Welcome

Where are you licensed to practice? I am licensed in Massachusetts and cannot provide therapy to anyone outside of this state unless you are temporarily out of state or you live out of state but travel to MA for therapy. 

What is your standard fee? Do you take insurance? I provide a sliding scale according to net income. This varies from $130-$324 per 60 minute session. I also accept Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance and can provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement.

How long are your sessions? Industry standard is 50 minutes per session; I do 60 minute sessions as I don't feel 50 is enough. Ideally, for couples work I recommend 90 minute sessions whenever possible; typically this is once a week though in certain circumstances we may need to meet more or less frequently or for longer or shorter depending on goals, needs and availability. For EMDR sessions, I recommend longer sessions with a minimum of 2 hours for the first session and 90 for subsequent sessions. 

How long does Therapy typically last? Treatment length can vary depending upon issues presented, history of relationship  and/or personal trauma, treatment plan, goals and objectives among other factors. Treatment goals are developed in collaboration with clients and we do regular check ins on progress. On average, I work with individuals and couples for 2 years for complex issues and approximately 10 months if the presenting problem is an isolated issue and/or if clients are looking for transitional support. However, I have worked with clients for as long as 4 years plus or as brief as 3 months. I also offer maintenance sessions, which former weekly clients have reported finding helpful.  While I may make recommendations, as a client, you have the power to end work together at any time. 

Can we meet virtually? In Person? I am currently only providing therapy online, though I do make exceptions for people who live in Western MA. Before the pandemic, I was a skeptic regarding virtual therapy, then, due to public safety, I began only seeing regular clients online, using HIPAA compliant video conferencing. What I have found is that my concerns about virtual therapy were unfounded and the many benefits make it ideal. For instance: I have more hours available to see clients and can meet with you if you live across the state; I can see you in your natural environment, which creates comfort for you and useful information for our work together, and for couples work, you do not have to be in the same room as your partner to be seen virtually. With protocols in place, I also do intensives in person (more below.)

How does the initial process of therapy work? Therapy is a relationship and chemistry matters! The first step is to have a brief video session with all parties to learn a bit about each other, including what you are looking for and how I work. If we feel we may be a good match, I send you paperwork to review and complete and then we set up an extended session to review paperwork, set treatment parameters (scheduling, policies, etc) and complete an intake to get a high level overview of your context, your reasons for seeking therapy, and your goals. From there, we will decide on a plan of action together.

We need a lot of help, fast! Do you provide intensives? In certain circumstances I will meet with clients for multi-hour sessions or weekend intensives. The structure and content of these sessions. If you are interested in an immersive experience, please contact me and we can discuss. I also offer EMDR intensive sessions.

My partner doesn't want to come to therapy but I think we need it, can you help? I have worked with many couples and individuals who have had negative experiences in therapy. I have had bad experiences in therapy myself, so I understand the hesitation! There are well-meaning therapists out there who have not had extensive training in couples work but see couples anyway. I am not one of those people.  I have also worked with many people who came in under duress believing therapy isn't right for them  and found that not only was it safe, but it was the best thing that ever happened to them. My general philosophy is, life is an experiment and everything changes, if it's safe to try something (again) that may help and won't hurt, why not? You may come to therapy and find out that it's really effective and you may come and prove that indeed it is not right for you, either way I invite you to give it a try; I am happy to work with whatever may be influencing your hesitation to engage. At the same time, you cannot force anyone to engage in relationships, therapeutic or otherwise, if your partner refuses to engage, your next step may be to consider if that is acceptable to you. 

Why come to Intimate Relationship Therapy? I have often heard from clients that they fear couples therapy is the last ditch effort before breaking up or divorcing. While that can be the case, often, based on past bad experiences with or misconceptions of couples therapy, clients come to me when, despite their best efforts, they are stuck in repetitive patterns that can no longer be soothed, justified, or ignored.  Alternately, I have also worked with couples that view couples therapy as a gift to themselves and each other; an opportunity to increase their connection, physical, emotional intimacy, or overall enjoyment of each other. This is also the case when clients return to therapy for "maintenance" sessions.

Why seek individual therapy with me? I do my best individual work with people who are seeking a transformative experience; if you feel stuck yet ready to experiment your way into a more meaningful life and/or cohesive identity, I may be a good fit for you.

I (or my partner) have just disclosed an affair, can you help?  I have done extensive work with couples who are seeking to avoid or process affairs and infidelities and feel this is one of several areas of specialities.

Do you have any experience with "untraditional" relationships? We live in a society that often has fixed ideas of what is considered traditional or "normal",  I do not believe there is any actual "normal" when it comes to relationships, rather I believe that relationships work  or don't work for whomever is in them. I have supported people in a wide variety of relationship structures  and dynamics (ENM, Polyamory,  Kink, same sex, transitioning, etc.) at every stage of relationships (recently married, divorcing, considering increasing or decreasing commitment, considering opening up their relationship, etc.) I have worked with people who have been married for 40 years and those who have recently met and are trying to figure out whether or not they should stay together.

Do you offer sex therapy? While I am not a certified sex therapist and do not specialize in addressing so called "sexual dysfunction," I have worked extensively with couples who struggle with desire (having it, imbalance in levels, etc.), communication of wants and needs, overcoming sexual trauma, sexless relationships, body shame or embarrassment, and a wide variety of challenges and interests related to increasing physical intimacy with self and other. 

I am currently a victim of (or am perpetrating) intimate partner violence (IPV, also known as domestic violence), can you help us? The research is clear that relationship therapy is contraindicated where this is active violence. If you are experiencing violence in your relationship, please reach out to your local domestic violence resources. In MA you can find a list here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/list-of-domestic-violence-services-by-massachusetts-county  If there is not active violence in your relationship but there is the potential for violence, I would recommend working with someone who practices cognitive behavioral therapy and/or specializes in IPV. 

Payment: Payment is due prior to each session, I use Simple Practice, an online practice management platform and accept credit cards. I also take payment via most online payment apps including Venmo, Cash app, Zelle, and Paypal, though it is important to remember that these platforms need to be made private to be HIPAA compliant. Prepayment of multiple sessions is also available with an associated 10% discount.  

Cancellation policy: I require 24 hours notice regarding cancellation. Unless it is a documented emergency or other arrangements have been made, any missed appointments or cancellations made within less than 24 hours will be charged 50% of session cost for the first two and then full session cost for any additional cancellations. If scheduling or attendance becomes an issue, we will discuss and decide on how to address.