How long does therapy usually last?

Effective treatment, with lasting results, takes time, patience, and hard work. In general, people working on more severe issues, such as eating disorders and trauma, often require more therapy. Weekly sessions for six months to two years is considered an average length of therapy with me, however every client is different so you may need more or less time based on the specific issues you are addressing.

Do you work with children, adolescents, and/or adults?

Yes, I work with adults, adolescents, and children ages 7 and up.  When working with minors affected by eating disorders, I often recommend a combination of individual therapy with the minor, and family therapy with the minor and his/her parent(s). This allows the minor to share their story while also helping the family to strengthen their communication.

Will my therapy with you be kept confidential from my family?

If you are over the age of 18 and participating in individual therapy with me, then our work together will be kept strictly confidential. If you are over the age of 18 and participating in couple, family, or group therapy with me, then our work will be kept strictly confidential between myself and the people involved in therapy with you (e.g., your partner, other group members).

If you are a minor (17 and younger), then your parents do have a right to know what is going on in your treatment with me. However, if they are not present in sessions then I strongly encourage parents to respect your privacy and trust that if I have any concerns about your well-being that I will share those concerns with them immediately.

Due to state law, there are a few instances in which your confidentiality must be broken regardless of your age:
    1) If I suspect ongoing abuse or neglect of a minor or disabled adult
    2) You threaten to physically harm yourself or someone else
    3) I am subpoenaed by a judge to testify regarding your treatment and/or to release

        treatment records

If any of these issues come up during our work together, then I will always talk with you first about how the issue will be handled with the ultimate goal of preserving as much of your confidentiality as possible.

When do you see clients?

I am in the office Tuesday through Friday and see clients in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. My availability for each day varies so please call our office at (480) 941-4247 to arrange an appointment time that works well with your schedule.

Are you trained to help people resolve other issues besides eating disorders?

Absolutely, and I enjoy helping people resolve other issues aside from eating disorders. As a licensed therapist, I am trained to treat a broad spectrum of issues affecting individuals, couples, and families. I have worked at a variety of agencies helping people with depression, anxiety, sexual abuse and trauma, ADHD, schizophrenia, learning disabilities, domestic violence, divorce and custody battles, parenting difficulties, and step-family transitions, just to name a few. In fact, the treatment of eating disorders almost always encompasses treatment of some of these issues listed above, as they are often interrelated.

What can I expect during the first couple of sessions?

The first few sessions allow us to get to know each other and determine if my approach is a good fit with your needs. First, I briefly review important office policies with you (e.g. confidentiality, informed consent). Second, I ask questions about your personal history, family history, and current concerns. Based on this information, we then work together to determine if outpatient care will meet your needs and, if so, establish objective goals and a treatment plan.

I believe that the success of therapy is greatly influenced by the level of trust and comfort between a therapist and client(s), and so after a few sessions of getting to know each other I will encourage honest discussions about how well this relationship is working for you, and what, if anything, can be done to strengthen our relationship so that you are able to get the most out of therapy with me.

What if my partner and/or family member is hesitant to participate in therapy with me?

Resistance from other family members is common, as they may be scared to address certain issues and effect change in their lives. Avoid threatening or blaming them as this will only heighten their defenses; instead, share with them why therapy is important to you and why improving your relationship with them is so important to you. If they still won’t come to therapy, then consider beginning on your own. It is possible that they will want to join you after seeing you make healthy changes on your own and possibly feeling as though their voice is not being heard in the therapy room.

Do you accept insurance?

I do not work directly with insurance companies, however I can provide a statement of paid services for you to submit to your insurance company. If your carrier reimburses for out-of-network services (usually this is a benefit of a PPO plan), then you may be reimbursed for a portion of your therapy session payments. Prior to beginning therapy, check with your provider to find out if they reimburse for out-of-network services. Please note that in order for your insurance carrier to reimburse you, I am required to give you a mental disorder diagnosis (e.g., eating disorder, depression) in order for these receipts to be accepted by your insurance.

 

Also, please keep in mind that I do accept credit cards. This option has allowed many clients to pay for sessions in a timely manner, while still having the flexibility with their credit card company to make payments over time.

How much do sessions cost and how can I pay for them?

Please call our office at (480) 941-4247 to inquire about session fees. You may pay by cash, personal check, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard).

What is your cancellation policy?

At least 24-hours notice is required for all cancellations. The full session fee will be charged for all sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours and no-shows.