These letters (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, PsyD, PhD, or MD) indicate a therapist’s specific credentials, training, and licensure within their field of practice.  I am an LPC, or Licensed Professional Counselor. This designation signifies that I have met the necessary education, experience, and examination requirements to practice counseling in Pennsylvania. My licensure enables me to provide mental health therapy for a variety of individuals and presenting issues. In addition to my existing training, I seek out continuing education and certifications to enhance my practice.  I am not a medical doctor/psychiatrist, so I do not prescribe medication.  If appropriate, I may consult with a client’s existing medical team or refer clients to a licensed psychiatrist for evaluation. 

Research shows that the relationship between the client and the therapist (aka their “therapeutic alliance”) is an extremely important part of a client’s experience, and letters are not necessarily predictive of outcome.  If you are not sure what therapist or therapy is “right” for you, start with those you believe you can build a relationship, regardless of letters.

Everybody’s reasons for seeking out a therapist are different. If you’ve come this far reading through my website, you’re likely more than ready to take action. While some people may seek help for conditions causing an interruption in their lives, such as anxiety and depression, others may need to deal with trauma from childhood or a specific event. There’s no right or wrong reason to go to therapy or even when to begin. Most people turn to a therapist when they’re in crisis or have not found a solution on their own, or they’ve tried a variety of things and therapy is their last resort. 

I know that therapy is beginning to “work” when the initial crisis has resolved and the intensity of the presenting issue that brought us together is over. Therapy provides an opportunity for you to build a new relationship with yourself, regain a sense of choice in your life, and build self-awareness towards a more complete and whole version of yourself. 

This doesn’t have an easy answer. Some people come in, dig deep on one specific thing, and wrap up their work in 6-8 sessions. Others come in with a number of challenges that have been going on for years or decades and that takes time to address.

My goal isn’t to keep you in therapy forever. My job is to help you grow awareness of your circumstances, make the changes you are wanting, and help you move forward in your life.  This takes as long as we determine it takes.

Termination of therapy can be initiated by either the client or the therapist for a variety of reasons: Conclusion of salient issues, financial changes, relocation (I can only see clients in Pennsylvania), lack of therapeutic fit due to content beyond my scope, or irreparable therapeutic rupture. As I discuss in the intake session with a new client, I ask clients to schedule a final exit therapy before terminating therapy, rather than ghosting.

Sometimes you will start to feel “worse” after beginning therapy. These feelings are often associated with us uncovering and revealing parts of your life that have been pushed down, cut off, or which you’ve kept very well hidden. Sharing these parts of yourself can be scary and unsettling, even overwhelming. Please know this is part of the process. You and I will work together to ensure you are safe and have methods in place to handle emotions when they arise. As you begin to transform, it’s possible the environment around you will react. At times, this causes conflicts with friends, family, and loved ones, because the way you show up in their lives may start to change. This is normal and again, something we will make sure you have the support you need and tools to adapt to as the need arises.

Due to the ephemeral nature of the here and now/wow, as well as the unique individuals that we are, no two sessions of therapy are the same, even for the same client.

Some of the interventions I use are: talking, role play, experiments, grounding, somatic experiencing, needs/feelings literacy, mindfulness, and more.

There will be times that come up in our relationship when you’re going to want to bail out. It’s my job to help identify these moments and sit with you in the discomfort of what’s present and lean in. This is when the magic of therapy happens. Most people in your life will avoid what’s uncomfortable. By contrast, as your therapist, I’m not going to short-change you by avoiding what needs to be addressed. You deserve a therapist who dares greatly to show up with you; someone who sees you and remains present, constant, and consistent, and who operates from a place of willingness and awareness.

I see clients weekly, biweekly, or monthly, depending on your needs. This is discussed in the discovery call and intake session. Session frequency can change if we agree to it. Please be aware that I have a small practice, so I do not have time in my schedule to accommodate last-minute or frequent changes.

The discovery call is a 15-min introduction to each other. I will ask you about your reasons for seeking therapy, share my approach, and answer any questions you have. We will also talk about the logistics of my practice and whether it fits your schedule and budget.

During the discovery call, we are both testing the waters about whether we want to move forward. I encourage you to research a variety of therapists that may be a fit for you. If we both see a fit, we will move to the intake session.

The intake session is our first session and takes around 90 minutes. We discuss your history (mental health, substance use, medical, family/social, safety concerns), review my practice policies, complete a safety/crisis plan, discuss any relevant mental health diagnoses and assessments, and discuss your goals for therapy.

I ask that all clients arrive on time for all of their sessions so that we may utilize our time together as efficiently and effectively as possible.

I do not charge for appointments cancelled or rescheduled more than 24 hours in advance.

You will be charged the full rate if you:

• do not show to your appointment.

• cancel your appointment less than 24 hours in advance.

• arrive more than 15 minutes late.

• report that you are out-of-state (if telehealth).

• attempt to join your session (if telehealth) while driving or from an area that is not private and are unable to appropriately relocate to a safe/private space.

The credit or debit card that you have on file will be charged the same day of your missed session. The only exceptions to these above circumstances are emergencies (e.g. sudden illness, family death, child illness or childcare crisis) that can be verified and/or if you would endanger yourself by trying to attend a session (e.g. driving on icy or snow-covered roads).

For both telehealth and in-person sessions, I respectfully ask that all clients show up to session without using substances that day so that we can maximize our time together. If it becomes apparent that you are impaired due to substances, I will end the session.