Depth
Psychotherapy

+ How often should I go to therapy?

Honestly, as often as possible. A common misconception about frequency is that the more often you’re coming, the worse your problems are. While that can be true in other kinds of treatment, it's not necessarily true in an insight-oriented depth psychotherapy. In the context of my approach, meeting more often means you're giving yourself more time and space to deeply address the issues you got into therapy to address in the first place. Meeting more frequently gives us the opportunity to really dive in to creating and using the therapeutic relationship, to really closely track different patterns (in mood, behavior, sleep, etc), to work through complex dynamics, and expand different capacities (emotional regulation, self-reflection, self-soothing, conflict resolution, healthy communication, etc). Think of it this way: if you're trying to develop any new habit or skill, like learning an instrument, practicing yoga, etc, you try to do it as often as you can, because the more time you put in, the better and more satisfying results you see. Therapy can (and should) be thought of in the same way.

+ How long does therapy take?

Honestly? Years. You didn't develop these problems overnight or in a matter of a few weeks--you're not going to work through them in a solid way in a short period of time either. When we're trying to develop insight, cultivate meaningful, long lasting transformations, and work through long-standing, deep-seeded patterns and dynamics, we need to take our time. I'm not in the business of putting band-aids on bullet holes. I'm in the business of doing the complex, thoughtful and sustained work of helping people transform their lives.

+ Do you give homework?

I don't give homework, though I might encourage my patients to pay closer attention to their reactions, feelings, dreams, etc. in between our sessions to inform our work. How do people do that? Some folks find it helpful to journal and share what they journal with me. I work with a lot of "creative" types who write, sing, draw, etc and I always welcome them sharing their work with me when it feels meaningful and relevant for them. Some folks find it helpful to use mood tracking apps to keep track of feelings and events through the week. I try to help each patient figure out which method best meets their personal needs.

+ What are the benefits of teletherapy?

Teletherapy makes it much easier to fit therapy into your life, rather than trying to fit your life around therapy. Flexible scheduling--you only need to block out time for your appointment, not for your appointment plus a commute to and from therapy. Being in a familiar, private space--you don't need to worry about finding the office, getting a parking spot, or dealing with strangers in the waiting room or hallway. Fewer disruptions to therapy--no need to cancel due to inclement weather, the sniffles, a business trip, or because your babysitter did. I've been doing teletherapy since 2017. I'm skilled, experienced, and confident with this way of working.

+ What is Insight-Oriented Depth Psychotherapy?

I offer a psychodynamic approach to therapy. What does that mean? There’s a lot of information out there, so let me try to break it down as simply as I can!

A psychodynamic approach to therapy:

Recognizes you as a complex individual with a multitude of feelings, motivations, hopes, and fears.

Knows that that multitude of complex feelings, motivations, hopes, and fears can be overwhelming at times, hard to sort through, or make sense of—especially when they feel conflictual or unknowable.

Knows that all human growth happens in relationships. A safe, solid relationship can create a “relational home” to draw out those complexities and help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, your feelings, your relationships, your motivations, your fears, and your hopes.

Suggests that when you know yourself better, you have more choices in how you behave, both with yourself and with other people.

Honors your pain and suffering. Sometimes the past doesn’t stay in the past. Many of us— maybe all of us— have hurts, embarrassments, losses, and traumas in our lives. Those can stick with us in ways we’re not consciously aware of, causing repeated patterns of relationship problems, depression, anxiety, self-sabotage, and self-destructive behaviors.

Makes a place for you. In the therapeutic relationship we develop, we make a place for us to heal those former hurts, transform ancient shame, grieve losses and “never-was” situations, and lay traumas to rest. By doing this, we open up more possibilities for you to move forward. A psychodynamic approach to therapy helps transform your ghosts into ancestors.

Above all, a psychodynamic approach to therapy honors you as an individual. We don’t try to force you into a diagnostic box or make you fit a treatment protocol. Rather, when we work together, we will endeavor to get to know you thoroughly, in all your complexity. I want to know about your problems, sorrows, and rages, and also about your triumphs and joys. As we go, we will collaborate to determine a course of treatment that can be adaptable enough to change with you as you grow and change through the therapeutic process.

+ What is your rate?

$150 per session.

+ Do you take insurance?

I am an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans. If you have BCBS PPO insurance, I will submit claims to BCBS on your behalf. I encourage you to confirm your coverage with BCBS prior to our first session, including whether you have co-pays, co-insurance, or a deductible.

If you have a different insurance, you may be able to get reimbursed for all or part of your session fees using your out-of-network benefits. If you have a different insurance, you will pay out of pocket, and then use the bill I give you to submit for reimbursement for your insurer. I encourage you to confirm your out-of-network benefits with your insurance company prior to our first session, including what percentage they reimburse at for out-of-network services, and whether you have a separate out-of-network deductible.

Regardless of your insurance, you can use Health Spending Accounts and Flex Spending Accounts to cover costs associated with our work together (copays, deductibles, non-covered charges, etc). These are pre-tax accounts that can be used to cover health care costs, including psychotherapy.