Teen & Family Therapy

Meeting a new therapist for the first time can bring up questions about what it may be like, especially if it's your child's first time. I spend the first session building trust in the therapeutic relationship while balancing the need for a full assessment of mental health needs. Dependent on age, I use interactive activities to conduct my assessment. That way your child doesn't feel evaluated or uncomfortable. This may include using games, writing, fidgets, kinetic sand, or casual conversation as I ask focused questions on their areas of need and wellbeing. A parent or guardian is welcome to attend the first 10-15 minutes of the appointment. Unless your child is very nervous, I recommend leaving the remainder of the session for us to speak 1:1 so I can start building our relationship. I do accommodate anxious first timers by allowing a parent to sit in for a full session. We will discuss a plan so that your child can move toward an independent visit, and trust me - they appreciate that too! Older teens don't require a parent to be present at the visit and are welcome to drive themselves. If you do attend your child's first appointment in person, there is a comfortable waiting area. For virtual appointments, I use other methods of interaction (such as the whiteboard feature) to give the appointment a similar feeling to being in person. It is my policy that all children 12 and younger have a parent or guardian at home during a telehealth session. You will need to provide an emergency contact when you complete your intake forms. All intake and consent forms need to be completed and signed before the first appointment. You are more than welcome to ask more questions about getting started during a free consultation call. Book Now.

Therapy is customized to you or your child's needs. Some people enjoy having ongoing scheduled times to attend therapy (i.e. twice per month) and others schedule "as needed." We will discuss in the first 1-3 sessions the frequency of our meetings. You may end therapy at any time, or take a break and come back. It may be that I suggest therapy end or you may make that decision yourself. It will always be collaborative and you are welcome to bring it up for yourself or your child at any point in treatment. Most research points towards the effectiveness of 12-16 visits for clinically significant improvements. Improvement could look like: feeling calmer, engaging in social activities, accomplishing personal goals, grieving a past event, increased academic engagement, etc. If therapy isn't working for you, you are welcome to provide feedback. Therapists often suggest other types of resources or may refer you to additional forms of care to accelerate symptom reduction.

You may request a sliding scale fee. Your financial need will be discussed during the consultation call and a financial agreement may be signed. There are other payment options that you may want to consider such as: 1) HSA/FSA Typically offered through your employer, it's a fixed amount of money set aside every fiscal year for you to use on health expenses. It usually requires the submission of a receipt. You can discuss with me the documentation needed during a free consultation. 2) Single Case Agreement A single case agreement offers the possibility of using your in network benefits with an out of network therapist. I have a medical biller who submits claims, and so I am able to offer this option. Please note I am beholden to your insurance company's approval, and you will need to provide me with some preliminary information to seek that approval. Though I am happy to pursue this agreement, I cannot guarantee it will be approved. 3) Superbill At times an insurance plan will reimburse you for an out of network service. A superbill provides you with the information needed to seek reimbursement. It includes more information than a receipt such as: diagnosis, service code, provider name. Superbills are not a guarantee of reimbursement, but I encourage you to submit one if you feel comfortable with the information it discloses and you'd like to see if insurance will reimburse you for all or a portion of the fee.

My foundational training in therapy for teens was in community settings such as schools, foster care, and nonprofit services. This means I was trained to assess and treat a wide variety of mental, emotional, and behavioral needs. This "well" of information has added up to a strong skillset in building rapport, motivating young people toward their goals, and seeing "what works" and doesn't work, countless times. My practice wisdom has taught me the balance of being a guide, a confidant, and a cheerleader in young people's lives. My theoretical orientation is a happy mixture of Gestalt therapy, Internal Family Systems, and humanistic therapy. I am formally trained in trauma modalities EMDR and Brainspotting. I was an early adopter and trainee of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). I've been fortunate to receive mentorship and training from indigenous and multicultural perspectives on trauma and community care. You will hear me say this in session - overall, I'm a huge mental health nerd. I spend most of my free time learning about mental health, child development, and neurobiology, because it fascinates me! I believe in evidence-based practice as an efficient and effective way to treat mental health concerns. I tend to blend techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy most often with teenagers. This is because their brains are primed for skill building, and the majority of their needs are to feel secure in the social, academic, and familial environment. I do apply family systems approach to my individual client care. I find that therapy becomes more effective when we work as a team to support your child. While maintaining confidentiality, I work with young people to self advocate and share their learnings in therapy with family, peers, and trusted adults. We all win when a child feels safe to open up about their mental health concerns. Because I am a social worker, I'm trained to view people as integral to their environment, and their environment as a major source of strength and wellbeing. I combine practical applications with deep emotional processing. And we also have a little fun along the way!

It can be a time-consuming search to find a therapist. Much research on the effectiveness of therapy points out that the relationship, and goodness of fit, all help enhance the success of the therapy. I am the right fit for you or your child if you appreciate a completely nerdy approach to mental health. That means, your concerns inform my treatment, and my treatment is informed by research and practice wisdom. I am a direct and compassionate communicator. That means I enjoy truth telling, receiving feedback, and using nonjudgmental listening to show you I am an active participant in your wellbeing. I do best working with folks who enjoy a down to earth, heart-to-heart conversation. I am as practiced at bringing shy or reserved kids out of their shell as I am with guiding highly verbal and excitable teenagers. I prioritize structured sessions, where life lessons are explored and emotions are validated. I want you or your child to get something out of every session. I can squeeze the lemon, as they say. If you believe therapy is a place to explore, express, and experience, I'm the right therapist for you.

For preteens/teens, I specialize in: - Adoption and attachment therapy - Acute and chronic trauma needs - Family conflict (divorce, blended families) - Gender & Sexuality - Life transitions - Overthinking overachievers - Risk-taking behavior - School Avoidance/Truancy - Self Harm and Comprehensive Safety Planning/Treatment For adults, I specialize in: - Chronic illness/chronic pain - Developmental trauma (also called complex trauma) - LGBTQ families - Perinatal needs (pregnancy, postpartum) - Parenting - Spiritual/religious trauma - Treatment resistant depression