How can therapy help me? A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include: 

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
• Developing skills for improving your relationships
• Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
• Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
• Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
• Improving communications and listening skills
• Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
• Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Do I really need therapy?  I can usually handle my problems.   Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face. 

Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?

People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy.   Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well.  Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks.  Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods.  Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life.   In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives. 

  What is therapy like? Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual.  In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session.  Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.  Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly). It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process.  The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life.  Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.   

  What about medication vs. psychotherapy?   It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.  Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.  

DO I HAVE TO BE IN FLORIDA STATE?

At this time you must reside in Florida State  to receive counseling services from me or live internationally (expats welcome).

HOW IS MY CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTED?

We use HIPAA compliant software during our sessions with end to end encryption to ensure that your privacy and confidentiality is protected. I take the same precautions a counselor in an office setting would take and follow all local and federal laws.

WHAT IF OUR INTERNET CONNECTION IS INTERUPTED DURING A SESSION?

If we lose internet connection I will call you and we can continue over the phone. These instances are rare but they do happen.

WHAT WILL I HAVE TO DO ONCE WE START THERAPY?

You are a unique person with your own problems or issues. I tailor my therapeutic approach specifically for you. Your plan will depend on your goals, commitment to making changes, and desires.

 Do you take insurance, and how does that work? 

I don't take insurance at this time for or a few of the following reasons:

I would have to give you a mental disorder diagnosis that would go on your permanent medical record. This doesn't necessarily fit everyone needing therapy. Second, currently most insurance panels follow a short-term medical model on psychotherapy, which usually only addresses the cognitive level. There is now extensive research (and it is also my professional and personal experience) that a holistic, integrative approach to therapy is most effective for long-lasting change as opposed to only working on the symptom. I work not only on the level of the mind but also on the levels of body, emotions, culture, past history, spiritual/existential experience. And lastly, being part of an insurance panel would mean that someone we don't know at the insurance company would have access to your records so that they can assess whether or not to approve further sessions. To me confidentiality is paramount.

However, more and more health insurance companies are now partially reimbursing out-of-network psychotherapy. I would be more than happy to provide you with a receipt of payment of our sessions for you to submit to your insurance company if you choose to do so. 

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential? Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office.   Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone.  This is called “Informed Consent”.  Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (you’re your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission. However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations: * Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm another person.

Meeting consistently is crucial for therapy to be successful.

More than 24-hour notice is required to cancel a session (you can text, email, or call to notify me). Otherwise, you will be charged the full fee for the time reserved for you even if you opt to re-schedule.

What if I am in a crisis or there is an emergency?

I check my voice mail regularly, but I may not able to respond immediately, therefore if you are in a crisis or there is a life-threatening emergency, immediately call 911.