FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything people usually ask before their first session — in one place.
Getting started
Getting started
Use the “Schedule an appointment” button anywhere on this site. It takes you to my calendar through Headway, where you pick a time, register, and confirm your insurance details — usually about two minutes, start to finish.
Most people are able to book a first session within 1-2 weeks, not the many-month wait that's common elsewhere. Availability shifts, so the fastest way to know for sure is to check the calendar directly.
No. Outpatient therapy in the U.S. generally doesn't require a physician referral — you can book directly. The one exception would be if your specific insurance plan requires one for coverage, which Headway would flag during registration.
That's completely fine, and more common than you'd think. You don't need to prepare anything, have a diagnosis in mind, or know how to explain what's wrong. The first session is mostly me getting to know you and what brought you here — you don't have to arrive with a plan.
Eligibility
Eligibility
No. I'm licensed in Missouri, and by law I can only see clients who are physically located in Missouri during our sessions — not just clients with a Missouri address.
No, my practice is adults only. If you're looking for care for a minor, a child and adolescent specialist will be a much better fit — your pediatrician can usually point you to one.
No. My practice is individual therapy. If the relationship itself is what you want to work on together with a partner, a couples-trained therapist will serve you better than I would — I'm glad to help you find a referral.
No, and this one surprises people. Licensing law is based on where you physically are during the session, not where you live. If you're traveling outside Missouri, even briefly, I'm not able to see you for that session.
Cost and insurance
Cost and insurance
$150 for self-pay or out-of-network, or your co-pay if you're using one of the insurers I'm in network with. Full details on rates and insurance.
Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, Oscar, Oxford, UnitedHealthcare. If yours isn't listed, sessions run at the out-of-network rate and I can provide a superbill for possible reimbursement.
No, I don't currently offer a sliding scale. If cost is a barrier, checking whether one of the insurers I'm in network with applies to you is usually the better route — see rates & insurance.
How therapy works
How therapy works
50 minutes.
Most people start weekly, since consistency tends to help early on, then meet less often as things settle. We'll decide the pace together rather than following a fixed schedule.
It depends enough on what you're working through that a number here would be more misleading than useful. Some people notice small shifts within the first several sessions; deeper work, especially around trauma, tends to take longer. We'll check in on how it's going as we go, rather than you wondering alone.
That happens, and it's not a problem. I'll bring questions and direction when a session needs it — you're not responsible for filling fifty minutes on your own. Sometimes the quiet moments turn out to be useful too.
Yes, through secure messaging in the Headway platform — that's the preferred way to reach me between sessions rather than email or text. It's not meant for anything urgent; for anything time-sensitive, see crisis resources.
Privacy
Privacy
Your records are protected under HIPAA. I don't share anything with anyone — including family members, employers, or other providers — without your written permission, outside of the specific legal exceptions described below.
Therapists are legally required to break confidentiality in a small number of situations: if there's a serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else, if a child, elderly person, or dependent adult is being abused or neglected, or if a court orders records released. Outside of those specific situations, what you share stays between us.
Yes. Sessions run on an encrypted, HIPAA-compliant video platform built for healthcare use, not a general consumer video call app.
Not from me. I don't contact employers, and using standard health insurance to pay for therapy doesn't notify your employer either — claims go through the insurer, not your workplace. The one exception is if you're using an employer-sponsored EAP program specifically, which works differently; that's not how sessions here are billed.
Practical
Practical
I ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations with less notice, and no-shows, are charged a $75 fee.
Through your Headway account, the same place you originally booked. If your cancellation window has already passed for the original time, the cancellation policy above would still apply.
You're welcome to join late if something comes up, but the session still ends at its regularly scheduled time — out of respect for the client scheduled after you. Joining late just means less time for that session, not a rescheduled or extended one.
No, I don't prescribe. If medication becomes worth exploring, a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner handles that piece, and I'm glad to work alongside a prescriber if that's part of your care.
If you are struggling: reaching out for support can be one, small courageous step toward feeling more like yourself again.
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