Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if counseling is appropriate for me or my family?
People come to counseling for a variety of reasons. Often they are seeking help with a specific concern, or something that has been causing ongoing issues for them or their family. There are no guaranteed outcomes, and therapy requires active participation on your part; but the potential benefits of therapy are many, including a significant reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in interpersonal relationships, greater awareness and insight, as well as skills for managing stress and conflict.
What is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that incorporates elements from many different treatment approaches. EMDR has helped millions of people of all ages relieve many types of psychological stress (EMDR International Association). EMDR has been found effective by the American Psychiatric Association, The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the Department of Defense and the World Health Organization. It is also considered an evidence-based treatment for anxiety and depression symptoms and is widely used for other treatment issues, including: phobias, dissociative disorders, and those with a history of abuse and neglect. EMDR can also be used to improve emotional regulation and performance enhancement.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you are mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad, or attaching a lot of meaning to them which may trigger or contribute to anxious and depressive thoughts. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.
How does mindfulness help increase feelings of well being and become your "super power": Click here for a interactive explanation from Dan Harris from Happify
What is neuroplasticity and how does it work?
Traumatic experiences and environments can adversely affect the way our brain develops. For example: A child who experiences ongoing physical, sexual or emotional abuse, a person experiencing tragic loss, being in a terrifying accident, rape, domestic violence or living in war zone, can lead to chronic hyper-arousal in the autonomic nervous system. This may result in life-altering feelings of anxiety, depression, memory impairment and difficulty controlling our emotions. Recent research in neuroscience demonstrates that the brain is able to "rewire" itself by correcting and creating new neural pathways to "reset the brain", which helps alleviate behavioral and emotional reactivity. Simply stated, neuroplasticity is the mind's ability to replace one set of memories or behaviors with another. I invite you to listen to a brief video explaining how contemplative practices, such as mindfulness and yoga, contribute to neuroplasticity and emotional well-being.
Do you accept insurance?
I am currently accepting Cigna Insurance. For all other insurances I am an out-of-network provider. You should check with your insurance provider to determine if you are eligible for out-of-network mental or behavioral health services. You may want to ask your insurance provider if you need pre-approval, what rate they will reimburse you, the number of sessions they cover and whether or not a deductible applies. I will provide a statement for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
What’s with the “bee”?
Aside from the many benefits of “bee breath” (see home page) my family are bee keepers who value the fragile, mysterious, and, beautiful balance that nature provides in natural healing. Simply watching our bees in action is meditative and the concept of “Nature Deficit Disorder” seems to have growing validity. I invite you to spend some time in nature. Notice, allow and bee. Exhale.