The Process Professional clinical counseling, sometimes called therapy, is the application of counseling interventions and therapeutic techniques to identify and support change in cognitive, mental, and emotional areas–including personal growth, crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental problems. Clinical counselors, also called therapists, work together with the client to identify problem areas and co-create treatment goals which will help the client to improve overall well being.
The Benefits Participation in therapy can result in a number of benefits to you, including improving interpersonal relationships and resolution of the specific concerns that led you to seek therapy. Working toward these benefits, however, requires effort on your part. Psychotherapy requires your very active involvement, honesty, and openness in order to change your thoughts, feelings, and/or behavior. I will ask for your feedback and views on your therapy, its progress, and other aspects of the therapy and will expect you to respond openly and honestly.
The Risks Therapy has potential emotional risks. Exploring feelings or thoughts that you have tried not to think about for a long time may be painful. Making changes in your beliefs or behaviors can be scary and sometimes disruptive to your relationships. You may find your relationship with me to be a source of strong feelings, both negative and positive. It is important that you consider carefully whether these risks are worth the benefits of change. Most people who take these risks find that therapy is helpful.
What is therapy like with you?
We will discover and encourage your internal and external resources, explore the strengths and weaknesses in your current life narrative, balance conflicting parts of yourself, and begin to unlock feelings and emotions that may have been previously blocked or buried. My specializations are depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and loss of purpose.
I work from a multicultural perspective, with awareness and respect that all people are unique and hold unique values and world views. I am LGBTQ+ affirming and approach each client in a nonjudgmental and welcoming way. I am authentically me and expect you to be authentically you.
MY PROCESS
In the first couple of sessions, we'll get to know each other better. You can tell me what brought you to therapy, and we can come up with realistic and achievable goals.
Next, we'll come up with a plan to manage your immediate symptoms so your life becomes more manageable. I'll teach you some practical skills you can use every day to regulate symptoms as they arise.
Finally, with more knowledge about the issue and skills to manage symptoms, the main focus of our work together will be to discover and heal the root of your issue.
Once goals are met and symptoms have subsided, you can keep working with me on new goals or take a break from therapy. Many people love having a consistent and dependable objective viewpoint to encourage them, challenge them, and deepen their growth and will stay in therapy for years. Others simply want their present symptoms to go away, and once that happens, they're done with therapy within 4-6 months. Average length of therapy is 12-24 months.
How much does therapy cost?
My session fee is $200 per 55 minute session (typical length for weekly and bi-weekly sessions)
Why don't you take more insurance options?
The only insurance I take is Oregon Health Plan (OHP)- Health Share/ CareOregon. I do not accept other insurances at this time, but I can provide superbills for qualifying services. Some insurance companies consider me an out-of-network provider and will reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses. Please call your insurance company to understand their reimbursement policy for out-of-network providers if you are interested in using your insurance for our sessions.
Client benefits of private pay versus insurance:
Clinical diagnosis. Insurance companies require an official DSM-V diagnosis to justify a medical necessity for your treatment. If you want to avoid a mental health diagnosis in your medical records, you may want to avoid using insurance for your mental health. Private pay enables me to treat you without adding a clinical diagnosis to your medical record.
Confidentiality and autonomy. Insurance companies can require that I share your progress notes with them so they can decide on the length of your treatment. I choose to leave your treatment decisions up to you and me and leave insurance companies out of your treatment decisions altogether. Private pay ensures the details of our work together (with an exception for state mandatory reporting laws) stays between you and me.
Predictability. Depending on your coverage, insurance plans can change on the first of every year or require deductibles to be met before they begin paying for sessions. Also, if you are receiving employer-paid benefits, your employer may change insurance companies at any time which could prevent you from continuing with your current therapist if that therapist is no longer covered under the new plan. Private pay ensures that you can stay with your therapist as long as you want to.