FAQ

I generally see clients between 11 am and 6 pm Monday through Wednesday, with the occasional telehealth appointment on other days/times on a case-by-case as-needed basis. I check my phone and messages once daily on Thursday and Friday and will return those calls on the next business day if possible.

Wheelchair ramps are located on the sides and at the rear of the building, and there is an elevator in the central lobby. While there is an elevator to the second floor, and the bathroom is labeled ADA-compliant, I feel like it is not genuinely compliant with the spirit of ADA. As a person with physical disabilities (I have autoimmune illnesses), the stalls aren’t large enough for a typical wheelchair to fit though they do have sturdy grab bars, and the door to my office is too narrow for many chairs, especially those that are motorized. I hope to move to a facility where that is not the case.

Regarding sensory sensitivities, I do not use any scents in my office. I use a white noise machine in the waiting room to protect confidentiality, so if that is bothersome, I suggest bringing headphones. If it is challenging for you, please feel free to speak with me, and we will see what we can figure out. I have multiple fidget items in the office, from kinetic sand and wooden blocks to pop-its. I encourage clients to fidget, change positions, grab a pillow or blanket, and sit in whatever way is comfortable for them on the sofa, floor, or chair – I’ll do the same myself!

I do! I use a HIPAA-compliant video platform through my Electronic Medical Record to meet telehealth clients. I see clients by telehealth all over the state of Texas! If you are interested, we can talk about the risks and benefits of telehealth.

It is important to note that having a good internet connection is essential for telehealth, and therapy still needs to happen in a safe, private space. To the extent possible, no one else should be listening in or in and out of the room during our time together, and we cannot do therapy if you are actively driving.

We have an initial consultation. I usually do this by telephone, but we can do it by email if phone access is limited and you struggle with phone calls.

It is a chance for us to have an initial meeting and decide whether I am an excellent fit for your needs. If you’re here, you’ve probably read at least some of my website and know whether you are interested in working with me. This call helps us confirm that!

On this call, I’ll ask what brings you to therapy and what you hope to change, strengthen, or release in our time together. I’ll tell you more about how I do therapy and answer any questions you have. If we both feel like a good fit, I’ll get your information and send you my initial practice paperwork (intake, privacy practices, etc.), and we can schedule our first session.

I was born before wireless phones and voicemail were standard, but I still find engaging with texts and emails easier than phone calls. So, these are the most efficient ways to reach me, though it is harder to ensure confidentiality. There is also a contact form on my website through which you may reach me, and it is HIPAA-compliant.

My ideal client isn’t about a diagnosis or label, so much about the process and the person in the room. I love working with people who want to know themselves deeply and embody their gifts in the world while leaning into their growth edges. I want to get curious about what it means for you to heal, what brings you to therapy, and what it looks like to be well and live meaningfully.

Sometimes, we must meet resistance head-on; sometimes, fighting through is all we can do. I’ve done both myself. But resistance is communication in the same way pain and joy are. We often mistake contentment for complacency and compassion for conciliation. So, I like to make space for the unexpected, for finding the resting places and the people and activities that nourish us, and for getting present with ourselves as a first step on the journey towards your goals and values.

I do! I have worked with LGBTQIAP+ clients throughout my career and have completed trainings focused on queer-affirming and gender-affirming mental health care, including the WPATH competencies associated with best practices in gender-affirming health care. I am queer myself, and it is significant to me to be able to serve my communities in this way.

Our first session will begin with informed consent: we will review the limits of confidentiality and briefly discuss my practice and privacy policies. If you are a parent coming in with your teen, we’ll also discuss what that means regarding the kinds of information your teen and I will be sharing with you and how often. Then, we’ll explore details about your past and current life experiences in the major domains: health, school, work, essential relationships, etc. The more you add to the intake questionnaire, the less time we’ll need to spend here.

Next, we’ll explore what brings you in, impacts on your life, and what you’re hoping for from therapy. We’ll end by making time for any questions and scheduling our next appointment, where we’ll start collaborating on your treatment plan and engaging in the therapy process.

No, of course not. Therapy is a bit strange: you show up to meet someone who will know you in a way few other people do, and they immediately start asking personal questions! Trust is a crucial part of therapy, as is any relationship, and it takes time to build trust. It’s ok to share what you are comfortable with while we build that trust.

At the same time, I can’t support you with things I don’t know about, and when vital information is missing, our work may not be as helpful as it could be otherwise. Therapy is always a risk, and I would encourage you to consider how beneficial it can be to allow yourself to learn that your expectation of being judged or rejected is another story you may not need to keep carrying.

Absolutely! I am in therapy now and have been for several years. If you read my About page, you know I aged out of foster care, and my experiences in treatment have shaped my path as a person and a psychologist. I have had excellent therapists and terrible ones.

Yep! I might not always answer, just as you may not always tell me everything. Boundaries are essential, and we all have things that we hold as private and personal to be shared only with certain people. There are also professional expectations about what information is shared and how much that may impact my answers. But you are always welcome to ask, and I have often found that even if I can’t answer in full, the question itself may take us in helpful directions.

Nope, but you are welcome to as long as you don’t fall asleep! My couches are cozy, my carpet is very soft (but linty!), and there are pillows and blankets. Take off your shoes and curl up, sit upside down, or whatever is most comfortable for you.

Nah, I keep a box of the good ones right by the couch within easy reach!

I am a book nerd with a heavy dose of Sci-fi/Fantasy nerdiness. My favorite authors include Neil Gaiman, Sir Terry Pratchett, Anne Bishop, Douglas Adams, Ursula K. LeGuin, Tolkien, and Frank Herbert. I refuse to choose between Star Trek and Star Wars; why limit myself when they’re both awesome?

I’m also a gaming nerd, mostly table-top RPGs, though I enjoy board games. I will play almost anything in the Cthulhu mythos, and cosmic horror is the only kind of horror I do in any format. While I like graphic novels like The Sandman and Elf Quest, and some anime, I prefer to cosplay at Renn Faire or in Steampunk before anything else.

I have several friends on Finch, which is kind of a Tamagotchi for self-care app. I also use How We Feel myself and with several clients to understand our emotions, when and why they happen, and how to regulate ourselves when they aren’t enjoyable.

I also recently played with Simple Time Tracker for about a month. I was shocked at how much time was getting frittered away on things that didn’t matter to me! It helped me see where I said I didn’t have time but wasn’t using what time I had well.