I treat adolescents and adults for a range of issues, including, but not limited to: social issues, relationship problems, depression, anxiety disorders, obsessions/compulsions, trauma/post traumatic stress, self esteem, discovering a sense of life purpose, spirituality, and deeper self exploration. The mental health classifications that I most treat are anxiety disorders, depression, and adjustment disorders. I have a great deal of experience with individuals coping with chronic disease, especially those with cancer. I do not treat children (ages 0-12) or individuals with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. I do not provide neuropsychological or learning disabilities assessments. I also offer group therapy for personal development. For more information, please explore this site and considering contacting me to answer any questions you might have.

Individuals who want to go deeper, transform their personal experiences, and live a more meaningful life are those I work best with. I am a good fit for those who are seeking a therapist who is warm, compassionate, and strives to combine evidence-based treatments within a larger context of an individual's faith-based or spiritual values. I am also a good fit for people interested in utilizing mindfulness and meditation to improve their mental health and overall functioning. I have specific strengths working with individuals who have gone through life-changing challenges and are seeking to find meaning, gain wisdom, and ultimately grow from these challenges. Most clients find that I have a large capacity for understanding both physical and emotional suffering and can compassionately provide a space where all emotions can be seen without judgment.

Therapy is different for each person depending upon your presenting problems and needs. Therapy with someone coping with a loved one’s severe illness will look different from someone seeking to improve his or her personal relationships. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. Despite differences in specifics, I believe all good therapy starts with unconditional compassion and a willingness to see the greater possibilities in a client’s life. Once a trusting working relationship has been established, gaining insights and awareness into your emotions and actions is vital in determining what behaviors can and must change to live a more meaningful and authentic life. When awareness is combined with behavior change, therapy can be truly transformative. Therapy is not always easy work and often involves processing through difficult emotions and making unfamiliar and perhaps scary changes, but the rewards are greater peace, purpose and fulfillment.

Yes, all client-therapist conversations are private and confidential. Confidentiality covers not only what is said in therapy, but also the fact that someone is being seen in therapy. Only in rare exceptions when the safety of a client or other is at risk, abuse of a child or vulnerable adult is disclosed, or if there is a court order, can disclosure of confidential client-therapist information take place. In all other instances, aside from submitting for insurance reimbursement, you will need to provide written authorization for me to disclose any information related to your therapy sessions. I may occasionally find it helpful to consult with other health professionals about a case. During such consultations, I make every effort to avoid revealing the identity of the client. For example, I might describe your age, gender, and presenting issue but would not give your name or other information that might easily identify you. The other professionals with whom I consult are also legally obligated to keep the information confidential. Unless you object, I will not tell you about these consultations unless I believe that it is important to our work together.

The majority of the first session will be spent having you talk about the concern(s) that brought you into therapy, your goals for therapy, and your background and personal history. The first session is often a faster paced session because I am attempting to get as much initial information from you as possible to begin to fully understand who you are as a person. You can share on a level that feels comfortable for you.

My hourly fee is $200. I am not a contracted provider with any insurance company. I realize that a fee of $200 per session is not possible for all clients and I am committed to providing quality care to people despite income level. Therefore, I reserve a certain number of slots for clients who are unable to afford the session fee of $200. If you request a reduced fee and I am able to accommodate your request, you and I will determine your fee during the initial/intake appointment. If I am unable to accommodate your request, a referral will be provided.

Yes. You can use money from all three types of health spending accounts – health savings accounts (HSAs); health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs); and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) – to pay for sessions.

Parking is readily available at my therapy office. There is a free parking lot adjacent to the building that offers a limited number of spots for building customers. In the rare event that all spots in the parking lot are taken, there are numerous metered parking spots directly in front of the building on Milwaukee Avenue, as well as metered angle parking spots on Kilbourn Avenue.

No. In the State of Wisconsin only physicians are able to prescribe medications; however, I will be able to provide you with a tailored referral list of psychiatrists. If you already have a psychiatrist or primary care physician who is prescribing medication, I am happy to collaborate with that provider to ensure that medication and therapy are coordinated for you.

The laws and standards of the psychology profession require that we keep professional records. These are maintained, under lock and key, for a minimum of seven years. Except in unusual circumstances that involve danger to yourself and/or others, you may examine and/or receive a copy of your clinical record by written request. Because these are professional records, they can be misinterpreted to untrained readers. For this reason, I recommend that you review them with me, or have them forwarded to another mental health professional so you can discuss the contents. The exceptions to this policy are contained in the Notice of Privacy Practices.

Therapy can come to a close in any number of ways. You may have achieved your therapy goals and/or you and I may agree that it is time to end our work together. You also have the right to end or take a break from your treatment at any time without my permission or agreement.