I am nervous abut the first appointment; what can I expect?
It is normal to feel some anxiety about the initial appointment. Due to issues of confidentiality and privacy, it is hard to have an accurate picture of what to expect when coming to see a therapist. It can sometimes be helpful to picture the details, so I will provide some information about what your initial experience might look like. Whether you are coming in for therapy, consultation, assessment, or supervision, you will likely have been asked to complete some forms before the session and to bring them with you.

Your initial experience will look different depending on whether you are participating in telehealth sessions or in-person sessions. Either way, you can expect to receive a “Welcome Email” that will provide instructions on your next steps. See below for additional information on what the intake appointment will entail.

What happens in an intake?
An intake is the first appointment and is generally 55 minutes long. I begin by going over some parameters related to confidentiality and asking you some initial questions related to what led you to seek services in the first place. I will then ask you questions about a variety of areas in your life, with the goal being to gain a more clear picture of how you are doing across several domains. This allows us to go ahead and start making connections between things, and also to begin recognizing your strengths and how those aspects of your life can become a part of the treatment process. There is time at the end of the intake appointment for us to collaboratively decide on a plan of action. We will also review any questions you may have about policies or the therapeutic process itself. At the end of the intake, the next appointment will be scheduled.

What happens if we meet for an intake and then decide that we are not a good fit for working together?
One of the most important factors in a successful counseling relationship is for you to feel comfortable with me. A first session can feel inherently uncomfortable at times, but the idea that you could become comfortable working with me needs to be forming. Additionally, it is important that I have the background and skills to meet your needs. This will be discussed during the initial appointment and if it is determined that your needs would actually be served better with another provider, then I will help facilitate that process by providing a list of referrals and/or explaining how you might go about getting connected to someone who could better meet your needs. Not everyone will feel comfortable with me; that is a very personal choice and I understand if you would like to go with another provider and will aid you in that process.

How can you understand what I’m going through if we haven’t had the same life experiences?
Each of our backgrounds and life experiences do shape the way that we view ourselves, the world, and others. I value understanding your experiences and enjoy working with clients who have different backgrounds from mine. It is important to me to understand your background and life experiences. It is my view that exploring diversity, whether it is related to gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, etc., and understanding individual experiences is an integral part of forming an authentic therapeutic relationship. If there are times when you do not feel like your experience or identity is being understood, then I would encourage you to bring this up in therapy so that we can explore those factors further.

How often do we meet for therapy?
In general, most clients are seen for a 55 minute session one time per week. However, the frequency of therapy sessions depends on individual needs. There may be times when it feels important to meet more than once per week, and alternatively, there might be times when you would like to space the sessions farther apart. So, depending on your personal needs, as well as any financial limitations, the frequency of sessions can be individually tailored. This is something that we will discuss at the end of the initial intake session and that will also be periodically discussed again throughout our time working together.

Do you accept insurance?
Currently, I accept Optima in Virginia. If you have a type of insurance that I am not currently contracted with, then I can provide a receipt for you to give your insurance company that will work with your Out-of-Network provider benefits (call your insurance company to see if you qualify for out of network provider services). Initial self-pay sessions may also apply to your deductible for those with high deductible plans. Once you reach your deductible, then your Out-of-Network benefits may become available. I also accept health spending debit cards. While I am not in-network for Colorado insurance plans, I do offer self-pay options with payment plans and can provide Out-of-network services. Please call our office if you have questions about Out-of-Network benefits or payment plans. 

Can you prescribe medication?
No, as a clinical psychologist, I cannot prescribe medication. My background does provide me with an understanding of when and how medication can be appropriate for some people. If you are interested in medication, I can provide referrals for psychiatrists in the area who could aid you in further exploring that option. Generally, a person would see a psychiatrist for medication management and then would meet regularly with a therapist or counselor for on-going sessions. If you are already connected to a psychiatrist, then I can begin working collaboratively with that person so that there is continuity of care as a part of your treatment.

How do we know when it is time to end therapy?
In the early stages of therapy, we will discuss what your hopes and goals are for the process. We will also discuss what it would look like to reach these goals so that we will have additional information for how to measure your progress. These goals may change throughout counseling, things that were once important may become less important or new goals may be added; regardless, we will be having conversations on a regular basis about how things are going and the progress that is being made.

As you begin reaching your initial goals we will start to discuss a plan for the end of the therapeutic relationship. Sometimes it is helpful to begin spacing the therapy sessions out further towards the end. For example, if we were meeting once per week, we might decide to decrease sessions down to every other week, and then once per month. A part of the termination process is recognizing all of the progress that you have made and discussing how that has happened and what you can do to maintain those gains. The same attributes that helped you to achieve your goals in therapy will help you to continue growing and making progress even once the counseling relationship ends.

These are some common questions that people have, but please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions.