FAQ'S
How do you work with parents?
I engage parents throughout the process of therapy. At the beginning we'll sit down and talk about the therapy process and how you'll be engaged. I like to make sure you understand what I'm doing and why. I offer regular consultations with parents to talk about progress in therapy and at home, as well as to offer parenting support. As teens—and some pre-teens—need a greater sense of autonomy for therapy to be successful, I still check-in with parents, but generally these check-ins are further spread out. I’m happy to discuss both your needs as a parent and your child’s needs during our check-ins.
My teen is afraid you’re going to tell me everything that you talk about in your sessions. Will you?
I do not share with parents what was discussed in session. I do share signs of progress I may be seeing or general themes that we’re working on. During my intake process, I have a transparent conversation with parents and teens about privacy and confidentiality.
Do you work with young adults?
Absolutely--I love working with young adults! I invite young adults to contact me for a meet-and-greet and we can see if we are a good fit. If you like what you’ve seen on my website, chances are we’d work well together.
How do you work with very young children who can't communicate their struggles? Or with older kids or teens who won't talk or don’t want to come to therapy?
This is my gift as a play therapist-—being able to connect to and make sense of the nonverbal communication that children and teens are expressing. During my parent check-ins, I also help parents understand what their child's nonverbals may indicate. Please check out my pages on therapy for kids and therapy for teens to learn more about my approach.
Do you work with children and teens who are in crisis?
Yes, I have experience working with teens in crisis, including those with suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors. I will always refer to a higher level of care if concerns are beyond the scope of my practice.
Do you contract with insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider and do not directly bill insurance. Please call your insurance company to inquire if they offer out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health treatment. If so, I can provide you with a superbill at the end of the month for reimbursement. Please note that some insurance companies require a diagnosis code or will only reimburse for certain diagnoses. I will never diagnosis a client solely for insurance purposes.
As a licensed clinician, I can accept healthcare savings accounts (HSA) or flexible spending accounts (FSA) as payment. Please check your benefits to confirm.
Can you provide me with a Good Faith Estimate?
Yes. A Good Faith Estimate will be provided when you schedule a service or if you request one. It will be given orally and in written form, electronically or on paper depending on your preference.
Do you accept victim’s compensation?
I accept victim’s compensation for the 20th (Boulder County), 17th (Adams & Broomfield Counties) and 8th (Larimer & Jackson Counties) Judicial Districts.
If you are outside of these counties, or are receiving victim's compensation from another state, please inquire if I will be able to provide victim's compensation services to you.
A Bit About Therapy
I take an eclectic approach to therapy and use the following therapy approaches. If you have any questions or would like a more detailed explanation of any of these practices, I would be happy to discuss them with you during our phone consultation.
Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT) is a research-informed model that has emotional regulation, embodiment, and authenticity at its core. As we are able to regulate our bodies and emotions, we can better express ourselves and our truth.
"Synergetic Play Therapy is a research-informed model of play therapy combining the therapeutic powers of play with nervous-system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, physics, attachment, mindfulness and therapist authenticity.
Although SPT is a model of play therapy, it’s also referred to as a way of being in relationship with self and other. It’s an all-encompassing paradigm that can be applied to any facet of life, and subsequently any model of play therapy can be applied to it or vice versa." (Lisa Dion, founder of SPT)
*
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR assists in integrating traumatic or stressful memories so that they do not continue to fester. EMDR can be used to address recent events, past events, or even concerns about the future. To proceed with EMDR, clients need to have some degree of embodiment, coping skills, safety, and stability. In other words, we may begin with play and talk therapy before incorporating EMDR.
*
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT is a skills-based approach to therapy. DBT teaches skills on mindfulness, emotional regulation, interpersonal skills, and distress tolerance. I find that adding DBT skills to treatment works best with older clients who can regulate, and have a solid understanding of who they are and what they want. In other words, they have a reason and interest in using a skill.
*
Psychodynamic Theory and Modern Psychoanalysis. The Smith School for Social Work, where I completed my graduate training, is steeped in psychodynamic theory. Psychodynamic theory is a classical approach to talk therapy. It values honoring and understanding the client’s whole self as a method of healing. It taught me to see the person as a whole, as opposed to a collection of symptoms that need to be fixed.
*
Modern Psychoanalysis is a branch of psychodynamic theory. It offers a roadmap for working with intense states, such as anger, depression, disgust, grief, and shame, as I help clients to move beyond suffering to take action.