WELCOME!
I’m so glad you are here! Whether its your first time or 20th time in therapy, starting the process of getting to know yourself on a deeper level takes courage, trust, and vulnerability. I provide a warm, comfortable and judgement free environment to help others feeling safe to explore barriers in their lives that may be preventing them from reaching their goals. Using evidence-based, trauma informed care, we will work together to discover the underlying causes of your suffering, help heal old wounds and find new adaptive coping strategies. My hope is that you know you are not alone and healing is possible. Thank you for trusting me to a part of your journey.
ABOUT MY APPROACH
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience, I have worked in social service agencies, hospitals, hospice care, and inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. Throughout my hospital and mental health work, I developed a special interest in working with women struggling from depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress, grief and loss, domestic violence, and relationship difficulties. I received my certificate in Perinatal Mental Health in 2021 from Postpartum Support International, and specialize in treating perinatal mood disorders including postpartum depression, anxiety and PTSD as well as helping new moms and dads adjust to parenthood. Trained in using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), I often use this approach in working with clients on childhood trauma, codependency, chronic depression and anxiety, and acute traumatic experiences.
I graduated from James Madison University with a B.S. in Social Work in 2005, and earned my Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland Baltimore. I also currently serve as the Mental Health Coach for The Birth Recovery Center, a virtual hub dedicated to serving moms in all aspects of motherhood. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and sons, going to JMU football games, playing volleyball, reading, and exploring the outdoors of Virginia.
MY SERVICES
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
Licensed in both Virginia and Kentucky, I offer both in person and telehealth services to clients in Virginia, and telehealth only to clients residing in Kentucky. I provide individual counseling to adults experiencing a wide range of issues including but not limited to depression, anxiety, family of origin issues, low self esteem, trauma, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, miscarriage and loss, grief, and adjustment to parenting.
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)
EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy approach intended to treat psychological disorders, to alleviate human suffering and to assist individuals to fulfill their potential for development, while minimizing risks of harm in its application. For the client, EMDR treatment aims to achieve comprehensive treatment safely, effectively and efficiently, while maintaining client stability. For more information about EMDR, visit www.emdria.org.
PARENT COACHING
Do you struggle to understand your child’s behaviors? Do you know that you want to parent differently but feel stuck in the same cycle asking nicely --> yelling --> lots of tears/fighting --> major guilt feelings? I can help you understand what drives your child’s unwanted behaviors, built deeper connections with your child, and create a family environment that works together instead of against each other. As a Certified Parent Educator, trained through the Positive Discipline Association, I will help by providing psychoeducation to make sense of your child’s feelings and behaviors, skills and strategies you can start using right away to create positive changes in your home. I look forward to joining with you to help you feel more empower as a parent!
Coaching does not provide a medical diagnosis and therefore cannot be billed through insurance.
RATES
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
$135/ 50 Minute Session
COUPLE'S THERAPY
$200/ 50 Minute Session
PARENT COACHING
$150/ 60 Minute Session
INSURANCE
Insurances Accepted:
Anthem BCBS
Optum
Please check your coverage carefully by asking your insurance company the following questions:
Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
What is my deductible and has it been met?
How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
Is approval required from my primary care physician?
If you choose to submit for reimbursement, I will provide a receipt containing the necessary information for you to submit to your insurance company. You will be reimbursed in accordance with your specific insurance plan.
REDUCED FEE
Sliding scale services are available on a limited basis.
PAYMENT
Cash, check, major credit cards, HSA/FSA are accepted for payment. Payment is required at time of service.
CANCELLATION POLICY
If you do not show up for your scheduled therapy appointment, and you have not notified me at least 24 hours in advance, you will be required to pay the full cost of the session.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me for further information.
RESOURCES
The following links are listed to provide you with additional online mental health care information and counseling resources.
FAQS
HOW CAN THERAPY HELP ME?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
Developing skills for improving your relationships
Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
Improving communications and listening skills
Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
DO I REALLY NEED THERAPY? I CAN USUALLY HANDLE MY PROBLEMS.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
WHY DO PEOPLE GO TO THERAPY AND HOW DO I KNOW IF IT IS RIGHT FOR ME?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.
WHAT IS THERAPY LIKE?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
WHAT ABOUT MEDICATION VS. PSYCHOTHERAPY?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE, AND HOW DOES THAT WORK?
I am an in-network provider with Anthem BCBS and Optum. To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
What are my mental health benefits?
What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
Is approval required from my primary care physician?
DOES WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THERAPY REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm another person.
