FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Cost and payment

What is your fee, and how long are sessions?
Sessions are 50 minutes, and my fee is $160 per session.

Can I use my out-of-network benefits?
If you have out-of-network benefits that cover mental health counseling, then yes, absolutely! I automatically send a superbill on the 3rd of every month for all of the sessions in the previous month. In our introductory session, we can talk about how to find out whether your insurance covers therapy.

What is a Good Faith Estimate?
A Good Faith Estimate is a written estimate of what your therapy is expected to cost. You'll receive one before we begin. In the spirit of no surprises: my fee is $160 per session. However, insurance companies sometimes deny claims, which is a surprise that's out of my hands as an out-of-network provider. You can always talk to me about this: I want you to be able to afford therapy.

Getting started

What happens in the free consultation?
In our free 30-minute consultation, you'll tell me a little about what brings you to therapy, and I'll tell you a little about how I work. We'll discuss scheduling and payment, and talk about fit: whether I'm the right therapist for you, and if not, who else might be. I always recommend speaking to three different therapists before deciding who might be the best fit for you.

How often will we meet, and how long does therapy last?
The approaches I use, including MBT, psychodynamic therapy, and AEDP, all work best with weekly or twice-weekly sessions. However, I know that life isn't always model-adherent, and sometimes folks need to meet every second week. It is my policy that we meet weekly for the first six weeks to establish a relationship, and then we can adjust the schedule as your needs change. How long therapy lasts varies a great deal. Some people come for a few months; depth work often takes longer, and we'll keep reviewing it together.

Do you have availability, and do you offer evening sessions?
I currently have availability, but things change fast. Please text me at (425) 842-1580, and I'll reply pretty quickly to let you know if I still have space. I don't offer evening sessions; my hours are 8am to 3pm, Tuesday to Thursday.

Telehealth

What do I need for a session?
You'll need to download Zoom and test your microphone and camera before we first meet. You must have a private space where our conversation can’t be overheard. If privacy at home is hard, let me know. We can work out options together.

Can I have a session if I'm travelling outside Washington?
Unfortunately not. My license only allows me to see you while you're physically in Washington. Washington has joined the Counseling Compact, which may eventually allow sessions from some other states, but it isn't up and running here yet. Also, please let me know if you're not at home. If there's an emergency during our session, I need to be able to call emergency services to get you help, so I'll ask where you are if you're somewhere unfamiliar.

Can you adapt sessions to my needs?
Yes! Captions, breaks, sensory adjustments, or extra time to process are all welcome; just let me know what helps. I do ask that cameras stay on, because seeing your face is an important part of how I understand you, especially over video. You don't have to look at the screen the whole time, though, and you're welcome to fidget, move, or look away whenever you need to.

Fit and scope

Who do you work with?
I work with individual adults.

I read that I should look for an IFS, somatic, EMDR, or DBT therapist. Why don't you offer these?
Some of these models are excellent, and I hope to study them one day. My British training covered much of the same ground, including parts work and body-based approaches, alongside many years of psychodynamic study, and I have specialist training in personality disorders through McLean Hospital. Psychodynamic therapy is sometimes seen as old-fashioned, but it actually has a large and growing research base, with good evidence for depression, anxiety and personality difficulties. It's also worth knowing that research consistently finds the relationship with your therapist, whether you like them and feel safe with them, to be one of the strongest predictors of good outcomes, whatever the model. If you decide to meet with me and discover that I am not the right fit for you, I would be happy to help you find someone who is.

Can you prescribe medication, or will you work with my psychiatrist?
I can't prescribe medication. With your written permission, I'm happy to coordinate with your psychiatrist or prescriber to support your care.

Safety and privacy

What if I'm in crisis?
I am not a crisis service. Please call or text 988, or call 911, if you're in crisis. I'm not able to respond to crises outside my working hours. If you need extra support, we can meet twice a week, and I'll do everything I can to fit you in for an additional session during my working hours if you need urgent support.

Is what I say confidential, and what are the limits?
For the most part, yes. There are a few exceptions required or permitted by law. If I believe you're at serious risk of harming yourself, I may need to contact your emergency contact or emergency services. If you're planning to seriously harm someone else, I may be required to warn them or notify the authorities. If I have reason to believe a child or a vulnerable adult is being harmed, I'm required to report it. And if a court orders me to release records, I may have to comply. I'm not trained as an expert witness, so if you need a therapist to be involved in legal matters, I'd recommend finding one who specialises in that kind of work.

What is your cancellation policy?
I require 48 hours’ notice for cancellations, except in cases of emergencies or illness.