FAQs

In-person sessions available in the Seattle Shoreline area & Olympia.  

Telehealth psychotherapy, consultation and coaching available in Washington State.

Virtual coaching and consultation available out of state.

Coaching, consultation and psychotherapy are offered through a virtual, confidential Telemedicine online platform that meets HIPPA requirements.   The electronic health record will send a session link before the appointment.  Forms may be completed online through the electronic health record. 

Yes! In-person sessions available in the Seattle Shoreline area & Olympia.

I do not invoice health insurance companies however,  I can provide invoices for you to seek out of network reimbursement from your insurance.  My fee is $125 per hour, with the intake fee waived if you decide to continue in therapy.  

If requested, a  good faith estimate is a written document that provides an estimate of the expected costs of mental health services. It is required by the No Surprises Act, a federal law that aims to protect patients from unexpected healthcare bills. 

The purpose of a GFE is to provide patients with an accurate and transparent estimate of the costs they may incur for therapy services. This helps them make informed decisions about their treatment and avoid surprise medical bills.

Your first therapy appointment, also called an intake session, will involve us getting to know each other.  We will focus on you as a person, not diagnosis.   We will begin to build a sense of felt safety in the therapeutic relationship. You may tell me  about your personal history, current concerns, and goals for therapy. We  will also review logistical details like confidentiality, policies, and payment, and you'll have the chance to ask your own questions to determine if it's a good fit. It's normal to feel a range of emotions, including anxiety or opening up unexpectedly.   Sessions are a collaborative opportunity for both you and I to build a  therapeutic relationship.

Length of treatment depends on your individualized needs and goals.  While 3-6 months can be a sufficient amount of time for a person to meet their goals in therapy and start to experience real and noticeable change in their life, many people may want to consider committing 6 months to 1 year for ongoing support.  In addition, many people will continue therapy long after they experience benefits because these benefits can grow over time.

I will book your appointment.  I do not have online scheduling at this time.  Please send in the referral form on this website, or message me through the electronic health record or my Psychology today site . I will return messages within 48 hours if not sooner.  I will offer to set up a 15 phone call to answer any questions  you may have.

My cancellation policy aligns with the current standard of practice that requires clients to give 24 to 48 hours' notice to avoid a fee, which is usually the full session cost. You may cancel through email or message me through your  electronic health record portal.  I am open to other forms of communication that are solely for the purpose of scheduling.  

Confidentiality is the cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship, establishing a safe and secure environment for clients to disclose sensitive information without fear of it leaving the room. 

Confidentiality applies to all information disclosed during therapy sessions, including personal, health, and other sensitive details. 

In the U.S., confidentiality is protected by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and state laws, and federal standards. 

 Clients have a right to the confidentiality of their information, and therapists cannot share it without prior permission from the client, except in specific legal circumstances.

Therapists are legally required or allowed to breach confidentiality in specific situations:

• Imminent Danger: If a therapist believes there is a serious, imminent danger that the client will harm themselves or another person, they may be obligated to take action to protect the endangered party, which could include contacting the police.

• Mandatory Reporting: Therapists are mandated reporters and must report suspected abuse or neglect of children or elder adults to the appropriate protective services agencies.

• Legal Obligations: A therapist may also be required to breach confidentiality if a judge issues a subpoena for information.

I will ask for your to sign a release of information for a specific purpose if we are in agreement that it  is in your best interests, for example physicians.  

A specialized consent outlines the specific limits and permissions regarding confidentiality, particularly concerning sensitive issues like HIV status, mental health and substance use.  Specialized consent is crucial for managing delicate information and navigating potential disclosure situations.