Questions about Treatment

🧠 You Have More Power Than You Think

You have the power to decide what you allow into your mind—what you focus on.
At this point, many people say, “That’s not possible.”
They believe we’re ruled by circumstances: bad upbringings, unlucky stars, trauma, and past abuses.

But focus is everything.
What you focus on is what you perceive. Focus on worry—you’ll feel worry. Focus on fearful thoughts—your emotions will follow with anxiety. Focus becomes habit. Habit becomes belief. Belief becomes your reality.

How Do We Know This?

As a student, I was deeply influenced by the work of Daniel Stern, a leading researcher in infant development. In his book, The Interpersonal World of the Infant, Stern explores how the infant mind organizes self-experience through what he called RIGs—Representations of Interactions that have been Generalized.

These RIGs form the foundation of subjectivity—how we begin to experience ourselves as “selves.” Infants learn who they are through repeated interactions. Over time, these experiences become mental representations, and eventually beliefs about reality.

In simple terms:

What you repeat, you reinforce.
What you reinforce, you believe.
What you believe, you live.

This process doesn’t stop after infancy. We continue to build our reality through our attention and our mental habits. And that means we can choose to change it.

By shifting focus—deliberately, repeatedly—we can reshape our emotional lives. We can stop reinforcing what’s harming us and start cultivating something new.

📞 Therapy Options: In Person or Online

I offer Zoom teletherapy sessions and in-person appointments, depending on your preference and location.
Zoom is easy, secure, and HIPAA-compliant when set up properly. If you’ve never used it before, don’t worry—I’ll guide you through it.

Phone sessions are also available if you prefer voice-only therapy.

💳 Insurance & Payment Info

If you're planning to use insurance, here are a few important questions to ask your provider before we begin:

• Do I have mental health coverage?

• What is my deductible, and has it been met?

• How many sessions per calendar year are covered?

• Does my plan cover out-of-network providers?

• What is my co-pay or coverage per session?

• Do I need a referral or pre-authorization?

I’ll work with you to find a payment arrangement that fits your circumstances. Sliding scale options may be available.

🔐 Is Therapy Confidential?

In general, yes—therapy is confidential. I will not disclose any information without your written permission. However, the law requires exceptions in the following cases:

• Suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse

• If a client threatens serious harm to themselves or others

In such cases, I may need to break confidentiality to ensure safety, and I will do so with care and responsibility.

 

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