Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?

There are two ways to begin.

If you'd like to meet first:
Schedule a complimentary 20-minute Zoom consultation. This gives us a chance to meet, talk briefly about what you're looking for, and consider whether my approach and practice might be a good fit for you.

If you already know you'd like to begin therapy:
You can skip the consultation and request a 90-minute initial assessment session.

You don't have to have everything figured out before you reach out. 

A simple place to begin is enough.

No. The complimentary 20-minute Zoom consultation is an opportunity to meet and talk about therapy rather than begin therapy.

We'll briefly discuss what you're looking for, I'll answer questions about my practice and approach, and we'll consider whether working together seems like a good fit.

Because it isn't a therapy session, the consultation isn't intended for assessment, treatment, crisis support, or processing traumatic experiences.

Our initial therapy session is 90 minutes, which gives us more time than a traditional therapy hour to begin without rushing.

I'll want to understand what brings you to therapy, what's happening in your life now, relevant parts of your history, what you've already tried, and what you hope might be different.

We'll also begin getting to know how you are feeling physically, as related to any stress or conditions that are affecting your quality of life. 

I'll be curious about the good parts of life, your favorite relationships and activities, and about aspects of life you don't want to change. 

I'm curious about what you'd like me know and what feels important to you! 

Yes. 

Both EMDR and somatic therapy can be thoughtfully adapted for virtual sessions.

I will guide you through the process and help us determine what works comfortably for you.

If you're skeptical about doing body-centered trauma therapy through a screen, you're not alone—I once wondered about it myself.

Read More About Virtual Therapy →

Because psychotherapy is regulated according to where the client is physically located at the time of the session, I can provide therapy to clients who are located in states where I am authorized to practice.

I currently provide virtual psychotherapy to women located in Missouri and Kansas.

I offer therapy during weekday, daytime hours.

My first therapy session begins at 9:30 am, and the last therapy session begins at 2:30 p.m.

We'll talk about available appointment times when we begin and find a rhythm that works for both of us.

Many of my clients meet with me every other week, although there isn't one schedule that's right for everyone.

Depending on what you're working through, we may meet more frequently for a short period of time. 

Most client taper their appointment further apart when they've worked through bigger things, are feeling better, grounded and with more capacity. 

We'll decide together what supports you and the work you're doing rather than automatically placing you on a predetermined schedule.

My current fees are:

• Initial 90-minute assessment: $175
• 60-minute virtual therapy session: $150
• 60-minute virtual therapy session for clients age 60+: $140

EMDR Intensives are billed at my regular hourly therapy rate based on the amount of time reserved.

I don't accept or bill insurance.. My practice is considered out-of-network.

Depending on your insurance plan, you may have out-of-network mental health benefits that reimburse you for a portion of your therapy costs. If you plan to seek reimbursement, I encourage you to contact your insurance company directly to understand your benefits, deductible, reimbursement rates, and requirements.

When appropriate, I can provide documentation you may use to submit an out-of-network claim. Reimbursement is determined by your insurance company and can't be guaranteed.

How do I pay you? 

Payment is due at the time of service. I send you a link to "Ivy Pay" which is a secure app used by therapists; your card is charged at the end of sessions. 

No.

You don't need to arrive knowing which therapy modality you need.

My work is integrative. 

Depending on you, your goals, and what we're noticing together, I may draw from EMDR, Somatic Experiencing®, attachment-based therapy, mindfulness, imagery, creative approaches, and other resources.

We aren't trying to fit you into a technique.

The approach serves the therapy—not the other way around.

That's okay.

A previous experience with EMDR that wasn't helpful doesn't mean you did anything wrong, and it doesn't mean we have to use EMDR again.

I've practiced EMDR for more than a decade and am an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. My later training in Somatic Experiencing® also significantly influenced how I approach EMDR, particularly around pacing, resourcing, protective responses, and nervous system capacity.

Sometimes we approach EMDR differently. Sometimes we use another approach entirely.

I don't need EMDR to be the answer. I want us to find what makes sense for you.

[Read More About My Approach to EMDR →]

Not at all.

My clinical foundation is psychotherapy, and you don't need to hold any particular spiritual beliefs or participate in holistic or energy-based practices to work with me.

If spirituality is important to you, however, it's welcome in therapy.

For clients who are interested, we can also thoughtfully incorporate resources such as imager, prayer, mindfulness, Reiki, or other holistic practices when they support your therapy goals.

Nothing is imposed. We work with what is meaningful to you.

Learn About My Holistic Approach →

My practice provides virtual outpatient psychotherapy for women ages 40 and over who are located in Missouri or Kansas at the time of their sessions.

I primarily work with women in midlife and beyond who are experiencing the lasting effects of trauma and chronic stress, anxiety or mood concerns, difficult relationship and family patterns, life transitions, or a sense of feeling stuck or disconnected from themselves.

My primary approaches include EMDR Therapy and Somatic Experiencing®, integrated with attachment-based, mindfulness, creative, and holistic approaches when appropriate.

My practice isn't designed to provide crisis services, emergency mental health care, psychiatric medication management, or a higher level of care such as intensive outpatient, residential, or inpatient treatment.

I also don't provide specialized treatment for every mental health condition.

This isn't a complete list, but some concerns I don't treat as the primary focus of therapy include:

• Dissociative disorders requiring specialized dissociation treatment
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Eating disorders
• Substance use disorders requiring specialized treatment
• Personality disorders requiring specialized treatment
• Severe or acute mental health conditions that would be better supported by specialized services or a higher level of care

Having one of these diagnoses or experiences doesn't automatically mean we couldn't work together. What matters is what you're seeking therapy for, your current needs, and whether my training and practice setting are appropriate for the care you need.

If we move into an area outside my expertise, I'll be honest about that. When possible, I'm happy to help connect you with clinicians and resources I know and respect.

Knowing when I'm not the right therapist for something is part of providing thoughtful, ethical care.

My current practice is intentionally focused on individual psychotherapy for women ages 40 and over.

I don't currently provide individual therapy for men or children, and I don't provide couples or family therapy.

I am, however, a Marriage and Family Therapist with decades of experience and training in family systems, relationships, and generational patterns. That background is very much part of my individual work with women.

So yes—we can absolutely talk about your marriage, partner, parents, adult children, siblings, past relationships, or family history. We simply do that work with you as my individual therapy client, rather than providing treatment to the couple or family.

No. I am a psychotherapist, not a physician or psychiatrist, and I don't prescribe or manage medication.

When medication or medical evaluation may be helpful, I support clients in working collaboratively with an appropriate medical or psychiatric provider.

You don't have to figure that out on your own.

That's one purpose of my complimentary 20-minute consultation. You can tell me a little about what you're looking for, ask questions about my practice, and we'll consider whether my experience and approach are a good match for what you need.

If they're not, I'll tell you.

The goal isn't for me to be the right therapist for everyone. It's for you to find the right care for you.