Frequently Asked Questions

I’m from Eugene, OR but I just moved to New Orleans! Whaaaat??? I know!

I only provide online counseling to people living in Oregon. Because I love my Oregon people. 

Up until recently, I provided in-person sessions in Eugene, OR. But I wanted to try out living in New Orleans.

I’m going to go live in my dream city for a while (Yay for following your dreams)!

Per my Oregon counseling license, I can still provide therapy in Oregon. And Oregon is still technically home. 🙂

So all counseling in online. And I also provide coaching to people anywhere in the world.

I’m offering online telehealth sessions via a secure telehealth platform in my practice management system. Telehealth is available for people living anywhere in Oregon.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon, which means I’ve been licensed by the State of Oregon to provide mental health counseling services in accordance with Oregon law.

Getting licensed is a rigorous process, requiring (for my license):

A Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Passing a National Counseling Exam (The NCE)

Being supervised for at least two years by an approved supervisor

Obtaining and documenting 1900 direct counseling hours and at least 100 hours of supervision and submitting reports on this every 6 months

Passing a state exam on laws and ethics

A background check

40 hours of continuing education every two years

Renewing my license every two years

License Info:

I obtained my Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2019 and was fully licensed in Oregon in July 2023.

My license in Oregon is: C7527

My National Provider Identification (NPI) Number is: 172049563

I’m currently scheduling sessions Wednesday through Friday.

I schedule throughout the day on those days, so we can talk about what works best, and hopefully find a time that works well for both of us.

Sessions are usually 60 minutes. If you’re interested in longer or shorter sessions, we can definitely do that.

First, give me a call to schedule a free consultation. We’ll talk for 20-30 minutes to make sure I can help you and that we feel like it’s a good fit.

If we agree, we’ll get sessions set up. I’ll get your email and send you info for completing some initial paperwork.

This saves us time in our first session and allows us get started with working on your concerns.

Once you’ve completed your forms, I’ll confirm our first appointment time, and you’ll be ready to go!

I’ll provide info for how to access our online telehealth sessions.

I know this is a consideration! (I wish it didn’t have to be). I may be bias, but you can’t measure the value of counseling purely by price.

Counseling is an investment that can produce a huge ROI – your long term happiness – fixing lifelong problems, even helping you create more financial abundance for yourself (many of my clients have done this after working with me)!

I don’t want to minimize the impact of the price, but please stay open. I’d love to talk more about price and payment options during our consultation so I can give you the best and most accurate and up-to-date information. My current rate is $170 for a full 60-minute session.

It can be. And I want to acknowledge: Times are tough and it can be a stretch for some people.

But here’s the thing…counseling is a potentially life-changing experience that could bring you greater happiness or peace than you’ve ever experienced! It could solve major problems you’ve been struggling with. Would that be worth it?

Research is super, duper clear- people who get counseling are 80% better off than people who don’t. And because I track outcomes in counseling, I can tell you that 100% of the people I work with who are invested in counseling and ready to make something change improve in clinically significant ways.

So, what if you paid for counseling and life was so much better?! It would be worth it!

I don’t take insurance directly.

But if you have out-of-network benefits for mental health counseling, your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of our sessions.

How that generally works is you pay me directly and submit what’s called a “Superbill” (a fancy receipt I send to you) to your insurance. Then they reimburse you for whatever portion of counseling they cover.

I can also accept Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts (HSA and FSA).

If you’re not sure if you have out-of-network benefits or what your out-of-network benefits are, give your insurer a call and ask them these questions:

1. Do I have out-of-network benefits for mental health counseling? If yes:

2. What amount is covered? Do I have to meet a deductible first?

3. What do I need to do to use that coverage? Do I need to submit specific paperwork or receipts? How do I submit them?

4. How will I be reimbursed? How long does it tend to take?

There can be many benefits to not using insurance for counseling, including not have to provide a diagnosis to your insurance company, getting to make more choices regarding your counseling, and protecting your privacy. I’m happy to talk about any of this more with you during a consultation.

I generally work with individuals only. I’ve geared my practice toward women and women-identifying people, but I work with a solid handful of men and non-binary people who feel drawn to my message and style. My message seems to resonate most with people who were socially conditioned as women. But anyone who resonates with my message is going to be a good fit!

If you’re a man or non-binary person reading this, and what I say resonates, give me a call. Let’s talk and see if it’s a good fit.

I work with individuals from 18 up.

If you are or have a teen or adolescent who might be a good fit for counseling with me, give me a call. While I haven’t focused my practice on adolescents or teens, I’m happy to see if it’s a good fit, and have had really good outcomes with several teens and adolescents.

Part of our first session will be some intake business.

We’ll go over just a little paperwork, and I’ll highlight a few of my policies to make sure they’re clear and to see if you have any questions.

Then we’ll review your intake information to make sure I understand and have all the info I need.

Then, we’ll talk about what you’re hoping to gain from counseling, and set some goals.

Depending on how much time we have and how you’re paying for counseling, we may also assess for a diagnosis (Out-of-network insurance and HSA’s usually require a diagnosis).

Unless we need to spend a longer time with diagnosis, there’s usually plenty of time in our first session to get into some stuff.

A few things in counseling are consistent, but the rest depends on you and what you want or need.

The consistent things include gathering feedback from you at the beginning and end of the sessions to track your progress and satisfaction with our time together. Before you go, we’ll decide what (if anything) you want to work on or try focusing on during the week. When you return, we’ll often review how that went.

Besides that, what we do in session depends on you, what you want, and what works. I have no expectations about how sessions go. I am incredibly flexible, have a wide variety of skills and approaches to adjust to what’s right for you and right for the moment.

I practice complete transparency in counseling. If there’s something you want or don’t want, like or don’t like, I’ll encourage you to just tell me! I’ll never be offended or take anything personally. These are your sessions and they need to work for YOU! However, I can also absolutely take the lead in sessions or provide a consistent format if that’s what you want.

My approach involves awareness, understanding, self-compassion, and problem-solving. These approaches tend to balance each other well and keep us from getting stuck.

I come from the perspective that we’re all good, kind, loving people who were unfortunately got a lot of really crappy messages about ourselves. We struggle to accept ourselves, but we’re working our way back to that. We’re working on a process that includes loving, accepting, validating, and understanding ourselves.

Please see my About or My Approach pages to learn more.

The short, easy answer is this – do you have something you want to change, understand better, or do you want to enjoy your life more? Would it be nice to talk to someone who is uninvolved and unbiased regarding your life? If so, counseling is for you!

Really, the possibilities are endless.

Great question! And a really important one that I’ve heard that from many people. For some reason, I seem to attract a lot of people who’ve had this problem.

First, every counselor is SO different. So, our free consultation is a really good place for you to be able to assess this. During a consultation, we’re both seeing if it feels like I good fit. So, you can assess whether you like me, feel comfortable around me, how easy it is to talk to me, do you feel like I’m open and accepting?

People generally feel they can really connect to me, that I understand them, and that I’m working hard and rooting for them.

I also just act like another human. I do more than listening and skill giving. I get involved in what’s going on for you. I’m 100% dedicated to you, to understanding you, doing what works for you, and to finding solutions that are good for you.

I don’t pretend I’m not a real human or that you aren’t either. I don’t hide behind my education or training. I’m honest, down to earth, and I make genuine connections.

I also get genuinely excited and enthusiastic in counseling, and I think many people aren’t used to that, but love it!

I also measure outcomes in counseling using an evidence-based (science-based) system. This means I’m monitoring our relationship in counseling and getting feedback directly from you regarding how you’re feeling about us and our work together. If things aren’t working between us, it will be clear. We’ll do what we need to do to fix it. It’s important I’m a good fit for you. This is one of the biggest factors in whether a counseling relationship works.

Similar to a medical diagnosis, a mental health diagnosis just describes what’s going on with you – what you’re experiencing during a particular period of time. Many people who don’t have or qualify for a mental health diagnosis come to counseling, and that’s totally OK.

A mental health diagnosis has two main purposes:

1. As part of the medical system, insurance companies require it. Since I don’t take insurance, this isn’t the case for me unless you’re using an HSA or out-of-network benefits. If you are, then your insurance will generally require I provide one.
2. A diagnosis is a way to categorize your experience, potentially help you understand it and potentially help us decide on treatment.

Different treatment approaches have been found to be effective for various diagnoses. So, if you want to see if you qualify for a diagnosis, it can ensure we choose the most effective approach.

Some people find a diagnosis very helpful because it helps explain their experience; however, some don’t like it and don’t want to be labeled.

Because I don’t take insurance, I’m not required to diagnose. However, in some cases, not assessing for a diagnosis means I may not pick the most effective treatment or could miss something important and beneficial for you.

If I think you may qualify for a diagnosis, but you truly don’t want one, I won’t provide one unless I believe it could pose a danger or exert a negative impact on your counseling. I generally won’t provide a diagnosis unless you request it, we need it for an HSA or out-of-work benefits, or I think it would be harmful not to.

No, not necessarily at all.

Diagnoses are entirely fluid, and really, they’re just describing what you’re experiencing during a particular period of time. Every diagnosis, except a few, have specified time periods and we’re looking to see if you experienced symptoms in that period. The goal of counseling is for you to be well. So, naturally, a diagnosis could go away or change, or it may be more of a lifelong challenge.

In my work, there’s not really a huge difference between the two in terms of what we actually do.

Coaching allows me to work with any individuals regardless of their location, as well as people I may have had personal connections with. There’s more flexibility in coaching than in counseling, due to the specific nature of mental health counseling.

In coaching, we can work on many of the same concerns that you may address in counseling, but we won’t focus on specific mental health issues or disorders (including a mental health diagnosis). Coaching also doesn’t have the same confidentiality or ethical requirements as counseling, although I will of course maintain your confidentiality preferences as far as the law allows me.

We’ll also focus more on actions and solutions in coaching.

In coaching, we can address almost any issue as we would in counseling – except formal mental health diagnosis and symptoms (including EMDR).

If you think coaching may be right for you, but aren’t sure, give me a call, and we’ll figure it out.

Spiritual counseling is one of many specific things I offer.

I can and enjoy working with all kinds of spiritual or religious orientations or backgrounds and am completely open in my perspective (but I understand some people don’t see that as a thing).

I think, when working with spirituality or religion, a few key components tie everything together: Love, connection, oneness, being present, recognizing and being connected to something bigger.

I have personal experience with Christianity, Zen Buddhism, and Psychic Mediumship. I also feel very connected to nature.

My strength in this area is helping people discover or reconnect with what works for them – and getting through blocks or things that are getting in the way of that.

Though I may offer suggestions based on my personal experience, I don’t have an agenda.

I’ve been able to meaningfully help Christians struggling with their faith, who don’t quite fit into or have differing beliefs or experiences from their churches, church leaders, or peers; Buddhists, energy workers, people who read tarot, and more.

The people I’ve worked with appreciate the freedom of a new perspective and often make peace with themselves. They remove blocks that have gotten in the way of connecting to their spirituality.

I also have experience with meditation and mindfulness practice in spirituality and can offer that specifically.

Yes! If I’m not, I won’t take you on as a client. Or if I find out later that what you’re experiencing is beyond what I can help with, I’ll be completely upfront with you about that, and we’ll decide what to do. Our candid conversation may mean ending counseling with me and finding you some people who are a better fit to help.

I won’t hide behind my education or BS you. I’ll be transparent with you about the counseling process. And YOU always get to decide on a session-by-session basis if you’re happy with what we’re doing.

It’s surprisingly simple!

Show up consistently, be open and willing to understand and try new things, practice those things in your actual life, and stick with it. Sometimes, change takes time.

But many people I work with make significant progress very quickly.

That depends entirely on and is mostly up to you. You are welcome to continue or leave counseling whenever you want, with a few rare exceptions.

If you want to be in counseling only for a particular period, I’ll want to know that so we can make an effective plan.

I want to validate your feelings and make sure you know you’re in control. I also want to reassure you counseling (at least with me) is not as scary as you think.

I’ve had people sobbing in an intake session because they’re so uncomfortable; then, they’re relieved and at ease by the next session.

I work hard to create a space for you to feel very comfortable in sessions. And it’s your session. If you don’t like something, let me know.

Because I measure results in counseling, we’ll have a clear picture every session of whether you’re improving. If you’re not, and you’re not happy with what we’ve been doing, we’ll make any adjustments we need to make.

100% of the people I work with make clinically significant improvements in counseling, including significantly increasing personal, social, and interpersonal well-being.

As far as being “OK in the long run,” you already are “OK”; that’s part of what I help you see in counseling. Many people who work with me start to realize that they are truly OK, which has a profound impact on their well-being.

If by “OK” you mean will all your problems go away – I don’t know if that will happen or not. There’s always a tiny risk in counseling things won’t get better. We do our absolute best. If I can’t help you, we’ll find you some different help.

However, because I use an evidence-based system and science to measure results in counseling and keep track of people’s progress, I can tell you I’ve never had people who show up, keep coming, and work on things between sessions with no improvement.

OMG, NO! That’s the whole point of counseling – to have a safe, nonjudgmental place to go. Besides, there’s no part of the human experience to warrant fear, shame, or judgment. It’s not bragging to say I put that into practice very well.

Yes to both!

I’m LGBTQ+ friendly and affirming. The feedback I’ve gotten is that I’m a very safe space for LGBTQ+ folks. So, although LGBTQ+ folks are not my specific specialty in counseling, I believe my “there is nothing wrong with you” approach, with a focus on self-compassion is what many LGBTQ+ folks need.

I’m always in an ongoing process of my personal work to understand my biases, as well as how to actively address and end systemic racism in the US. I actively consider the dynamics between us that may come up in counseling around this. I’ve been learning through an organization that brings white people together to figure out what white people need to do to fix and change racism.

I’m aware of how capitalism impacts well-being and the almost impossible dynamic it’s created for most of us. I will always be addressing the impact of capitalism and oppression on your mental health.

I do not use AI in any part of counseling or my counseling work. It’s becoming common for counselors to use AI in their treatment plan and treatment note process. I do not and have no plans to use AI in the future.

No! When I say that, I mean that internal dialogue, those “thoughts” “you” have about “yourself.”

You may hear it in “I” or “You” form:

“I’m so stupid.” Or “You’re so stupid.”

Most people have this kind of thing going on, though I’ve met a few who claim they don’t. (I think maybe they’re not aware of it?)

Sometimes, we can be a little wary when we hear a “voice in the head” because we have pictures of someone who’s really severely ill who “hears voices.”

I’m talking about that little or big voice in your head, or that internal dialogue you hear that talks to you about yourself or what’s going on, and often criticizes or judges you or others.

From years of observing my own experience, and from Zen and counseling. I think it’s a pretty universal experience.

NO! You will TOTALLY have fun! I laugh so much in counseling, that people around the office know my laugh. Because let’s face it, some of this stuff is kind of funny, and it helps A LOT to laugh at it! There’s a Tibetan saying that laughter is the most powerful way to drive away demons. If we look at our experiences, laughing often helps SO MUCH!

Sometimes, sessions can be very lighthearted. We don’t spend all our time on the heavy stuff. We spend time exploring what you’re good at, what’s going well in your life, what you enjoy, and how you’ve been successful.

We’ll probably get to the point where we joke around and share funny stories. That’s how it seems to go with most people. It’s totally welcome and, frankly, I think it’s necessary!

Dark! Dark all the way. And I will have some for you in my office.

I should say decaf! But, what can I say?! I love a caffeinated lavender latte. (Pumpkin spice right now!)

Absolutely. If I don’t want to tell you something, I’ll let you know. But I’m pretty transparent, and I often find sharing my own experiences is helpful for you.

Sometimes counseling feels so much like a friendship. And it is a profoundly genuine and sometimes very intimate connection. The relationship we may have is real, and I care deeply about you. But no, we won’t be “friends.”

This is an ethical boundary that’s part of our profession. I’m always open to continued correspondence, though, once you end counseling. I have several people I’ve worked with that I keep in professional touch with, and you can always check-in and say “Hi” on my professional social media accounts.

I LOVE counseling, and I love it because you get to learn that you’re OK that we’re all OK – we all simply need to know that. For me, counseling feels like one of the best ways to connect with people to communicate that. I love the connections I make and the relationships I get to have with people through counseling! They touch me deeply, and there’s nothing like it. I learn much from them that helps me, too!

It’s honestly one of my greatest joys and favorite things in the world!

Absolutely! I want you to be happy and live the life that’s right for you. I genuinely enjoy getting to know you. I like, respect, and intensely care about everyone I work with, and I work hard to give you the care, attention and recognition I feel you deserve.