What to Expect
My Process
1. phone Consultation
If you are interested in getting set up with your free 20-minute phone consultation, please fill out the contact form by clicking the button below.
I will respond to you via email with my calendar link so you can select a time that works for you. I will call you on the scheduled day and time for this initial consult call.
During this phone call, I will ask some background questions assessing for personality and clinical fit. Be ready to tell me a brief overview of what’s going on and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy. Feel free to bring your questions for me to answer, too!
2. Ongoing Therapy Sessions
Session 1: gathering and reviewing important background information, along with developing a unique treatment plan
Session 2+: targeting your outlined goals using the appropriate techniques we mutually agreed upon in session 1.
Two notes:
I always encourage people to start therapy weekly for about a month if time and budget allow so we can build some momentum and identify patterns, but I will work with what works for you.
I occasionally assign “homework” between sessions, but this is not necessarily what you think. Sometimes it does include writing things down or filling out a form, but it also could be paying attention to something specific or reflecting on something we talked about. These homework assignments will be unique to you and your treatment.
Rates
Individuals
Intake & Treatment Planning Session
55 min | $250
55 min Therapy Session *
$215
85 min Therapy Session *
$330
*must complete intake & treatment planning session first
Couples
Couples Counseling Session
55 min | $265
Insurance & Payment
All therapy services are private pay only and payment is due in full at the time of service. I do not accept insurance (see FAQs below for more detail), but I am more than happy to create a “superbill” for you to submit to your insurance company for them to reimburse you for Out of Network benefits. I cannot guarantee their reimbursement, but I have had success!
these forms of payment are accepted
Credit/Debit Cards
HSA/FSA Cards
Sliding Scale Fees
I have two reduced fee slots available on a first come, first served basis. Please inquire about availability if this is something you are interested in.
Treatment Approaches
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I’m going to call you out when you’re being too hard on yourself, minimizing your concerns, or thinking a bit too rigidly / negatively. We all have errors in our thinking from time to time and it helps to have someone else point this out.
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Yes, I will actually ask you how you feel about certain things, and just know from the get-go that mad, sad, and glad aren’t going to cut it. So be ready to give me some other descriptors as best you can. If this is an area where you struggle, we can work on this together.
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We are going to look at the pros and cons of changing a certain behavior. There are always going to be both and doing a quick run though might help you make your decision on how to proceed.
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Being clear on your values will be at the core of our therapy work because your values will guide your decisions. They will guide where you work, who you’re in a relationship with, how much time you spend on each, etc. Getting clear on your values will help you make informed decisions so you can experience living in alignment. This is where the soul-level feelings of freedom come in. Ahh, yes!
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I will absolutely ask about your family, friend, and romantic relationships. Depending on your concerns and your goals, we can spend a little or a lot of time on this. I am happy to work with you through relationship wounds, patterns, or struggles.
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This is a fancy psychological term outlining how you can move forward amidst things you cannot change. The theory posits that you have the power to accept the life happenings and commit to moving forward in life with your values in mind. Remember that just because you accept something, does not mean you have to approve of it.
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Yes, it is okay to laugh in therapy. It’s okay to poke fun at yourself, make light of things, and use dark humor. Of course, this is all balanced with serious work. But I want you to feel comfortable enough to be real with me because I’ll be real with you.
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This is one strategy to validate and feel all of your emotions at one time, even when they seem contradictory. Something can be both painful and you can feel grateful you went through it. You can be both angry at someone and love them intensely. Emotions are messy and there is enough space for both-and.
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I’ll ask about this because it is pivotal to your well-being. Basically, it means any activity that you intentionally do for yourself on a regular basis. It can be napping, running, painting – It doesn’t matter to me what the activity is, just that you are doing it. It’s the only way you can truly continue giving to your job, your relationship, your family, and other obligations you may have. Without it, you’ll crumble.
Service Area
I live in Minnesota, BUT since I am a member of PSYPACT, I am licensed to provide telehealth to those residing in numerous states. Please check the listing for the most up-to-date-information regarding whether or not we can work together, since it is continuously changing and expanding.
Policies
Cancellation Policy
I ask for a minimum of 24 hours notice for any cancellations, otherwise you will be charged for your session time.
Recording Policy
I will not audio or video record our therapy sessions and I ask that you do not, either, without my written consent.
FAQs
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Therapy online offers many benefits to my clients and I have found that those willing to give it a chance end up falling in love with it very quickly.
Telehealth therapy allows for greater:
Convenience - you can schedule an appointment that works for your schedule and not have to worry about adding in commute time or dealing with traffic. This leads to no gas costs and limited time off work needed to accommodate a therapy session
Comfort - from the comfort of your own space, be it home, car, or the office, people tend to enjoy being in a familiar environment while trying to be vulnerable and lean into the discomfort that can come up with therapy
Connection - wherever you are, we can connect online for therapy.
Confidentiality - Some people get discouraged from seeking counseling services due to the possibility of being seen walking into or out of a therapy clinic. Therapy online removes this barrier for people - it’s fully up to you to disclose to others that you are in therapy. Of note, all of the platforms that I use in my practice are HIPAA compliant. -
A computer with both a camera and microphone are recommended, though a smart-phone will work, too. Also needed are a well-lit room, limited distractions, and strong internet connection. It’s recommended that you and others in your location limit the amount of internet bandwidth (e.g., streaming, surfing, etc) you are using at the time of your therapy appointment to get the best results possible.
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This is a great question, but there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer. Therapy is a science, but it is also an art form. The length someone stays in therapy depends on a lot of factors including the client’s concerns, their goals, and the frequency of sessions just to name a few. I do recommend that people give therapy at least 3 sessions in order to “gain traction” and to form a foundation for a therapeutic relationship. As we continue, we can adjust the frequency of sessions as necessary for your current life stressors and goals, ranging from weekly to once every few months.
As a more active therapist, I have clients who have worked with me as little as 6 sessions, and others who have stayed years continuing to identify new goals.
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Unfortunately, due to state licensure laws, I cannot see my clients (even online) if you are not physically located in a state I am licensed in at the time of the therapy session. I will verify this at the beginning of every session with you. As a member of PSYPACT, I am licensed to provide telehealth to those residing in numerous states. Please check the listing for the most up-to-date-information regarding whether or not we can work together, since it is continuously changing and expanding. Map of PSYPACT participating states
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Not accepting insurance in my practice is a professional choice I made after a lot of thought. By choosing to be private pay only, I am optimizing the ability to work with you in a more customized and flexible way. What I mean by that is that there is no one dictating how many sessions we can have or how these sessions are structured. This ultimately gives YOU the power and control over your own therapy without restrictions imposed by insurance companies.
Additionally, your mental health diagnosis is kept ONLY within Better Balance Psychology (as opposed to submitted on an insurance claim). With this, you can feel more comfortable that your private information is being kept completely confidential and away from your insurance company.
This also allows me to to give a higher quality of care to my clients instead of investing time and energy into haggling with insurance companies about payments or requesting additional sessions.
I am happy to create a “superbill” for you that you can submit to your insurance company yourself and they can decide if they will reimburse you for the services you paid for Out of Network.
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As a Psychologist, I am not a medical doctor so I cannot prescribe any medication. If, during the course of your treatment, we decide that a medication consultation may be appropriate, we can work together to identify referrals.
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No, I do not offer psychological assessment of any kind as part of my practice. I can assist you with referrals if needed, though.
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I recommend completing a free phone consultation just to talk out options with a professional. If you decide you are not interested in therapy after talking to me, you’re not out of anything.