SERVICES

Individual Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy (counseling) sessions are indicated for persons struggling with mental health disorders and/or symptoms.  It can also be utilized for personal growth and to address interpersonal issues.  Not all persons who are engaged in individual psychotherapy have mental 'disorders' per se (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, etc.).  However, in order for sessions to be reimbursable by insurance companies, treatment must be considered medically necessary and thus a diagnostic interview is an important first step when beginning psychotherapy.  During this process, you will be asked a number of questions about your past and present symptoms and functioning in order to establish any diagnosis(es) and to begin making a treatment plan.  Testing may also be recommended to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning.  Psychotherapy sessions are typically 50 minutes in length, though insurance may dictate varying lengths.  We will discuss this when making your first appointment or when you present for treatment. 

COUPLES counseling

Relationship counseling - or 'couples counseling' - can help couples identify and work through barriers to intimacy and communication, develop healthy conflict resolution and gain insight into themselves and their partner.  Relationship counseling can be very difficult - emotions often run high and sometimes conflict has become the norm before turning to counseling.  Oftentimes couples may come in as a 'last ditch' effort to save the relationship.  During work with couples, I typically have them come in together for the first meeting and then individually for one or two sessions in order to take a more thorough history of each individual before reconvening for couples sessions.  The individual meetings are not intended to be individual psychotherapy.  If one or both partners wishes to engage in individual psychotherapy, I will refer them to another practitioner for the individual work.  Insurance companies vary widely in their coverage for couples counseling.  Many do not cover couples counseling.

coaching

Sometimes there is confusion about what constitutes coaching as opposed to counseling or psychotherapy.  Both can be growth-oriented.  In coaching, the focus is not on pathology (e.g., depression, Bipolar Disorder, etc.) or on symptom reduction or resolution but on a particular area of change a client wishes to make. Coaching is typically more directive than counseling - i.e., the coach is more active and may offer suggestions, outright advice or specific instruction on how to make changes.   I offer coaching services in the areas of executive skills (e.g., planning, prioritizing, goal setting, time management), stress management and career (e.g., vocational choice, changing careers, work adjustment, interpersonal issues related to the workplace, productivity, etc.).  Please take note that coaching is not reimbursable by insurance companies.  

workshops & classes

From time to time I offer one-time workshops or short-term classes for a particular area of focus such as stress management training, executive skills training, and vision boarding.  For more information, please see the Workshops & Classes section under the ABOUT heading.  Please note that workshops and classes are not typically covered by insurance, though in some cases your employer may pay for you to attend.