FAQs

Of course! I am happy to offer a brief, no-cost, no-obligations phone call to learn more about what’s bringing you into therapy and to answer any questions you may have. If it feels like a good fit, we can move forward in scheduling our first appointment. It’s important to find the right match in a therapist, so if it doesn’t feel like the right fit for one reason or another, I’m happy to provide referrals for additional clinicians in the area.

This varies from person to person. For some, therapy is short term and can last 4-6 months. For others, therapy is longer term and can last a number of years. There is truly no right or wrong amount of time to spend in therapy — it’s about what feels helpful to you. We will work together to ensure that we are utilizing your time in therapy in a way that benefits you and that moves you towards your goals. While it is difficult to predict exactly how long therapy will take, I am more than happy to talk with you about your expectations for length of treatment.

Research shows that weekly therapy is typically most beneficial in helping clients to reach their goals and make progress in therapy, especially early on. That said, I recommend that new clients commit to weekly appointments for the first several months of therapy. When you reach a point where weekly therapy sessions no longer feel needed, we can discuss reducing frequency to every other week, or a frequency that feels supportive to you.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, I ask that you please notify me at least 48 hours prior to your appointment time. Late cancelations and missed appointments will be charged the full session fee.

Possibly! Therapy sessions are often eligible for reimbursement through out-of-network benefits. This means that you would pay for your services upfront, then submit a receipt (which I would provide you on a monthly basis) to your insurance company, then they would reimburse you for the costs. Because out-of-network reimbursement varies from plan to plan, I recommend calling the number on the back of your insurance card to inquire about reimbursement options Many insurance plans will reimburse 50-80% or more of your out-of-network mental health expenses.

Yes. I value accessibility for clients, and reserve several spots on my caseload as “sliding scale spots” for clients who are unable to afford the full fee. Please feel free to reach out to me to inquire about current sliding scale availability.

Yes, I accept HSA cards as a form of payment. This can be uploaded in your client portal as your primary method of payment, if you choose.

Telehealth, or virtual appointments, are conducted via secure videoconferencing and allow you to receive therapy from the comfort of your own home (or your car, or your office - wherever you prefer to do your session!). Although I am offering in-person therapy in South Portland, telehealth will remain an ongoing option for those who prefer the convenience of virtual sessions. I provide virtual therapy to clients in Maine, Massachusetts, and Florida.

In most cases, yes. I, along with other therapists all over the world, have found online therapy to be very effective for most people. In fact, many of my clients prefer online appointments over in-person appointments due to the convenience and comfort that it provides.

I recommend locating a private, quiet space in your home or office where you can participate in sessions. If you are concerned about privacy, placing a noise machine, air filter, or fan on the outside of the door to your room will do wonders in blocking sound and enhancing privacy.

Due to licensing restrictions, most mental health professionals are confined to seeing clients who are physically located in a state that the clinician is licensed in. Unfortunately, your permanent residence doesn’t dictate this - it’s about where you are located during the time the virtual session takes place. So, even if you live in Maine, we wouldn’t be able to work together if you attend college in Pennsylvania, for example.

I hold a license in the states of Maine, Massachusetts, and in Washington, DC, so I am able to see clients who are located in any of these states during the time of their session.

I do not keep a waitlist, as it can be very difficult to accurately predict the wait time for a new client opening. I also never want to delay someone from getting started with therapy if they’re feeling ready, and am happy to provide recommendations (if possible) for other therapists who have more immediate availability that you can start working with sooner.

If I’m not accepting new clients at the time that you reach out, you’re always welcome to check in again in the future to see if any new client spots have come available!