Frequently Asked Questions

How long does therapy take to work?

How long therapy takes to work is up to a variety of factors including the following:

The therapist/client relationship. Strong rapport, honesty and respect are paramount. I can only help you if you are willing to be transparent with me; that means sharing the good, bad and the ugly.
The severity of symptoms/history. Some issues and/or diagnoses are chronic and have persisted for many years. Rome wasn't built in a day! It is completely normal for it to take time to trust me, trust the process, and layer by layer, gently excavate, examine, and heal your way to higher wellness.
How willing you, as the client, are to apply the lessons and work you do in our sessions to the remaining hours and days of the week that you are not with me. That's where it's really important. The more clients "do their homework" the faster they will feel results.

The process, however, largely depends upon your desire for growth. Unfortunately, I can’t make anything happen that you aren’t willing to be a part of, but when you are willing, great change can happen.

What are your hours and location?

I see clients in my office at 1890 S. 14th Street, Building 100, Suite 110 in Executive Park in Fernandina Beach, FL on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. My hours are generally 10am-5pm.

What if I need to see you outside of your normal business hours?

If you are having an emergency, please call 911 or get to your nearest ER where they can address your need for urgent care. Give me a call from there.

Who knows what we talk about?

I know that it’s difficult enough to come in and share your personal life. I also know that it can take some time to build trust with a new person; it defeats the whole purpose of building that trust if you think that I'm sharing your personal business with other people. Your relationship with me and all of our communications are held in strictest confidence. There are only a few instances where I am required to share your information. If I think you are a significant threat to yourself or someone else, if I suspect child or elder abuse, if I get subpoenaed or court ordered by the legal system, or if you need an ambulance. As you begin your initial consultation with me, these things will be explained again. I want to make sure I answer any questions you may have.

Am I the only one that experiences this? What if it's embarassing?

You are not alone. That’s something I would really like to emphasize here and for you to take away from reading this. You are not alone. I have seen hundreds of clients over the years and there are too many common threads that unite to list here. I'm not here to judge you or to criticize, but to help and support you. Over time, as we build our trust together, I will invite you to share sensitive information with me when you are comfortable doing so.

What is your style?

Clients would describe me as warm, down to earth, and genuine. I value integrity and honesty; I do my best to walk the walk and talk the talk in my own life. My style is eclectic, meaning it is not one size fits all. Or even most. Therapy with me is a collaboration; I believe you already have everything within you that you need. My role is to help clear away the scars, cobwebs, what have you, to reveal your inner resources and self-healing ability. I enjoy laughing as part of therapy--sometimes we just have to not take life so seriously after all!

Are you LGBTQ friendly?

I have worked with a large number of LGBTQ+ clients and am an ally

What is your cancellation policy?

I reserve the time just for you. If you are unable to attend, please give me at least 24 hours notice by phone, text or email. Otherwise you will be charged the full rate of the session.

How do I pay?

I take all major credit cards, Mastercard or Visa debit cards, Paypal, Venmo, cash and check. My rate is $140/session (usually about 50-55 min) and $205 for EMDR sessions (80-85 min) and intake (initial) sessions. I am a provider on Cigna's health insurance. If you have behavioral health benefits on Cigna, you will usually just be responsible for a co-pay. Other health plans (BCBS, Aetna, etc.) may offer out of network benefits for seeing me as I am a licensed provider. You would pay at the time of session and I provide a superbill at your request to submit to your insurance company for partial reimbursement. In addition, some plans offer flex spending and/or health savings accounts (HSA's) that can be used to pay for therapy. Occasionally, I have a couple spots in my schedule for sliding scale clients that cannot afford my full rate. You may also want to see Will O'Sulivan, MA who sees clients on a sliding scale from $50-100 per hour. Please inquire if that applies to you.