Counseling has both benefits and risks. Risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness and helplessness, because the process of counseling often requires discussing difficult aspects of your life. However, counseling has been shown to have benefits for individuals who undertake it. Therapy often leads to a significant reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in interpersonal relationships, greater personal awareness and insight, increased skills for managing stress and resolutions to specific problems. However, there are no guarantees about what will happen. Counseling requires a very active effort on your part. In order to be most successful, you will have to work on things we discuss outside of sessions.

In addition, online counseling is not for everyone. If you prefer meetings and doctors appointments in person, you may struggle with the online format of therapy. Please consider if therapy by video feels like the right match for you. 

Appointments for individual counseling sessions will ordinarily be 45 minutes in duration, once per week at a time we agree on. Relationship, couples, or family counseling sessions will ordinarily be 60 minutes in duration. 

My fee is $150 for individuals and $300 for couples, multiple partner relationships, and family sessions. I offer a sliding scale for those who are unable to pay this fee. Please contact me for more information.

I operate out-of-network with all insurances currently. It is unlikely that I will work with insurance companies at any time in the near future due to their requirements for personal client information that I believe should remain confidential. However, your insurance may provide out-of-network mental health benefits, call your provider to determine this. I am happy to work with you on the paperwork you will need to provide your insurance provider for out-of-network or HSA benefits at your request.

The time scheduled for your appointment is assigned to you and you alone. If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, I ask that you provide me with 24-hours notice. 

If you miss a session without canceling, or cancel with less than 24-hour notice, my policy is to collect the amount of your session fee. If it is possible, I will try to find another time to reschedule the appointment. In addition, you are responsible for coming to your session on time; if you are late, your appointment will still need to end on time. 

I allow 2 late canceled or no-show sessions with no charge per calendar year for illness or emergency only. If you do need to cancel or miss a session, regardless of the reason, you are still expected to reach out to me and inform me as soon as possible. If I cancel a session for any reason there is no charge, and I will endeavor to give you at least a week of advanced warning that I will need to cancel unless an emergency or sudden illness arises.

Confidentiality and your right to privacy is a crucial concern when it comes to the therapeutic relationship. In all but a few rare situations, client confidentiality (i.e., your privacy) is protected by law and by professional ethical rules. I will never release information about you or your services to any outside party without your written authorization, except in the following situations that are required of me by law:

1. If I believe you might seriously harm yourself or another person, the law requires that I act to protect you or the other person. This could include contacting emergency personnel, a friend, and/or a family member. This also may involve involuntary hospitalization or referral for additional clinical services.
2. A court of law may order a mental health professional to release an individual’s records. In such cases, I may be required to release your record, with or without your consent. I will attempt to request the court not require the information, as it would damage the counselor/client relationship and impede your healing. If required, only minimal information will be disclosed. Please consult your lawyer and/or inform me if you are involved in any court proceeding.
3. Therapists are mandated reporters of child and elder abuse, including human trafficking of minors. If I learn of a present-day situation in which a child or dependent elder is being abused or trafficked, I am legally required to report this to the appropriate authorities.

I am often not immediately available by telephone. I do not answer my phone when I am with clients or otherwise unavailable. At these times, you may leave a message on my confidential voicemail at 906-203-8354 and your call will be returned as soon as possible, but it may take a day or two for non-urgent matters. For all emergency calls I will respond within 24 hours. You may also text me with emergency and non-emergency matters at the same number. If, for any number of unseen reasons, you do not hear from me or I am unable to reach you and you feel you cannot wait for a return call or if you feel unable to keep yourself safe, call 1-888-NYC-WELL or visit https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/, go to your Local Hospital Emergency Room, or call 911. I will make every attempt to inform you in advance of planned absences and provide you with the name and phone number of the mental health professional covering my practice.

If you are unhappy with anything during therapy, I hope you will talk with me so that I can respond to your concerns and do my best to address any problems. Your concerns or critiques will be taken seriously and handled with care and respect. You may also request that I refer you to another therapist and are free to end therapy at any time. You have the right to considerate, safe, and respectful care without discrimination as to race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, size, ability, age, religion, national origin, or source of payment. You have the right to ask questions about any aspects of therapy and about my specific training and experience. You have the right to expect professionalism and confidentiality from me toward you and all my current and former clients.