Common Questions
How do I know if my child could benefit from therapy?
Just like adults, children can get stressed, angry, worried, anxious, and sad. Sometimes these emotions last for a day or two, or they come and go in a manageable fashion. But if these feelings persist for weeks or months and get in the way of a child’s enjoyment in life, it is a sign that they may benefit from seeing a therapist.
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You may notice a variety of symptoms or behaviors in your child that cause you concern, such as:
Anger and overreaction to certain situations
Worries, anxiousness, or fearfulness on a regular basis
Difficulty adjusting to a recent change
Preoccupation with physical illness
Rigidity in routine or difficulty managing transitions
Regression (i.e. soiling/wetting self when previously toilet trained)
Low frustration tolerance
Loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable
Declining grades or school refusal
Desire to be alone rather than with friends or family
Low self-esteem or poor self-image
Thoughts of suicide or self=harm
Difficulty with concentration or focus
Nightmares or difficulty sleeping
Whether you, a teacher, or somebody close to your child feels it is time to talk with a therapist, it’s never too early to ask for help. Even if your child doesn’t appear to be experiencing significant difficulty and you would simply like to gain insight or get ahead of an issue before it manifests into something bigger, there is no harm in reaching out. Sometimes even brief treatment, such as 4-12 sessions, is enough to address a stressful situation or problematic behavior and prevent more concerning symptoms & behaviors from presenting down the line.
Do you do psychological assessments, make custody recommendations, or give psychiatric medications?
No, I do not. It is out of my scope of training and expertise to offer psychological assessments (for diagnoses such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorder) as these are provided by a psychologist. Similarly, I am not able to recommend or prescribe psychiatric medication as I am not a psychiatrist. Lastly, I am not qualified to provide custody evaluations or court-ordered reunification therapy. If you desire any of the above, I am able to provide you with referrals to providers who do offer those services. However, I can collaborate and consult with psychologists or psychiatrists on your child’s behalf (with a signed release form) in order to coordinate care.
If I reach out to you, what can I expect?
I will connect with you within 1-2 business days to answer any brief questions you may have and schedule a free phone consult (or provide you with referrals to other providers if needed). At the end of the consult, we can schedule an initial intake appointment and I will email you the paperwork to complete ahead of time. My paperwork can be completed all electronically in 30-45 minutes and consists of office policies, consent forms, liability waivers, and a brief questionnaire.
Do you take my health insurance?
I strongly believe that every person should have access to quality, affordable mental health care. For that reason, I am in-network with the following insurance plans:
Anthem BCBS
United Healthcare/UBH/Optum/UMR
Cigna
Aetna
HomeState
If your family lacks healthcare coverage, I am happy to provide referrals to agencies that can assist with exploring options and completing applications. I do take private pay and my rate is $100 per session.