FAQ

My office is in Chagrin Falls, OH, but I only see clients via telehealth. So I’m wherever you are!

My hours are 9 am to 4 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and 10 am to 1 pm on Fridays.

Sessions are usually 55 minutes long. We can run longer or add another weekly session if there’s a crisis. Sometimes, sessions are scheduled for as little as 30 minutes.

Typically, at the beginning of therapy, I like to see clients weekly, and then, as our work progresses, we can move to every other week or even once a month. These decisions are made directly with you because no one knows what you need better than you.

You can call, email, text, or use the client portal – whatever is easiest! It doesn’t even have to be during business hours!

After you reach out, we’ll find a 15-minute window to talk via video call. During this call, I’ll ask you more about what’s leading you to seek therapy. You’ll meet me and see if we’re a good fit. If we are, we’ll schedule our next visit during that talk.

I ask for 24 hours’ notice. There is a $75 fee for late cancellations and missed sessions.

I no longer do family sessions. Telehealth complicates how involved I can get in the family dynamic during the session, and I only want to provide treatment that I am confident can work for my clients.

I see adults, age 18+.

Yes. I work individually with men and women and also with couples. I see couples dating, engaged, long-term partnered, married, divorcing, or just trying to figure out where they go from here.

EMDR is a specific type of therapy that is used to treat trauma. It has lots of research behind it and is approved by the World Health Organization and the Veterans Administration as an effective treatment for traumatic experiences.

There is an eye movement component that mimics REM sleep, which is when it’s believed we generally process our memories from the day. During this eye movement, you will be asked to think and feel about difficult memories and process them properly. We work to reduce how much the negatives of that memory impact you, and then replace those negative thoughts with positive beliefs.

You are fully awake and conscious during this time; it is not hypnosis.

EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) has more in-depth information if you want this treatment. https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/emdr-ptsd/

I received a Master of Science from the University of Maryland in 2009. I have EMDR training and supervision through the Humanitarian Assistance Program.

I was an in-home therapist in Columbus, OH, for at-risk youth and their families, and have worked with CPS and the juvenile court system.

I provided case management services for adults throughout Ohio who moved back into the community after long-term nursing home stay. Through a community health agency, I offered individual and couples counseling in Lorain County.

In 2022, I started my private practice, where I plan to stay and help individuals and couples find peace and thrive.

I’m a casual person, and my therapy reflects that. I want you to feel comfortable, like you’re talking to a friend. Except that this friend is good at keeping secrets, and you don’t have to worry about burning her out or oversharing.

I try to challenge people to see both sides of the story and find their responsibility because that’s where we can implement change. But that’s balanced by understanding and a lot of empathetic listening.

We can laugh, cry, and even cuss in session. It makes opening up and reflecting much easier when you’re at ease.

Because it’s not human, and one of the best predictors of therapy’s success is your relationship with your therapist. Do you feel like they have unconditional positive regard for you? In short, do you believe they care for you?

ChatGPT won’t say, “Hey, I know you had that tough event today, and I’m just checking in to see if you’re okay.” It can give you a good answer if you ask the right questions. But is it likely that you’ll ask it to examine where your responsibility lies in a situation and ask if it could please offer that question as an insight that reflects on your relationship with your mom?

A good therapist will challenge you and will offer a path forward, only giving you as many steps ahead as you can handle seeing. They will match your energy and values. They connect with you and let you feel seen and valued without judgment, which technology will never be able to do. A therapist’s human-ness is a key part of the reason therapy works.

I would love nothing more! I welcome people of all faiths! I’ve found it helpful for my clients to discuss why it informs their behaviors and feelings. I am a practicing Catholic and happy to include spiritual practices in the session or homework. And if you are of a different faith, I love hearing about the parts that have formed, challenged, and given you hope and purpose.

One of my undergraduate majors was Religious Studies. I firmly believe that faith and spirituality are significant parts of feeling a sense of belonging and connection, ultimately improving mental health. Simply by being human, we share more commonalities than differences.

I’m not going anywhere. This has been my life’s passion since I was 16. I love my job and am here for the long haul. I’m done with maternity leave and am not changing careers or finding a new agency. I will be here; you don’t have to worry about turnover.

One of the benefits is that after discharge, you can still call me and come back for a check-up if you need to.

No! But you may inspire another client. If you share a book, an app, or an affirmation that has worked for you, I’ll ask if it’s okay to share that with another client. Your privacy is always the first concern, though, and it would sound something like, “Another client shared that this worked for her – maybe you’d like to try it, too?”

The answer is, “Yes!” I’d welcome the challenge! (And you should probably start therapy immediately.)

But a) statistics say you will probably not be my most challenging client, b) I’ve been doing this for 20 years and have seen a lot of stuff. It’s hard to shock me at this point.

Therapy is a vulnerable and sometimes challenging place, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for my clients.

Mine would have to be teleporting, but I want the ability to bring people along with me! As a mom of three, if I could teleport, it would solve many timing problems. Not to mention, never having to buy a plane ticket for vacation would be pretty amazing.