Frequently Asked Questions.

Where are you located?

364 McClaws Circle
Suite 2
Williamsburg, VA 23185

How can I contact you?

There are several ways to contact me:

Do you take insurance?

No.

I have decided against working with and accepting insurance. I do this for multiple reasons but two main reasons: 1) When working with a child or teen, if I do not have to provide them with a diagnosis that is going to follow them throughout the medical history, then I do not want to have to label them. 2) By not taking insurance, I am able to maintain a smaller caseload that allows me to provide more in-depth, comprehensive, and focused care.

This being said, upon request, I am able to provide you with a “Superbill” at the end of each month with all the necessary information that is needed for you to apply for Out of Network reimbursement through your own insurance company.

How long is therapy?

  • Initial Evaluation/Diagnostic: 60-90 minutes

  • Individual Sessions: 50 minutes

  • Phone Consultation: 20 minutes

Is there a cancellation policy?

Since your appointment time is reserved specifically for your child/adolescent, a 24-hour notice of cancellation is required to avoid full charges of the session.

How can I pay?

Payment is expected at the time of the session. I accept cash, check and major credit cards

How can therapy help me?

We all look back and in hindsight think about what we could have differently about raising children, but there are also other influences in their lives that are shaping them. As parents you have often tried everything that you can think of to help your child or teen, however, you are still losing sleep, frustrated, confused, and irritable. We want our children and teens to be happy, successful, fulfilled, and capable of tackling the challenges ahead of them. It is ok to seek help for your children and having a neutral party work through the challenges is often a step in the right direction.

What is your approach to therapy?

When it comes to teens, my approach to therapy starts with connection. Without a solid relationship, your teen is not going to let me into their world and making changes becomes more difficult. To build a solid relationship, I get to know your teen’s strengths, likes/dislikes, interests and who they are without the challenges that they are facing. Once a solid relationship is established with your teen, I use a variety of approaches to identify and challenge past and current problems, build workable solutions, build a stronger mindset.

When it comes to working with children, my approach differs slightly after establishing a connection. The second step is about identification of the skills that are needed to help eliminate the challenges that brought you to seek therapy in the beginning. Once the skills are identified it is about building those necessary skills to help your child be successful. Part of the work, is also working with parents to develop better skills for dealing with their children.

Generally speaking, I use a combination of Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Positive Psychology and Parent Training to help my clients build their preferred future. These approaches are then tailored to my client’s individual needs so that we are working on their goals

How long will therapy last?

A simple answer is that therapy will last as long as it takes – and not a session longer. There are some challenges that can be solved in a few sessions (3-4 sessions), there are others that are more complex and need multiple sessions. My idea is that I want to get your child or teen stable in the first couple of weeks by seeing them on a weekly basis. Once there starts to be some improvement, my plans shift to working with the clients on a biweekly basis, so that they are able to try and continually build workable solutions without relying on me as a crutch.

Views on collaboration and family involvement?

I view the client as the expert in their own lives, my role as the therapist is to walk with you along your journey from one step behind. I believe that successful therapy depends on knowing what the client’s goals are for therapy and once the goals are defined, I help to guide and find an efficient way to reach that goal.

With teens, there is often a sense that they do not want to talk about their problems because there is a fear that I am going to go tell their parents. Keeping that in mind, I try to keep the conversations as confidential as possible, knowing that there times where that may need to be broken. I also know that teens are not always an open book, so I encourage parents to inform me of anything important that should be brought up in sessions.

With children, there is a heavier emphasis on collaboration between all parties involved, child, parent(s) and therapist. There may be sessions that involve only the child or there may be sessions involving both the parent and the child. This depends on the goals of therapy and the challenges that brought you in.

What are my strengths as a therapist?

Working with teens and children brings a different set of challenges than working with adults. Adults tend to be able to see the benefit of therapy and express their feelings, thoughts and how it has impacted them. Teens think they are invincible and can handle life’s challenges on their own. So they are often in therapy because someone else is suggesting it (not always the case). That being said, I am able to roll with the resistance that teens often bring in the session. I am able to get into their world, understand what it is like for them to be a teenager in today’s society, work on their goals and motivate them to want to make a change. It is my ability to approach them with curiosity and empathy and my willingness to appropriately self-disclose and use their language that allows me to connect with them.

What to do in the case of a crisis?

In the case of a crisis (threatening to harm oneself or harm another individual, abuse or neglect), it is best to call 911 or go to your nearest Hospital/Emergency Room. If you are unsure about what to do, please give me a call and leave a message.

Here are some additional Helpful numbers
Baltimore City – Crisis Response – 410-433-5175
Baltimore County – Behavioral Assessment Unit, Mobile Crisis – 410-931-2214

What are the warning signs that my child may need therapy?

  • Changes in Mood

  • Changes in Behavior

  • Excessive Worrying

  • Changes in School Performance

  • Difficulty Concentrating

  • Changes in Sleeping/Eating Patterns

  • Substance Use/Abuse

Questions you should be asking about your child or teen?

  • Are your child’s problems interfering with their ability to function in everyday life?

  • Is your child having difficulty in school, sports, or with family and friends? Has there been a change in the ability to handle previously stressful situations?

  • Are problems causing stress and distress within the family?

  • Are you a parent and no longer know how to handle the situation or your child?

  • Have there been any life changes in the past couple of months?

What are common behavior disorders that can affect children and teens?

Often referred to as Externalizing Behaviors which involve acting out and showing unwanted behaviors.

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder People with ADHD show a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.

  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder There is an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior towards authority figures that seriously interferes with daily functioning. It is important to note that all children will be oppositional and defiant, especially, when hungry, tired, stressed or upset.

  • Conduct Disorder often diagnosed in children who show an ongoing pattern of aggression towards others and serious violations of rules and social norms.

What mood disorders are often experienced by kids and teens?

These are problems that are also referred to as Internalizing Behaviors, which often involve thoughts and feelings.

  • Depression Generally, all kids will feel sad, however depression is more persistent sadness, hopelessness and uninterested in activities that they normally enjoy.

  • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder New to the DSM-5, DMDD is beyond your “moody” child, but rather extreme irritability, anger and frequent and intense tantrums or outbursts.

  • Anxiety While most children will experience fears and worries throughout their childhood, anxiety becomes a problem when fears and worries interfere with everyday life and functioning.

What is your HIPPA Policy?