Do you have evening appointments?
Yes and no. I do my best to work around school and work commitments. However, late afternoon and evening sessions are very popular and I try to rotate people for these slots so that the same people don't have to miss work or school week-to-week. If you are looking for weekly therapy, you may have to alternate for some daytime slots some weeks. I appreciate your flexibility on this issue and have found that most schools and employers are accommodating for medical appointment-related absences.
Can I call you during the week if there is a crisis?
If you or your family member is having a mental health crisis, the first call you make should be to 911 or your county crisis line (Washington County: 503-291-9111, Multnomah County: 503-988-4888). You can check out more crisis resources on my Resources page.
If you are an existing client, you are also welcome to schedule a sooner appointment on my client portal or contact me by phone to give me an update.
If you are a new client, please keep in mind that it can take a month or more to schedule our first appointment depending on both of our schedules, and a crisis walk-in center would be a better choice for same-day appointments.
There are so many therapists out there! How do I choose?
Research has shown that a good therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of therapy. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine from a website whether you will connect well with a therapist. There are a few things you can do to help you decide:
- Look at a therapist's specialties and experience. Does he or she know how to work with your specific needs and issues?
- If you have unique needs, such as limited availability, financial difficulties, or transportation restrictions, look for therapists that are willing and able to accommodate these needs.
- Therapy is one of those things where intuition and "vibes" can be important, as it is important that you feel comfortable with the therapist! As you look through websites and biographies, it's okay to look at other options if a person doesn't seem trustworthy or welcoming to you.
- Most therapists offer free consultations to determine whether you're a good fit. If you can't decide between a handful of options, that initial contact is a great non-committal way to get a feel for their personality and style.
- If you keep hitting a dead end or have specific needs that need accommodation, try calling a therapist and asking for a referral. Therapists are often very aware of the strengths, approaches, and flexibility of their colleagues.
I think counseling is stupid and pointless, but I'm stuck and don't know what else to do. Can you really help?
First of all, I want you to know that skepticism, sarcasm, and doubt about therapy are welcome in my office, and I will not be offended if you think my profession is a waste of time. I understand that counseling is not a fun or desirable process for many people. I will say this, though: it doesn't have to be touchy-feely, invasive, or digging into the past if you don't want it to be. I'm willing to brainstorm with you on how counseling can be less miserable for you, or even point you to other alternatives if you don't like my style.
Why should I see someone who isn't covered by my insurance?
Great question! Even if you have decent mental health benefits, paying out of pocket has a variety of advantages, including:
- More freedom in choosing your provider. You can choose a provider that is a better fit for you and more consistent with your values, even if they are outside your network.
- No mental health diagnosis on your medical record (with insurance, need to meet "medical necessity" criteria with a documented diagnosis)
- You can seek treatment for personal concerns, family communication difficulties, and other issues that insurance does not cover
- The length, frequency, and duration of therapy is based on your needs, not your insurance company's restrictions
- No worries about referrals, deductibles, co-pays, number of sessions authorized, etc.
- You have more control over how your health information is used
Are you a Christian? How will religion come into counseling?
I grew up highly involved in a conservative non-denominational Christian church, and have found spirituality to be a strong resource in my ability to treat clients with grace, compassion, and unconditional acceptance. I have worked with clients who find religion to be an important part of their lives, as well as clients whose experiences of religion were abusive and deeply hurtful. I have specific experience around supporting clients who are seeking to deconstruct the parts of religion that have been harmful, particularly when homeschooling and Purity Culture was involved. I strive to be respectful of each client's beliefs and worldview, and generally leave it to up to the client to talk about their beliefs as often or as rarely as they find it relevant.
Yes and no. I do my best to work around school and work commitments. However, late afternoon and evening sessions are very popular and I try to rotate people for these slots so that the same people don't have to miss work or school week-to-week. If you are looking for weekly therapy, you may have to alternate for some daytime slots some weeks. I appreciate your flexibility on this issue and have found that most schools and employers are accommodating for medical appointment-related absences.
Can I call you during the week if there is a crisis?
If you or your family member is having a mental health crisis, the first call you make should be to 911 or your county crisis line (Washington County: 503-291-9111, Multnomah County: 503-988-4888). You can check out more crisis resources on my Resources page.
If you are an existing client, you are also welcome to schedule a sooner appointment on my client portal or contact me by phone to give me an update.
If you are a new client, please keep in mind that it can take a month or more to schedule our first appointment depending on both of our schedules, and a crisis walk-in center would be a better choice for same-day appointments.
There are so many therapists out there! How do I choose?
Research has shown that a good therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of therapy. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine from a website whether you will connect well with a therapist. There are a few things you can do to help you decide:
- Look at a therapist's specialties and experience. Does he or she know how to work with your specific needs and issues?
- If you have unique needs, such as limited availability, financial difficulties, or transportation restrictions, look for therapists that are willing and able to accommodate these needs.
- Therapy is one of those things where intuition and "vibes" can be important, as it is important that you feel comfortable with the therapist! As you look through websites and biographies, it's okay to look at other options if a person doesn't seem trustworthy or welcoming to you.
- Most therapists offer free consultations to determine whether you're a good fit. If you can't decide between a handful of options, that initial contact is a great non-committal way to get a feel for their personality and style.
- If you keep hitting a dead end or have specific needs that need accommodation, try calling a therapist and asking for a referral. Therapists are often very aware of the strengths, approaches, and flexibility of their colleagues.
I think counseling is stupid and pointless, but I'm stuck and don't know what else to do. Can you really help?
First of all, I want you to know that skepticism, sarcasm, and doubt about therapy are welcome in my office, and I will not be offended if you think my profession is a waste of time. I understand that counseling is not a fun or desirable process for many people. I will say this, though: it doesn't have to be touchy-feely, invasive, or digging into the past if you don't want it to be. I'm willing to brainstorm with you on how counseling can be less miserable for you, or even point you to other alternatives if you don't like my style.
Why should I see someone who isn't covered by my insurance?
Great question! Even if you have decent mental health benefits, paying out of pocket has a variety of advantages, including:
- More freedom in choosing your provider. You can choose a provider that is a better fit for you and more consistent with your values, even if they are outside your network.
- No mental health diagnosis on your medical record (with insurance, need to meet "medical necessity" criteria with a documented diagnosis)
- You can seek treatment for personal concerns, family communication difficulties, and other issues that insurance does not cover
- The length, frequency, and duration of therapy is based on your needs, not your insurance company's restrictions
- No worries about referrals, deductibles, co-pays, number of sessions authorized, etc.
- You have more control over how your health information is used
Are you a Christian? How will religion come into counseling?
I grew up highly involved in a conservative non-denominational Christian church, and have found spirituality to be a strong resource in my ability to treat clients with grace, compassion, and unconditional acceptance. I have worked with clients who find religion to be an important part of their lives, as well as clients whose experiences of religion were abusive and deeply hurtful. I have specific experience around supporting clients who are seeking to deconstruct the parts of religion that have been harmful, particularly when homeschooling and Purity Culture was involved. I strive to be respectful of each client's beliefs and worldview, and generally leave it to up to the client to talk about their beliefs as often or as rarely as they find it relevant.