How do I schedule an appointment?

What happens during the first therapy session?

The first therapy session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another. We will discuss what brings you to therapy, any concerns or goals you may have, and relevant aspects of your personal history that may help me better understand your experiences.

My goal during the first session is not simply to gather information, but to begin building a therapeutic relationship that feels safe, comfortable, and authentic. While there are questions I will need to ask, I try to structure intake sessions as a conversation rather than an interview. I want the process to feel collaborative and natural, with room for dialogue, questions, and shared reflections.

As a trauma psychologist, I am also mindful of pacing. Some people come to therapy feeling a strong urge to tell their entire story immediately—to “rip off the band-aid” and get everything out at once. Others may feel hesitant to share much at all because of fear, shame, uncertainty, or concerns about being judged. Both responses are completely understandable.

Rather than pushing for disclosure or avoiding difficult topics altogether, I work to find a pace that feels manageable and productive. My goal is to ask questions that help me understand your experiences while also ensuring that you leave the session feeling grounded and supported, rather than exposed or overwhelmed.

One piece of feedback I frequently receive from clients is that they appreciate having the time to build trust before discussing particularly painful experiences. I believe that meaningful therapeutic work happens within the context of a strong relationship, and that trust develops over time rather than being rushed.

By the end of the first session, we will have a better understanding of your concerns, discuss initial goals for therapy, and begin considering what our work together may look like moving forward.

How do I know if therapy is right for me?

I genuinely believe that therapy can benefit just about anyone. There is no problem that is “too big” or “too small” to bring into therapy. Some people seek therapy because they are struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties. Others come because they feel stuck, want to better understand themselves, are navigating a life transition, or simply want support from someone outside of their everyday life.

Because I work from a deeply relational perspective, I believe that healing often happens through connection. Sometimes the most powerful part of therapy is having someone who is willing to walk alongside you through difficult experiences rather than trying to fix, judge, or rush you through them. As Brené Brown has said, healing often comes from having someone willing to “go into the hole” with us rather than stand above it and shout advice.

For me, the question is often less about whether therapy is right for you and more about whether you have found the right therapist for you.

My style is warm, compassionate, and collaborative, but it is also very human. While therapy can involve difficult conversations, it can also include laughter, humor, creativity, and moments of genuine connection. Cursing, dark humor, and showing up exactly as you are are all welcome here.

I strive to be authentic in the therapy room. While I bring years of clinical training and expertise, I also believe that meaningful therapeutic work happens between two real people. I do not approach therapy as someone reading from a manual or offering simple reassurance. Instead, I aim to combine evidence-based practice, clinical expertise, intuition, curiosity, and genuine human connection to help clients better understand themselves and create meaningful change.

If you are looking for a therapist who values authenticity, depth, warmth, and collaboration, we may be a good fit. If you’re unsure, that’s perfectly okay. The purpose of the free consultation is to help us determine whether working together feels right for both of us.

Fees and Insurance

Do you accept insurance?

No. I am considered an out-of-network provider and do not participate directly with insurance plans.

Many clients choose to work with an out-of-network psychologist for a variety of reasons, including increased privacy, greater flexibility in treatment, and the ability to receive care that is tailored to their individual needs rather than insurance requirements.

If you would like to use your out-of-network benefits, I can provide you with a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Reimbursement rates vary by plan, so I encourage you to contact your insurance company directly to ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits.

I also recognize that therapy is a significant financial investment. While I am unable to accept insurance, I believe that access to quality mental health care is important. A limited number of reduced-fee appointments may be available based on need.

If you have questions about fees, insurance reimbursement, or whether therapy with me may be financially feasible, please feel free to discuss them during our consultation.

What is a superbill?

A superbill is an itemized receipt that contains the information your insurance company may require to reimburse you for out-of-network mental health services. It includes details such as dates of service, fees paid, diagnosis codes, and other information needed to process a claim.

If you plan to use your out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill for you to submit directly to your insurance company. Please note that reimbursement rates vary by plan, and I cannot guarantee whether or how much your insurance company will reimburse.

If you are considering using out-of-network benefits, I recommend contacting your insurance company before beginning therapy and asking the following questions:

• Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
• Is there a deductible I must meet before reimbursement begins?
• What percentage of the session fee will be reimbursed?
• Are there limits on the number of sessions covered?

If you have questions about the process, I am happy to discuss them during your consultation.

Do you offer reduced-fee appointments?

Yes. I believe that access to quality mental health care is important, and I maintain a limited number of reduced-fee appointments for individuals who may benefit from financial assistance.

Because these spots are limited, reduced-fee arrangements are discussed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed to be available at any given time.

Reduced-fee appointments are intended to provide temporary support rather than serve as a permanent fee arrangement. Approximately every 12–15 sessions, we will revisit the fee agreement together to assess your current circumstances, discuss your ongoing treatment needs, and determine whether the reduced-fee rate remains appropriate.

If cost is a concern, I encourage you to bring it up during our consultation. Conversations about finances can feel uncomfortable, but I believe it is important that we discuss these issues openly and collaboratively.

Do you offer telehealth therapy?

Yes. I currently provide therapy exclusively through a secure telehealth platform and do not offer in-person sessions.

This decision was made intentionally for several reasons. First, providing telehealth services allows me to reduce many of the costs associated with maintaining a physical office, which helps me keep my fees lower than they might otherwise be. Second, telehealth increases access to care. Clients who are balancing work, caregiving responsibilities, health concerns, transportation limitations, or busy schedules are able to attend therapy without the additional burden of travel time and logistics.

Telehealth also allows me to work with clients throughout Florida and participating PSYPACT states, expanding access to specialized trauma treatment beyond my local community.

While many people initially wonder whether therapy can be as effective virtually, research has consistently demonstrated that telehealth can be just as effective as in-person therapy for many concerns. In my experience, telehealth often provides additional benefits. Clients are able to participate from the comfort of their own environment, and I am sometimes able to gain a deeper understanding of their day-to-day lives through the spaces they inhabit, the people and pets who are important to them, and the contexts in which they live and work.

Ultimately, my goal is to create a therapeutic space that feels safe, connected, and accessible, regardless of where you are located.

Can I work with you if I live outside Florida?

I am licensed as a psychologist in Florida and am also authorized to provide telehealth services through PSYPACT. This means that I may be able to work with you even if you live outside Florida, provided you are physically located in a participating PSYPACT state at the time of our sessions.

If you are unsure whether your state participates in PSYPACT, please feel free to reach out or check the map here to see if your state participates. I would be happy to help determine whether I am able to provide services in your location.

Please note that telehealth regulations can change over time, and eligibility is based on where you are physically located during the session rather than your permanent residence.

What is PSYPACT?

PSYPACT (the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact) is an agreement among participating states that allows licensed psychologists to provide telehealth services across state lines.

Traditionally, psychologists have only been permitted to provide services to clients located in states where they hold a professional license. Through PSYPACT, qualified psychologists who have completed additional requirements and received authorization may provide telehealth services to clients located in any participating PSYPACT state.

In practical terms, this means that you may be able to work with me even if you do not live in Florida, as long as you are physically located in a participating PSYPACT state during our sessions.

PSYPACT helps increase access to care, particularly for individuals seeking specialized services, those who relocate frequently, college students, professionals who travel, and people living in areas where it may be difficult to find a therapist who meets their needs.

How often will we meet?

Most clients begin therapy by meeting once per week. Regular weekly sessions help us build a strong therapeutic relationship, develop momentum, and create a consistent space for reflection, growth, and healing.

Over time, the frequency of sessions may change depending on your goals, progress, life circumstances, and clinical needs. Some individuals choose to continue meeting weekly throughout treatment, while others may transition to every other week or less frequent appointments as they begin to feel more confident managing challenges independently.

I do not believe there is a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. Together, we will discuss what frequency makes the most sense for you and revisit that decision as your needs evolve.

Occasionally, clients inquire about meeting twice per week. While this is not necessary for most individuals, I am open to discussing increased frequency when clinically appropriate. My perspective on twice-weekly therapy may differ somewhat from traditional approaches. Rather than viewing additional sessions as something reserved only for periods of crisis or significant symptom escalation, I often see them as a proactive form of support.

In other words, sometimes people seek additional sessions not because they are engaging in unhealthy coping strategies, but because they are actively working not to engage in them. During periods of significant growth, change, stress, or healing, meeting more frequently can provide additional support, accountability, and connection as new ways of coping are being developed and practiced.

Ultimately, decisions about session frequency are made collaboratively and are based on your individual needs, goals, and circumstances.

How long are therapy sessions?

Most therapy sessions are approximately 55–60 minutes in length. I find that this allows enough time for us to meaningfully explore concerns, deepen our understanding of what is happening, and maintain continuity from one session to the next.

For certain types of trauma-focused work, including exposure-based interventions or intensive trauma processing, I may occasionally recommend extended sessions lasting 90–120 minutes. These longer appointments can provide additional time to engage in deeper therapeutic work without feeling rushed.

In general, I do not routinely offer shorter 30-minute sessions. While brief sessions can be appropriate in some circumstances, I find that they often limit our ability to fully explore important topics and strengthen the therapeutic relationship. Because I place a strong emphasis on connection and collaboration, I believe that meaningful therapeutic work often benefits from having adequate time and space.

That said, I will occasionally offer shorter “check-in” or “touch-base” sessions for established clients when clinically appropriate. These appointments are typically reserved for individuals with whom I have already developed an ongoing therapeutic relationship and whose needs can be effectively addressed in a shorter format.

How long does therapy last?

One of the most common questions people ask is how long therapy will take. The honest answer is that it depends on the depth of the work you hope to do.

My practice is primarily designed for individuals seeking meaningful, lasting change rather than a brief course of treatment. While there is certainly value in short-term therapy, my approach tends to be a better fit for those who are interested in understanding the deeper patterns, experiences, relationships, and coping strategies that have shaped their lives.

Because much of my work focuses on trauma, complex trauma, attachment wounds, and longstanding relational patterns, therapy is often a longer-term process. When people have spent years in pain, meaningful change rarely occurs in a matter of weeks. Trust, insight, healing, and new ways of relating to ourselves and others take time to develop.

For many trauma survivors, therapy may last one to two years, and sometimes longer. It is also common for clients to engage in therapy for a period of time, step away when they feel ready, and then return later when new challenges, transitions, or life circumstances arise.

If you are looking for a highly structured, short-term treatment focused on resolving a single concern in a limited number of sessions, there may be therapists whose practices are better designed for that type of work. My approach places a strong emphasis on the therapeutic relationship, and I believe that meaningful growth often unfolds over time as trust, safety, and understanding develop between us.

Rather than setting a predetermined endpoint, we will regularly discuss your goals, progress, and needs to ensure that therapy continues to be helpful and aligned with what you hope to achieve.

What is it like to work with you?

While every therapeutic relationship is unique, clients often describe me as warm, genuine, thoughtful, and easy to talk to. I don’t believe therapy has to feel overly formal. Humor, curiosity, honesty, and authenticity all have a place in the therapy room. Therapy can involve tears, laughter, frustration, awkward moments, breakthroughs, and everything in between.

One of my favorite sayings is, “We’re all doing the best that we can, and we can all be doing a little bit better.” That philosophy guides my work as a therapist. I believe people are generally doing the best they can with the tools, experiences, and resources available to them. At the same time, I believe we all have the capacity to grow. As a result, I strive to balance compassion with challenge. My goal is not simply to help you feel understood, but also to help you move toward the life you want to live. I also hold myself to that same standard and continually work to be the best therapist I can be for my clients.

I actively encourage clients to raise concerns, frustrations, misunderstandings, or questions that arise within our work together. I believe that honest conversations about the therapeutic relationship are often some of the most meaningful and productive conversations we can have.

I am deeply influenced by my work as a trauma psychologist, my experiences as a parent, my love of animals, and my commitment to social justice and affirming care. These experiences continually shape how I understand resilience, relationships, healing, and what it means to create spaces where people feel genuinely seen and understood.

Most importantly, I strive to show up as a real person. I believe that meaningful therapy happens not simply because of techniques or interventions, but because two people are willing to engage in an authentic and trusting relationship. For what it’s worth, I take my work seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously.

Do I have to talk about my trauma?

No. In fact, one of the first things I tell many clients is that nearly everything in therapy is ultimately a choice.

One of my roles as a therapist is to help you better understand the reasons behind those choices. Interestingly, one of the things we are often taught in graduate school is to avoid asking “Why?” I have never been particularly fond of that rule. I am deeply interested in understanding why people do what they do.

Do you want to talk about your trauma? Why or why not?

If the answer is, “Because I think I should,” we may spend some time exploring where that sense of obligation comes from. I generally find that “shoulds” are not always the most reliable guides for healing.

If the answer is, “Because I want to,” then I am here and ready to listen.

Likewise, if you do not want to talk about your trauma, I am interested in understanding why. If you feel overwhelmed and worry that you cannot cope with the emotions that may arise, we can focus on building skills and resources first. If you genuinely do not believe discussing particular experiences would be helpful, I respect that as well.

Ultimately, I do not believe there is one “right” way to do trauma therapy.

Many people hear the phrase “trauma processing” and assume that trauma therapy involves repeatedly describing painful events in great detail. While that is one approach, it is only one approach. I am trained in evidence-based trauma treatments, including approaches that involve directly processing traumatic memories when appropriate. However, trauma therapy can also involve understanding how past experiences continue to affect your relationships, sense of self, self-worth, emotional well-being, coping strategies, and daily life.

Much of the work I do focuses on helping clients make sense of the impact trauma has had on who they are and how they move through the world. Over time, we may decide that more formal trauma-processing approaches would be beneficial. We may also decide they are unnecessary.

There is no prize for talking about painful experiences before you are ready. My goal is not to push you into opening old wounds. My goal is to help you understand yourself more fully, build a strong therapeutic relationship, and determine together what kind of healing work will be most helpful for you.

Can therapy help if I’ve already been in therapy before?

Absolutely. In fact, many of the individuals who seek me out have worked with one or more therapists in the past. Some had positive experiences and are looking to continue their growth with a new perspective. Others felt that previous therapy was only partially helpful. Still others left therapy feeling disappointed, discouraged, or unsure why it did not seem to help.

One of the first things I am interested in understanding is what your previous therapy experiences were like. What was helpful? What wasn’t? What felt missing? What do you wish had been different?

Many people assume that if therapy did not fully resolve their concerns, then therapy itself must not work for them. In my experience, that is rarely the case. Different therapists bring different personalities, approaches, areas of expertise, and ways of understanding human suffering. Sometimes it is a matter of timing. Sometimes it is a matter of fit. And sometimes therapy successfully addresses one layer of a problem while deeper issues remain to be explored.

I also work with many individuals who have previously participated in trauma-focused treatments such as EMDR or other evidence-based approaches. Some found those treatments tremendously helpful. Others felt they received little benefit despite their best efforts. In many cases, clients report that specific symptoms improved while deeper concerns related to relationships, identity, self-worth, attachment, or emotional functioning continued to persist.

For this reason, I tend to focus less on whether a particular therapy “worked” and more on understanding what aspects of healing have already occurred and what still feels unfinished. Healing is rarely a single event. More often, it is a process that unfolds over time and across different relationships, experiences, and stages of life. Previous therapy is not a sign that you have failed. If anything, it often provides valuable information about what you need, what you respond to, and what you are still searching for.