Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Where is the office located?
1714 Boardman-Poland Road, Suite 10 Youngstown, OH 44514
What are your office hours?
My office hours vary, but I make an attempt to accommodate each person’s needs whenever possible.
How long is a typical session?
Typically, a session lasts 50 minutes.
How do I pay?
Cash, check, credit card, HSA.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes, I am contracted with a few insurance companies.
How do I make an appointment?
The best way to schedule an appointment is to call or email me directly. We can find a time that works for both of us to meet.
Can I cancel an appointment? Do you have a cancellation policy?
Occasionally things happen that require us to cancel or reschedule appointments. I require 24 hours’ notice of cancellation. Late cancellations are subject to full-fee charges.
What is a free initial phone consultation?
A free initial consultation is a time for me to ask you some questions to better understand what’s leading you to therapy and to assess whether I believe I’m the best person to help you. During this consultation, I encourage you to ask any questions that may help you decide if I may be right for you.
Do you offer video or phone sessions?
I offer in-person, video, and phone sessions.
Therapy Questions
What age range do you work with?
I work with adults 18 years of age and older.
Do you work with men? Women? Couples? Adolescents?
I work with adult men, women, and couples.
What can I expect in the first session?
Our initial session will be focused on exploring what’s bringing you to therapy and getting a better understanding of your goals. The goals we can identify will guide our work together.
How long will I be in therapy?
This is a difficult question to answer because everyone is different and possesses a unique set of skills to face their current problems. Typically, I provide long-term psychotherapy for individuals who are looking to make lasting changes.
Does anyone cry in front of you?
Therapy can be difficult as we unpack some deeply painful and emotional aspects of your life. Experiencing feelings in the presence of others can be a challenge for some and that’s okay. While crying is not a requirement, it can be a natural part of the process.
Do I have to tell you everything?
While it’s important for me to have the necessary information to be able to be helpful, I recognize there are some things people do not feel comfortable sharing with anyone. We will work to cultivate a relationship of mutual trust that may make it easier to tell me things that initially felt difficult to talk about. There will never be pressure for you to tell me things that you are uncomfortable sharing, though I will encourage you to venture outside your comfort zone to get the most benefit from our work together.
Who benefits from therapy?
In my experience, individuals who are motivated to explore how their life experiences continue to impact them, those who are willing to call themselves into question, and those who are motivated to do the difficult work of self-reflection and change have the most success.
How do you work with clients?
While my work with clients is based on individual needs, my approach would best be categorized as psychodynamically informed psychotherapy. My belief is that to understand what’s happening in the present, we need to have a thorough understanding of what’s led us to this point. Exploration of how your past may be influencing your present is an important part of the work we will do.
What can a therapist do?
A therapist can provide emotional support, assist with problem solving, help to identify and implement coping skills, support behavioral change, improve communication skills, provide guidance and support with navigating relationship issues, assist with processing and healing from traumatic experiences, work on building self-esteem, support and/or challenge your decision making, assist in coping with grief and loss, and provide fundamentally new relational experiences.
What are the risks and benefits of doing therapy? There are very few, if any, risks to working with a competent therapist.
For Couples
Do couples fight in front of you?
For many couples, intense disagreements have led them to initiate therapy. These disagreements often present themselves during emotionally charged therapy sessions. It can be extraordinarily helpful to observe and understand how the couple relates to one another during intense disagreements.
Do you take sides?
My job is not to take sides but to be an objective observer of relationship dynamics that may be causing distress.
Questions About Me
How long have you been in practice?
I began private practice in August of 2023. Prior to that, I spent a decade honing my skills in a variety of mental health settings.
What are your strengths as a therapist?
My primary strength as a therapist is understanding what it’s like to do this work. I am patient and trust the process because I know it works.
What do you enjoy about being a therapist?
I believe everyone deserves to heal. Being able to accompany people on their journey toward healing has been the greatest honor of my life.
Have you been in therapy yourself?
I believe in the transformational power of good therapy. Therefore, I remain committed to my own personal work with my trusted therapist.
What is your educational background?
I received a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After several years in the field of exercise and cardiac rehabilitation, I decided to pursue my true passion and obtained a Master’s degree in Community Counseling from the University of Akron in 2012.
Do you prescribe medications?
Prescribing medication is outside my scope of practice.
Are you licensed?
I am licensed through the Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board of Ohio. My license number is E. 1100607-SUPV.
Because, Why Not?
Is your furniture comfortable?
You’ll have to let me know. So far, I haven’t had any complaints.
Do I have to lie on a couch?
You’re welcome to lie on the couch if you’d like. I encourage you to sit/lie however makes you feel comfortable, but I would prefer you stay awake.
What brand of tissues do you offer?
After a difficult therapy session, the last thing you need to worry about is a raw nose. I keep Puffs Plus in my office because I find them to be the most soothing and least abrasive.
Am I allowed to ask personal questions?
While the nature of the therapeutic relationship tends to tilt heavily toward the therapist asking the questions, I welcome any questions directly related to the work we are doing and the goals we have established.
What apps make your life better?
Amazon Music, Podcasts
Cats or Dogs?
Of course, I love both!