I see clients between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. I am sometimes available after 5pm or on weekends to give presentations, assist support groups, etc.
Therapy is a highly individual process, tailored to meet each person’s unique needs. Typically, we’ll meet for one hour each week, though as you begin to feel better, we may decide together to reduce the frequency of sessions. The initial few sessions will focus on getting to know you — this helps me better understand your goals and gives you a chance to see whether my approach feels like a good fit. The duration of therapy is entirely up to you and depends on the nature of your goals and how challenging they may be. Simply put, therapy continues for as long as it feels helpful and ends when you feel your needs have been met.
Finding the right fit in a therapist is so important. While most of my clients find that we are an excellent fit, I also recognize that therapy is a deeply personal experience — and that not every therapist is the right fit for every person. If I am not the right fit for you, I will to support you in finding someone who better aligns with your therapeutic needs, personality, and practical considerations—such as location or insurance coverage.
One common misconception when searching for a therapist is the belief that someone “like you” — someone who shares your age, gender, race, religion, etc. — will best understand you. Similarity is not a good predictor of fit, though. A therapist who relates to you primarily through their own experiences may unintentionally project their experiences rather than truly listen to yours. Instead, a good therapist seeks to understand you not through the lens of their own story, but by deeply listening, and by connecting with your unique background, feelings, and challenges. True understanding comes not from sameness, but from empathy, presence, and a genuine commitment to seeing you as you are.
The ideal of making therapy cheaper and more accessible is very much a noble one, but the reality is that therapy apps are problematic for many reasons. There is often a high turnover rate among these therapists, meaning you may have to start over with new therapists again and again. Clients commonly complain of unresponsive therapists, who often carry such large client loads that they struggle to remember which client is which. Therapy is supposed to be confidential, but therapy apps have a well-documented history of sharing clients’ personal information. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commision concluded that one of the biggest and best known therapy apps “betrayed consumers’ most personal health information for profit.” According to a 2023 article in the Washington Post, these companies make money by selling your mental health information, and are able to do so without your knowledge or consent. “One company advertised the names and home addresses of people with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress or bipolar disorder. Another sold a database featuring thousands of aggregated mental health records …” Some of them “offered personally identifiable data featuring names, addresses and incomes.” According to NPR, a 2020 investigation by Jezebel found that client information from a popular therapy app “was being shared with Facebook, including metadata of messages between patients and therapists.” The lead author of the Mozilla *Privacy Not Included Guide described most therapy apps as “exceptionally creepy,” explaining that “they track, share, and capitalize on users’ most intimate personal thoughts and feelings.”
There’s a reason therapy apps are often cheaper than traditional therapy: someone else is footing the bill — by buying access to your private health information
Some therapists are firmly committed to a single style of therapy, applying it uniformly to every client they see. I take a different approach. There’s a saying: “If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail.” But not every problem is a nail — so why work with a therapist who only uses one tool?
My approach begins with you — your history, your struggles, your goals. I listen carefully before determining which therapeutic approach will best support your unique needs.
Some will claim that a specific modality, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is the most effective. But the reality is far more nuanced. While certain methods may be better suited to specific individuals or challenges, no single approach is universally superior. Research indicates that most widely accepted therapeutic modalities are roughly equivalent in effectiveness.
So what is it that makes the difference in therapy? Turns out it’s not the specific technique or school of thought — it’s the skill of the therapist and the strength of the therapeutic relationship. An effective therapist is one who adapts their approach to each client and fosters a space of trust, safety, and unconditional support.
Most clients feel nervous about starting therapy with a new therapist. Why wouldn’t they? You don’t know me and you have no reason to trust me with your care or with your story. That’s why the first appointment is designed to be low-pressure and focused on helping you get a sense of whether you feel comfortable working with me.
During our initial session, we’ll begin by addressing any questions or concerns you may have, and we’ll discuss what brings you to therapy and what goals you hope to achieve. My primary aim in this first meeting is simply to get to know you. Because I tailor my approach to each individual, understanding your unique experiences and needs is essential. Toward the end of the session, I’ll share my initial impressions and offer a framework for understanding how we can make progress through therapy. I’ll also explain how I believe I might — or might not — be able to help you move toward your goals.
After that, it’s entirely up to you whether you’d like to move forward and schedule another appointment.
I am authorized to practice telehealth to 40 states as well as the District of Columbia. To see if your state is one, click here.
To provide an accurate estimate of the cost of care, I’ll first need to speak with you about your treatment needs and, if you plan to use insurance, learn more about your specific plan. I offer a range of psychological services, and fees vary depending on the type of service. Additionally, insurance plans differ in terms of deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, so out-of-pocket costs can vary significantly from one person to another.
Once I have a better understanding of your situation—including whether or not you intend to use insurance—I’ll be able to give you a clear breakdown of what your care will cost before your first appointment.
If you’re not using insurance and would like an estimate of potential costs, you can refer to the attached good faith estimate. In accordance with the No Surprises Act, I’ve also provided a notice outlining your federal rights and protections against unexpected charges from out-of-network providers.
I am an in-network provider for Medicare and an out-of-network provider for all other insurance plans. If you have a PPO plan through another insurance carrier, your plan may offer partial reimbursement for services provided by an out-of-network (OON) provider like myself.
Regardless of your insurance status, I’m happy to help you determine the potential cost of therapy, whether you plan to use your insurance benefits or pay out of pocket.
When you choose to use your health insurance benefits to pay for therapy, there are several important considerations to keep in mind:
* A mental health diagnosis must be assigned and will become part of your permanent medical record.
* Your therapist is required to share any requested treatment records — sometimes including personal disclosures — with your insurance provider or their third-party contractors in the event of audits or reviews. What they do with that information once they have it is beyond my — or potentially your — control.
* Your insurance company reserves the right to deny or discontinue coverage at any time if they determine that treatment is not, or is no longer, medically necessary—often without prior notice.
Payment is accepted in the form of cash, check, or most major credit/debit cards. For those who prefer telehealth appointments, payment is processed through a secure online payment site using a credit/debit card or bank account. Payment is due at the time of service.
I understand that life can be unpredictable, and I truly dislike having to charge fees for late cancellations or missed appointments. However, these policies are necessary—and here’s why:
When you schedule an appointment, you’re reserving not just my professional services, but also a dedicated block of time, and a big block of time at that. I typically see no more than six clients per day, which allows me to give each person my full attention and care. Because my availability is limited, a missed or late-canceled appointment significantly affects both my ability to serve other clients, to maintain a sustainable practice, and to provide for myself and my family.
For this reason, appointments must be canceled or rescheduled with at least 48 hours’ notice. If you cancel late or miss your appointment without sufficient notice, you will be charged the full session fee. Fees for late cancellations and missed appointments are not a punishment or an expression of my frustration or disapproval; they are simply reimbursement for the time – typically an entire hour – that you reserved. Please note that if you are using insurance benefits, your insurance provider will not cover missed appointments or late cancellations. These fees are the full responsibility of the client, regardless of whether services are normally paid out-of-pocket or through insurance.
Thank you for your understanding and for honoring this policy, which helps me continue to provide consistent, quality care to all of my clients.
No. Psychologists are doctors who provide psychotherapy (“talk therapy”) and evaluation/testing services, but are not licensed to prescribe medications in the state of Florida. If you are seeking medications, you should schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. If you are interested in both psychotherapy and psychotropic medication, I will be glad to be your therapy provider and offer you a referral to a psychiatrist for medication.
No. I am an adult psychologist, and do not work with children. At times I will work with older adolescents on a case by case basis. If you are a parent and think that I may be a good fit for your adolescent , I encourage you to call my office so that we can discuss their needs. In the case that a minor child’s parents are divorced and have joint custody, written consent for treatment will be required from both custodial parents.
No. I am not a forensic psychologist, and do not prepare evaluations, reports, letters, or testimony for legal matters.
No. I want to be transparent about the services I offer so that you can make the best decision for your care. I do not provide evaluations or written statements for the purpose of obtaining special benefits, services, or accommodations. This includes, but is not limited to, documentation related to emotional support animals, educational or workplace accommodations, Social Security disability claims, disability insurance policies, or service animals.
If you are currently seeking—or think you may need—this type of documentation, I kindly ask that you bring it up with me before scheduling an appointment. This helps ensure that your needs are appropriately supported and that you’re connected with the right provider for those specific services.
Yes. I maintain a strict confidentiality policy. No information is released without your written consent except when disclosure is required or allowed by law. Examples of situations in which disclosure is required or allowed by law include when there is an immediate cause for concern about potential harm to you or to others; when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child, elder adult, or vulnerable adult has been or is being abused, neglected, abandoned, endangered, or exploited; when allegations are made by a patient of sexual misconduct committed by a licensed healthcare professional; if I am a party defendant to a civil, criminal, or disciplinary action arising from a complaint filed by a patient; and when the release of records or information is authorized by a signed court order. In addition, individuals who use health insurance to pay for psychological services agree that their full treatment file will also be available to the insurance carrier as indicated in the insurance contract. Because of this, many individuals who have health insurance prefer to pay for services on their own in order to avoid the involvement of their health insurance provider and to retain the privacy and confidentiality of their personal health information.
You can read more about confidentiality and patients’ rights under HIPAA by clicking here.
I am not directly reachable outside of designated work hours and am not reachable while in session with other clients. In the event of a crisis or emergency, do one of the following immediately:
- Dial 911
- Call or text 988 to connect with the free and confidential Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org. For TTY, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. En Español, 1-888-628-9454
- Text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line
- If you are in Sarasota County, contact the 24-hour Behavioral Health Crisis Line at Lightshare Behavioral Wellness and Recovery at (941-732-6837)
- Visit your nearest emergency room
Take a chance on yourself.
Call or email today.
941-444-5578
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call/text 988 or text HOME to 741741.
For TTY, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
En Español, 1-888-628-9454
Take a chance on yourself.
Call or email today.
941-444-5578
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call/text 988 or text HOME to 741741.
For TTY, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
En Español, 1-888-628-9454