General FAQ
Almost definitely and you can expect it to help a lot. Research shows that the effects of psychotherapy are deep and long-lasting, because being in therapy actually helps you become the person you want to be. As you change on a deep level (I sometimes think of this a finishing the process of growing up), that change will show up in all sorts of ways-- for example, how you interact with your partner, kids, friends, coworkers and how you handle new sources of stress. You can read more about this in my post The Unconventional Guide to the Benefits of Therapy.
This isn't something you'll be able to answer right away, so as you get to know your therapist you can use these questions as a guide:
- Is your therapist trained/experienced in working with people who have your issue?
- Do you feel like your therapist is listens to you?
- Are you growing?
- Do the people in your life notice a change?
Before we meet for the first time, you'll have a chance to do some paperwork online. With the paperwork out of the way, you'll find your first appointment to be much more helpful. During that session I'll do much more talking than I typically do. I'll ask you follow-up questions about things you've shared on the paperwork and make sure you have time to ask me questions too. I'll want you to tell me a bit more about your background and your goals for therapy. We'll discuss how I think I can help you too.
Possibly. Right now I accept Medicare, Caresource Medicaid, Caresource Just4Me, and Caresource Medicare Advantage plans. I am always working to be able to accept more insurance plans so check with me to see if I'm taking your insurance yet.
Another option is to use your out-of-network benefits to pay for a portion of your sessions. Most likely your appointments with me would be covered under your plans out-of-network benefits. You can contact your insurance provider to find out how much they'll pay. I'm also happy to answer any questions I can about the out-of-network benefits process-- see my overview of seeing an out-of-network therapist or contact me with your questions.
Yes. If you're not using your insurance benefits then I'm able to offer up to a 35% discount on my fee, depending on your household size and income. To qualify all you have to do is show me a copy of your most recent tax return so I can verify that information. If you have other questions about this, please contact me.
Typically I ask people to pay every session, at the end of the session. There are circumstances in which other payment arrangements can be made, please feel free to talk with me about that if you have any questions.
Pretty much anything-- cash, check, credit card, HSA card, Apple Pay, and Android Pay.
You can call or email me to schedule appointments; and you can conveniently schedule online. A great thing about online scheduling is that you can immediately see what time slots are available and what will work for your schedule. Check out the online schedule system and if you need help, here's an handy how to guide (PDF). After your first or second session we'll work together to find a regular day and time for us to meet.
If you can't make it to a session please let me know as soon as possible. You can call, text, email, or log on to the client portal to cancel your appointment. (For help with the client portal, see this PDF how to guide). If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice then you will be charged for the cost of your session.
My office is at 3006 North High Street, Suite 2A in Clintonville. It's in an old house that's been converted into office space on High Street, between Tibet and Tulane. Cup O Joe is just two buildings south of me and Pattycake Bakery is right across the street. On-street parking is available on High Street, Tulane, and Tibet.
When you get to the building, go up the outside staircase and into a large waiting area. There's in the opposite corner of that room which will take you to a little hallway. The restroom is the first door on the left in that hallway and my office is the second door on the left. You can wait in the little nook across from my door or in the larger waiting area by the main entrance.
Yes. I work several evenings a week. To see the time slots available right now, you can check my schedule.
Probably yes. Sometimes people want to bring their pets with them to help them feel more comfortable and grounded during their appointment, So if you'd like to bring your dog, cat, goldfish, etc. please check it out with me first and I'll likely think it's a great idea.
If you are 18 or older then almost everything we talk about during your appointment remains confidential. Things that can't stay confidential are things like if you tell me you're going to hurt yourself or someone else, or if I learn that you're abusing or neglecting a child or elderly person. Things that can stay confidential include whatever drugs you might be using and thoughts of suicide that you don't intend to act on. After you schedule your first appointment you'll receive a link to some documents online which go over this in more detail. And, as always, please ask me your questions.
Yes! It's a monthly (approximately) newsletter that includes announcements of upcoming events (groups, webinars, ecourses, etc), interesting things I've learned that month about personal growth, and the occasional recipe or other fun thing.
That's easy-- just call me at 614-398-2051 and let me know that you want a consultation. If you get my voicemail please include some good times for me to call you back and reach you so we don't have to play phone tag for a long time. I will call you back as soon as I can, usually within the next day or two.
Online Therapy FAQ
Pros:
- convenient
- accessible
- more comfortable for some people
Cons:
- some somatic therapy interventions can't be done online
- not recommended for people with serious mental health symptoms
See this blog post for more discussion of the benefits of online therapy.
Maybe. Insurance companies are beginning to recognize the value of online therapy and some plans cover seeing a therapist online. Call your insurance company and ask if they will pay for this service and if they cover it at the same rate as in person therapy. If you have any other questions about this, feel free to reach out to me.
No, you don't need any special equipment for online therapy sessions. As long as you have a working computer with a camera and reliable internet service you should have no problem using the video chat service.
Supervision FAQ
"Training supervision" means supervision for the purposes of obtaining a license and/or development of new areas of proficiency while providing services to clients. The training supervisor is responsible for providing direction to the supervisee, who applies social work theory, standardized knowledge, skills, competency, and applicable ethical content in the practice setting. The supervisor and the supervisee both share responsibility for carrying out their role in this collaborative processes of professional growth and development. Training supervision may be individual supervision or group supervision.
We can meet weekly in my office for 45 minutes at a time. At this point I'm not offering supervision online.
According to the Ohio CSWMFT Board:
Records of training supervision shall be maintained by the supervisee and made available to the board upon request. The supervision records shall contain information concerning the dates of supervision, content and goals of supervision. The supervisor shall sign the supervision records at least quarterly to document their review.
Here's a sample log from the CSWMFT Board
Yes! With the help of secure videoconferencing technology and the consent of your clients, I can 'sit in' on some of your sessions with your clients and provide live feedback as you request it. This is an invaluable learning opportunity and one that has helped me grow tremendously.