first appointment.

• You can maintain privacy from your family and/or parents, your health insurance company, and your employer.

How will I know if you are the “right match” for me?

You might know right away or it might take a few sessions of getting to know each other to determine how you might want to proceed. Research has consistently shown that the feeling of connection you develop with your therapist and the ability to work together on your concerns are the two most important predictors of positive change. Providing feedback (even though it can be understandably difficult sometimes) and sharing how you are doing throughout the process is important. Sometimes when we unpack painful experiences in therapy, it can sometimes feel worse before it feels better. If one of us determines that it is not a “good fit” for whatever reason, I would be happy to provide you with referrals.

What is your approach to therapy?

Please refer to My Approach for more information.

Where will therapy sessions take place?

If you are interested in in-person therapy, my office is located at 379H Elliot Street in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts. Online sessions will take place via Zoom. You will be emailed a Zoom link the morning of your scheduled appointment.

How does the payment process work?

You will be asked to provide a credit/debit card to be kept on file and your card will be charged at the end of the day of your scheduled appointment. If you are submitting claims to an insurance company, I will provide you with a receipt of rendered services (please refer to the Fees and Insurance section for more information).

How do I get started?

Once you fill out the contact form, we can schedule a free 15-minute phone call. The brief phone consultation can be helpful in clarifying your goals for therapy, to determine together if my skills are a “good fit” to meet your goals, and to answer any questions you might have. If we decide to proceed after the phone call, we will schedule a first appointment and I will send you my virtual information packet to complete prior to our first meeting. The first 2-3 appointments will be more directive in nature in which I will ask you detailed questions about different aspects of your life. Obtaining a detailed history is important because many aspects of our lives influence one another. There is no pressure to answer any questions that you are not ready to answer. The first few sessions will help us to learn more about each other and figure out how we want to proceed.

New to therapy and want to learn more? Press on this link for more information.