Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

We will chat about your availability. I try to accommodate your unique schedule. If you are flexible, I can probably get you in this week.

I answer my phone, texts, and emails Monday through Friday during business hours and when I’m not in session. If I don’t answer your call, please leave a message and I will reach out to you as soon as possible.

If you are having an emergency please call 9-1-1 or the suicide crisis helpline at 2-1-1.

You have options:

• One hour
• Two hours or
• Intensive Treatment (3-6 hours per day for multiple consecutive days)

Multiple hour, longer sessions allow us to get into issues more quickly and deeply, offering you faster relief. If you need sessions shorter than an hour, we can talk about that, too. We will choose the session length that fits best for your needs.

I offer a free first phone conversation, called a consultation, so that we can get to know a bit about each other. Therapy is a relationship-based process. It works best when it feels comfortable between you and me.

During our 15-minute call, I’ll ask you to tell me the reason you are looking for counseling and a little about what is going on in your life. You can ask me any questions you have so that you feel comfortable with your decision to start therapy. If we agree it’s a good fit, we will get you scheduled for your first counseling appointment.

It is my priority to make sure you’re getting the best care possible. My approach to psychotherapy works for many people, but it may not be for everyone. I will be honest if I do not have the right support to offer you, and I will do my best to connect you with someone who can help.

I’m so glad you asked; getting started is easy!

Your free consultation phone call is the first step. To set it up, you can call or text me directly at: (904) 201-2122.

Alternatively, you can complete the form below.

Of course, you can cancel any appointment. I have a 48-hour cancellation policy for all cancelled or rescheduled appointments. That way I can offer the session time you will miss to someone else in need. Sessions not canceled within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment time will be automatically charged at the full session rate.

I get that “life happens,” so this policy applies to me, too. If for any unforeseen and rare reason I have to reschedule your session without giving you at least 48 hours notice, your next session is on me and totally free!

Please call or text me to cancel or reschedule appointments: (904) 201-2122.

In brief, therapy is the process of working through frustrations, losses, hurts, and challenges that hinder you from feeling well and living your best life. It is more effective than just “talking out” your thoughts and feelings with friends or family because it gives you new tools, provides you with a guide (that’s me!), and a clear roadmap (our work together) to get through the tough stuff.

Therapy begins by learning more about yourself. It’s also about recovery from the past. You’ll gain new methods for self-expression, find ways to feel more peace, and get in touch with your inner hopes and dreams. Together, we’ll uncover helpful perspectives and ways of relating to the world that serve your unique lifestyle. Sometimes therapy is about change. Sometimes it’s about deep acceptance. And sometimes it is about how to better enjoy the journey you are on.

Counseling is a doorway to true healing and deeper meaning. By being willing to give yourself this time and attention you will feel more peace, purpose, and happiness. Your life is about to change for the better!

Once, I was chatting with a doctor-friend about a delimma: Should I be eating organic fruits and vegetables? On one hand, they are expensive, and I can’t always get what I want. On the other hand, there are significant health risks with non-organic produce. She wisely responded by saying, “You can pay now or pay later.”

I view therapy similarly. Yes, therapy is an investment of time, money, and energy. But, it is an investment into your most precious assets: your life and happiness. It’s rare that the problems that caused you to look for a counselor are going to disappear on their own. You have the choice to invest in yourself right now so that you can move forward to the life you’ve always imagined, or you can “pay later” which could mean sacrificing your relationships, family, health, happiness, or all of the above.

Trust in me to help, I know that you are worth investing in!

An excellent question that is difficult to precisely answer. Your journey to peace, purpose, and happiness is unique because you are one-of-a-kind.  

Many of my clients see benefits in just a few sessions. Simple issues that have clear goals, may only need 4-6 sessions (1-2 months). However, deeper matters like healing from trauma, reevaluating life purpose, coping with grief, addressing relationship issues, or managing anxiety and depression can take longer (5+ months).

The length of our work together will depend on what you’re dealing with, how complex your life is, how much support you have, the changes you’d like to make, and how much time you have to focus on your healing journey. We will talk about your goals in the first session which will help us roughly estimate how many sessions you may need.

People who want to see rapid results commit to meeting weekly. Some people prefer to meet several times per week at first and then taper down to once a month.

Whatever pace we go, we’ll schedule consistent meetings so they are a regular part of your health routine and we gain momentum towards your healing. It is my goal to help you efficiently resolve your specific issues so you can move on to living your best life.

Although I have a long history of working with kids and teens, I am only seeing adults right now. If you’re a parent seeking services for your child, teen, or young adult consider “putting your oxygen mask on first.” Healthy parents can help kids find their own health. Please call me if you have questions and we can talk through your needs: (904) 201-2122.

Yes. I’m qualified to supervise Master’s level clinicians working toward their 100 hours of post-graduate supervision needed to become an LMHC in Florida. I also supervise art therapists who need 100-150 hours of supervision to become Board-Certified Art Therapists.

Please contact me if you are interested in individual or group supervision. I have limited spots available each year.

I’ve been a therapist for over 15 years. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), a Board-Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC), and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I am also trained in the Instinctual Trauma Response (ITR) method and Brainspotting.

My education gives me a range of specialized knowledge that allows me to successfully help many clients. I hold a Bachelor’s degree from Stetson University in Religious Studies with minors in Art and Information Technology. I have a Master’s degree in Art Therapy from Florida State Univeristy and a Master’s degree in Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. I am a Ph.D. candidate in Depth Psychology with a specialization in Jungian and Archetypal Studies at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Within the field of art therapy, my specialties are trauma treatment, medical art therapy, working with mandalas, therapeutic hand papermaking, and the PPAT assessment.

I have experience providing individual and group therapy to children age three through adults.

Before opening my own therapy practice, my clinical care focused on people hospitalized for conditions like cancer, organ transplant, congenital heart disease, cystic fibrosis, lupus, accidents, and medical traumas.

I come from a family of healthcare workers, so I’ve always been passionate about supporting medical staff who are coping with burnout, compassion fatigue, and workplace trauma. I also worked with people suffering from severe mental health issues who were hospitalized in psychiatric behavioral health centers.

I’ve been a university professor for over ten years. I worked with undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Florida where I taught courses on arts in medicine, the arts and compassion, creativity, design thinking, and innovation. I held roles as the Assistant Director of the Center for Arts in Medicine, Creative Engagement Liaison for the UF Provost, and Academic Coordinator for the Innovation Academy. I also taught with Penn West at Edinboro University in the Masters of Arts in Counseling Art Therapy program.

In my “former life,” I was an elite athlete for 18 years which included college gymnastics.

You might be surpised that I say both!

Fun fact, although I’m a Florida gal through and through, I was born in Utah. I had snow skis on my feet from the time I could walk. I love being in the mountains to hike in summer or ski in winter.

But, I also love the beach! There is nothing better than feeling my toes in the sand, the breeze through my hair, and the sun on my face. Bottom line, there is something wonderful and restorative about being in nature.

I am Aries sun, Aquarius moon, and Sagittarius rising.

Curious what that means? The astrology shows that my soul was born into this world with a knack for analyzing, assessing, and exploring possibilities, especially diving into the unknown to make discoveries and solve meaningful problems (sound just like counseling?!). But, I don’t prefer to do things like everyone else: I seek innovative and sometimes unorthodox ways to get things done – like art therapy!

I value close interpersonal relationships, and my greatest pleasure is inspiring others, which is why I love being a therapist and teacher.

I’m socially conscious and will speak out about injustices, a.k.a. I’ve got your back.

I enjoy self-improvement and lifelong personal development, so you can count on me to practice what I preach; I won’t ask you to do something I haven’t tried myself.

Thankfully, Sagittarius rising doesn’t let me take life too seriously. It encourages playfulness, supports my desire to have big dreams, and nurtures my creative-side.

Astrology has been helpful in my own healing journey to point out my strengths and teach me how to work with the ebbs and flows of life’s energies. If you want to learn more, ask me about Astrologically Guided Therapy.

No worries. Give me a call or text today, and I will be happy to answer any additional questions you have: (904) 201-2122.