Common Questions

There are so many questions that flood the mind:

• Will I feel comfortable with her?
• Will she understand what I’m feeling?
• Can she really help me?

To decrease the feelings of anxiety about what to expect, I’d like to share with you a bit about me and my therapy style.

Because treating people with respect is an important value of mine, it is important to me that the person I am working with feels truly listened to and understood. Since interpersonal communication can be tricky at times, I will probably ask you questions to help clarify what you have said, and also to allow me to form a deeper understanding of the issues or feelings you are sharing. Having said that, I would like you to know that you are in the driver’s seat. So if you feel that you have gone as far as you wish to go in discussing a topic, you get to put on the brakes. If it is an important area for you to explore, it will come around again when the time is right.

There are many reasons people seek therapy. Some people come to see me because they find themselves in the middle of a crisis in their lives, and need someone objective to help them weigh the options for moving forward. Others are burdened by feelings of anxiety or depression and are looking for relief from their symptoms. Still others feel “stuck” where they are, and need to find ways of removing the obstacles in their lives in order to unleash their full potential. As we explore the issues together, I will offer you my insights on how you might navigate your challenges.

My therapy approach is a combination of the use of cognitive behavioral and relational/psychodynamic techniques. What this means is that, when appropriate, I will recommend new ways of tackling patterns that have been interfering with your life; at the same time we can explore how past events are connected to current situations so that you can free yourself by severing these ties.

Areas you may want to explore can include relationship challenges, stress management, loss and grief, low self-esteem, career concerns, or unresolved childhood issues. By the end of therapy, your toolkit should be substantial enough to help you navigate any rough spots you may encounter in the future. 

 Since I am a Ph. D. licensed psychologist, most insurance companies will reimburse you for my psychotherapy services. I am a participating provider with CareFirst Blue Cross;  I am also a participant in other national Blue Cross plans. In these programs, I will provide claims directly to Blue Cross.

If you have other insurance, you will need to determine whether you have mental health coverage under your policy. Call the customer-service department (the phone number is usually given on your insurance card) and ask them for information on your coverage for non-participating providers (some insurance companies use the term "out-of-network provider"). Ask them especially if there is coverage for licensed psychologists providing outpatient therapy, the level of reimbursement they provide, if there is a copay, and whether a referral is required before therapy can be covered.  If a referral is required, you will need to obtain it prior to our first session. I will provide a bill for you each month, which you can send to your insurer for their claims processing. 

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client. Even the information that you are my client is confidential.

However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. For more details, read the "Privacy Policy" document on the "Helpful Forms" page of this website.