That’s a great question and the answer will be different for each person. Because the work I do is process-focused rather than solution-based, I tend to see clients for at least six months, but more often longer. You may find that the therapeutic relationship is something you want to make space for longterm. You may also find that you like to take breaks from therapy and then come back after a few months. Of course, the length of your therapy is your choice and you are free to end our work together at any time.

I am a private pay practice, but am considered an out-of-network provider by some insurance companies. This means that I may be able to provide you with paperwork to be reimbursed by your insurance provider, however you will be responsible for payment at the time of service. Please call your insurance provider to see if they will reimburse you for mental health services.

Body-oriented psychotherapy acknowledges that trauma often gets stored in the body and, therefore, the body plays a key role in your ability to feel and process emotions and experiences. Incorporating somatic practices—like mindfulness, breathwork and polyvagal exercises—into traditional talk therapy can help you deepen your sense of self-awareness and capacity for self-healing.

Polyvagal theory provides an accessible way of understanding your autonomic nervous system and offers simple interventions that result in profound changes to your internal and external experiences. By establishing a foundation of awareness of your brain-body connection, we can build upon that framework to do more in-depth trauma work.

I don’t take insurance for a number of reasons. First, your records become less private since insurance companies can request to see your records whenever they’d like. Second, it means that I have to diagnose you, which means that your care and treatment have to be determined and justified by that diagnosis. For example, even though I work with many people who are processing trauma, those people don’t necessarily have PTSD, but trauma treatment is necessary. Also, because your records can be requested at any time, that diagnosis may hinder your ability to apply for jobs, health insurance, life insurance, legal issues, etc. Finally, working with insurance means that the insurance companies determine how long you need therapy and what kind you can receive. By not working with insurance, I better maintain your privacy and help preserve your agency over your healing process.

I offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for those who have been feeling stuck in their therapeutic process or who need additional support in processing traumatic events. EMDR is an effective and integrative evidenced-based treatment for trauma that helps reduce the vividness and emotion associated with your traumatic memories. I do not offer EMDR as a primary or stand-alone intervention. Rather, I prioritize fostering a secure therapeutic relationship with you so that you feel comfortable and safe enough to process painful beliefs, emotions and memories. Once that’s established, we can look at how to incorporate EMDR into your treatment plan.