FAQs

Of course!  I have many years of experience working with both children and their families.  Depending on the circumstances, I often prefer to work with the whole family as that can help best support the child's needs. 

Absolutely. While medication can be a wonderful support for some people, it is not an end-all, be-all. 

I work with a number of clients who are struggling with issues related to anxiety and depression that do not want to take medications. Depending on the case and the severity, I often collaborate with health coaches, naturopaths, herbalists and acupuncturists to help serve as an adjuntive therapy to your therapy/counseling with me, as needed.

Therapy can be an incredibly healing means in and of itself. Although medication can be warranted when necessary, I strongly believe that therapy can be an alternative route to relief, if not on it's own than in conjunction with medication.

No. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I have license to work with individuals, couples and families on a number of issues pertaining to support around relationships, both with the self and with others. 

Medical doctors can prescribe medications, and if that is something you are looking for we can certainly talk about it and I can offer referrals. If you are currently on medication, I am happy to work with you! I would just ask that you sign a release so that I may check in with your doctor(s), as needed.

I do tend to focus on nutrition and more natural sources of healing before turning to medical referrals, and work with a number of holistic practioners (acupuncturists, health coaches, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.), if that is something that may interest you.

Great question. Also, a very important one.

Finding the right therapist is just as important as deciding to seek therapy. There are many different types of therapists, both based on their personalities and their practice philosophies and training.

My first recommendation would be to ask friends, colleagues or trusted doctors/other professionals for recommendations. Although it is OK if a recommended therapist doesn't necessarily feel right for you, a referral can often be a great place to start your search.

You will also want to explore the therapist's website. Do you like what you see? Do you feel like he or she may be a good fit based on how you connect with their site? Are they licensed? Do they list professional experiences/background? Do they offer their practice philosophy or types of services and do these resonate with you? Do they offer a phone or in-person consultation?

Once you've narrowed down your search, call or email the therapist(s) you would like to talk to and set up an appointment for a phone consultation. Do you feel comfortable talking to them over the phone? Do you feel like he or she is someone you may feel comfortable talking with in-person? Ask them about their experience with issues similar to the ones you are having. Ask them about their approach; are they directive? do they let the clients do most of the talking? What kind of theories/approaches/interventions do they use in their practice? Do they set goals with their clients and what is that process? 

One important question that I personal think is important when searching for a therapist is whether or not he or she is in their own therapy. The best therapists know that in order to be fully present and objective for their clients, they need to constantly be working on themselves and have an outlet for processing their own emotional holdings.

Remember, if at any time you don't feel like it's the right fit, move on! You can ask that particular therapist for a recommendation or go back to the drawing board. The most effective therapist is one that you feel comfortable with that can also safely challenge, support and guide you in finding relief.

After you contact me, we will talk by phone to make sure that I am a good fit for you and that I can help you based on your concerns. Then, you will come in for your first session.

All of my sessions are 50-minutes long, with the exception of a few circumstances. Once you arrive, I will have a clip board wating for you with some paperwork (if you haven't already filled it out from my forms onilne). I will then be out to greet you!

During our first session, we will talk a little more about what brought you in, and spend the first session or two determining the therapy goals together. I will also be very open and transparent about making sure you feel comfortable. If, at any time, you do not feel comfortable or that I am not the best fit, I will gladly help connect you with another therapist or therapists that may be better suited for you.

Absolutely. It's my goal to make sure that you find the therapist that is the best and most comfortable fit for you, whether that is myself or someone else. I have a wonderful network of excellent therapists both in the Highlands neighborhood and in the surrounding Denver Metro. 

If fee or fit are an issue, please feel free to contact me and I may be able to provide some appropriate referrals.

I am generally in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 8am and 7 pm, and occasionally other days/weekends. I will do my best to find a time to meet that best fits both of our schedules.

Yes! Please contact me to set up your free consulation.

I most commonly see clients on a weekly basis, depending on their needs.  Sometimes, I work with clients more than once a week, and sometimes I will see someone every other week.  It all depends on your needs and availabilty.

Again, depending on what you are looking for, therapy can be brief, lasting only a few months, or can be longer, lasting a year or more.  During our initial consultation and the first few sessions, we will determine together what may be best for you; though, as therapy progresses, your needs may progress, as well, and we may always adjust the amount of time or frequency with which we see each other.

One glaring area of need when it comes to relationships is lack of intimacy. Though it is quite common, feeling unsatisfied with your sex life is not something that bodes well on a relationship. 

I often work with couples, some married and some not, that are seeking therapy to help them both feel more connected and understood. Very frequently, that includes an unsatisfactory level of intimacy for one or both partners. There are so many factors that go into having a healthy sex life, and my hope is that, in working together, I can help provide a safe place to explore such contributors.

Through both education and supportive and nonjudgemental therapy, we will work together to identify deeper held feelings, beliefs, attitudes and individual needs in both your physical and emotional relationship with your partner. While lack of intimacy is often a frontrunner in partner complaints, it is not always the only factor. Many times, one or both partners is feeling overwhelmed, stressed, tired/fatigued, hormonally off-balance and generally disconnected. Our work together will help to identify some of these underlying causes, as well as how to help feel more connected, or reconnected, on an emotional level.

A lot of the work we will do will also include how to identify what it is you are needing, and even further, how to communicate with your partner in a healthier way that helps him or her understand your needs and how to best support you.

The bottom line is, you are not alone. Lack or loss of intimacy is a common grievance among couples, and I hope to be able to help!

I remember when my husband and I went to a couples therapist many years ago before we were married. Being a therapist, I had a good understanding of what types of things we would address, although my husband was a bit more skeptical. Premarital counseling was a really great way for us to not-only focus on the issues we were already having, but brought to light some issues we had not already though of, even though we had been together quite a long time already.

When working with couples contemplating getting married, or preparing for marriage, we can have a lot of different goals. Some couples are really just needing help with setting familial boundaries, especially with regards to wedding planning. Others are feeling anxiety about some of the pre-existing challenges in their relationship. Another couple may feel like they have a strong relationship, and just need support in continuing to lay a healthy foundation for their marriage and for years down the road.

Once in session, we will initially talk about relationship history and goals for therapy. Depending on whether you are looking to strengthen an already healthy relationship or want/need to address some anxieties one or both of you are having about your plans for a more serious commitment to one another, we will work together to determine best goals and our plan for getting there.

Frequently, whether your relationship feels incredibly healthy or incredibly challenging, most couples, if not all, tend to have areas where their communication can be strengthened and improved. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I am trained in systemic therapy and have training experience with both Gottman and Emotionally Focused Therapies. What that means is that I will help you not only identify some cycles where you may be getting stuck, but will also help you to more deeply identify what it is you might be needing from your partner, and how to get your needs met in a way that feels healthier for both of you.

Ultimately, premarital counseling is an incredibly healthy way to give you and your partner tools for communicating in a more effective way, as well as identifying shared and individual expectations, goals and dreams for your future together.

This is a very common question and I'm glad you are both interested in seeking some support in guiding your relationship together.  Couples' therapy can often be a scary thing when it doesn't have to be.  I work to help support both of you in a neutral way, intending to improve communication and understanding for one another. 

I've worked with many couples who were simply looking to improve communication for a stronger relationship, as well as couples trying to determine if they can stay together or not.  You are both in charge of the goals you have for therapy, and I am here to help facilitate those goals in as neutral and supportive way as possible.

Please feel free to set up an initial phone consultation to ask any additional questions or determine if I may be a good fit for you.

Finding out you are pregnant can bring a flood of emotions.  You may be elated, terrified, anxious, grateful, exhausted and overwhelmed with happiness and fear all at once. 

In addition to all of the feelings that may accompany finding out you are pregnant, the exhaustion and anxiety that come with being pregnant can also be overwhelming.  Whether you're feeling fearful about welcoming a new baby into your home, or struggling to manage all of the worries that come with actually being pregnant, I hope to offer a supportive space to help you feel less overwhelmed and more able to enjoy this special time of your life.

Many people are quick to talk about how wonderful new motherhood can be, while very few talk openly about what an incredibly difficult job it is. Between the drastic change in hormones, the sleep deprivation, and the incredible change in your lifestyle and relationship with your partner and potentially any other children, new motherhood can bring intense feelings of depression, anxiety, fear, overwhelm and even despair. 

As a relatively new mom myself, I understand first hand how daunting and surprising the emotionality of new motherhood can be. My goal is to support you in feeling safe to express yourself and help to normalize what you are going through.  I also welcome you to bring your little one along to our appointment, making it as easy as can be to get the support you may be needing.