"How do I know if I need therapy?"

Therapy isn’t just for "crisis" moments. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or curious about your own patterns—or if you just want a dedicated space to explore your life more deeply—therapy can help. You don’t need a "good enough" reason to start.

"What happens in a first session?"

We’ll talk about what brought you here and what you’d like to change. There’s no pressure to share anything you’re not ready to—this is about building trust and seeing if we’re a good fit. You can ask me questions too!

"How long will therapy take?"

It depends on your goals. Some people feel relief in a few sessions; others value longer-term support. We’ll check in regularly to make sure you’re getting what you need.

"What if I don’t know what to talk about?"

That’s completely normal. I’ll help guide our conversations, and we can start with whatever feels most pressing—even if it’s "I don’t know where to start."

"How much does therapy cost? Do you take insurance?"

My fee is $225 per session. I don’t take insurance, but I can provide a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. I also use a service that verifies your out-of-network benefits, submits claims on your behalf, and can even reduce what you pay upfront.

You can check your estimated benefits below — it takes about a minute and doesn't require calling your insurance company.

If cost is a barrier, let’s discuss options—your care matters.

"Why don’t you take insurance?"

This is an important question, and my decision comes from both clinical and ethical considerations. While I used to work with insurance panels, I found that their requirements fundamentally change the therapy process in ways that work against deeper healing. Insurance companies hold tremendous power over treatment—they can deny claims unexpectedly, limit sessions based on financial priorities rather than clinical need, and require invasive details about your personal history to justify care.

More importantly, insurers overwhelmingly favor short-term, symptom-focused treatments. While these approaches have value, they’re the opposite of what we do in psychodynamic work. Our focus is on understanding the roots of patterns, not just managing symptoms temporarily. When I took insurance, I spent more time documenting for their requirements than being fully present with clients. True dynamic work needs creative space to follow organic emotional discoveries—something that becomes nearly impossible when treatment plans must fit rigid insurance templates. This allows us to protect what matters most: your ability to do meaningful work without outside interference.

"What if I need to cancel?"

Life happens — each calendar year, you have 4 weeks you can take away from therapy for any reason (travel, illness, just needing a break) at no charge. Use them however works for you, all at once or spread out, and a heads-up when you can gives me time to plan, but they're yours to use as needed.

Beyond that, if you need to cancel, I'll do my best to reschedule within the same week. When that's not possible, the full session fee applies — your time is held for you each week, and that consistency is part of what makes the work possible.

One note for anyone using insurance for reimbursement: I'm not able to submit claims for missed sessions, so any fee outside your yearly allowance is billed directly to you.

If anything about this policy doesn't fit your situation, I'm happy to talk it through.

"Can I bring up something that’s not working in therapy?"

Absolutely - in fact, I encourage it. What makes psychodynamic work special is how we pay close attention to what emerges between us. If something feels off - whether it's my approach, something I said, or just the general vibe - that's incredibly valuable material for our work together. These moments often reveal important patterns that might mirror challenges you experience elsewhere in life. Your honest feedback helps us both understand you better.