How do I know if I need therapy?

If you feel directionless or purposeless, struggle to feel connection with others, or feel haunted by memories of or feelings about the past, therapy is for you. If life’s challenges seem like too much, day-to-day life feels like a battle, or you just experienced a major life transition, event, or loss, therapy is for you, too. While individuals with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety often find relief through therapy, you don’t have to have a diagnosis from the DSM-V to benefit.

How is therapy different from talking to a friend (or an AI chatbot)?

Listening therapeutically involves a distinct skill-set from listening as a friend. In session, I consider both what you say and what is left unsaid and combine my knowledge of psychology with what I know about you personally to make inferences about what you are experiencing and what might be helpful to you. I also consider it part of my job to be honest with you about how you might be getting in your own way even when it might not be exactly what you want to hear, which a friend may not do and a chatbot almost certainly won’t.

Finally, our conversations in therapy are confidential (with few exceptions- see below); I am ethically bound not to share we talk about to anyone else. AI chatbots cannot guarantee confidentiality and user data is often used to train LLMs (large language models such as ChatGPT).

How long will it take me to feel better?

Most people in therapy notice improvement within a year. Individual trajectories depend heavily on what you’re experiencing and how committed you are to consistent attendance and to making a change in your life. Evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD involves 10-12 sessions at minimum and many people notice substantial improvement in that time frame but might also feel worse before they feel better. This is a natural consequence of facing memories and feelings that you may have avoided.

Are therapy sessions confidential?

For the most part, yes, what you choose to tell me will remain between us. The only situations in which I need to break confidentiality are those in which your life or another person’s life is at imminent risk or to report child abuse.

How do I get started?

You can contact me via phone, email, or the form on the “Contact” page for a free 15-minute consultation to confirm we are a good fit before scheduling an intake appointment.

What is your hourly rate? Can I use my insurance?

I charge $200 per 45-50 minute visit and am an out-of-network provider for all insurance companies. If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide you a super-bill to submit to your carrier for reimbursement. For example, students on Dartmouth Student Group Health Plan are reimbursed 80% for out-of-network providers, reducing the out-of-pocket cost per session to $40. I also offer sliding scale fees to individuals who might struggle to pay the full fee.

Do you offer crisis support?

I am not able to provide after-hours crisis support. If you are experiencing a crisis, please call 911, call or text 988, or call 1-800-273-8255 to contact the Suicide Lifeline.

Do you offer telehealth/virtual sessions?

Yes! I am authorized by PSYPACT and offer virtual sessions to individuals located in most U.S. States (exceptions being Alaska, California, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, and Oregon). Some states that aren’t part of PSYPACT allow me to temporarily see clients in those states.