Getting Started

Yes—I offer a free 15-minute consultation call for prospective clients.

You can request one through the [contact form] or directly via the SimplePractice portal. I’ll follow up to schedule a time that works for you.

This is not a therapy session, but a space for us to connect, ask questions, and explore whether we’re a good fit. You’re welcome to share a bit about what’s bringing you in, ask about my approach, or simply get a feel for how I work.

There’s no pressure to commit. I know that starting therapy can feel vulnerable, especially if this is your first time or if you’ve had difficult experiences in the past. My intention is for you to feel informed, supported, and empowered—even from this first step.

Starting therapy can feel like a big step—I’m here to make the process as smooth and supportive as possible.

Here’s how to begin:

  1. Schedule a free consultation
    You’re welcome to request a brief consultation call through the [contact form] or via my [SimplePractice portal]. This is a chance to connect, talk through what you’re looking for, and see if we’re a good fit.
  2. Complete your intake forms
    If we decide to move forward, I’ll send you a secure link to your client portal where you can complete paperwork, review practice policies, and get set up. Everything is online and HIPAA-compliant.
  3. Book your first session
    Once your forms are complete, you can schedule your first session at a time that works for you. You’ll receive a secure video link ahead of time—and we’ll take it one step at a time, together.

If you have questions at any point, just reach out. I’ll guide you through the process.

Starting therapy can stir up a mix of emotions—curiosity, hope, uncertainty, even anxiety. That’s a natural response. My aim is for you to feel safe, seen, and supported from the very beginning.

Before We Meet
Once we schedule your first session, I’ll send a secure link to your client portal through SimplePractice, my HIPAA-compliant platform. There, you’ll complete a few intake forms and review practice policies. You can also use the portal (or mobile app) to send me secure messages. I typically reply within 1–2 business days.

What the First Session Looks Like
In our first session, we’ll begin getting to know each other and explore what brought you in. I may ask things like:

  • “What is bringing you here today?”
  • “How have things felt for you lately?”
  • “Is there anything that feels especially important to talk about today?”

You never have to share more than you’re ready to. We’ll move at a pace that feels right for you.

What We’ll Explore Together
As we continue, we’ll map out the areas of life you’d like to understand, shift, or heal—whether that’s relationships, stress, health, family dynamics, identity, or emotional patterns. Together, we’ll clarify your goals and create a flexible approach that reflects your needs, values, and capacity.

After the First Few Sessions
As therapy unfolds, you may start to notice more clarity, insight, or emotional relief. I may also offer reflections, tools, or mind-body strategies to support your growth between sessions.

This is your space. We’ll co-create a process that feels grounded, collaborative, and meaningful—step by step.

How does telehealth work?

All sessions take place through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform via SimplePractice. Before each appointment, you’ll receive a private link through your client portal—just click to join. On a computer, the session opens right in your browser. If you’re using a phone or tablet, you may be prompted to download the Zoom app the first time.

You can join from any computer, tablet, or smartphone with a camera and microphone.

Even though we’re meeting online, telehealth sessions still offer a meaningful sense of connection. Many clients find that they’re able to settle in, reflect deeply, and feel supported—just like in person.

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Here’s how to get the most out of your session:

  • Find a quiet, private space where you feel safe and undisturbed
  • Use headphones if possible for better sound and privacy
  • Make sure your internet connection is stable and reliable
  • Keep your device plugged in or fully charged

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If you’re unsure about using telehealth—or have accessibility or comfort concerns—please reach out. We can talk through options so that therapy feels as grounded and supportive as possible, wherever you are.

Because I’m licensed as a psychologist in Illinois, I can only provide therapy to clients who are physically located in Illinois at the time of each session—even if you usually live here but are temporarily out of state.

This is a legal requirement that applies to all licensed therapists providing telehealth. It means that if you’re traveling, visiting family, or living part-time in another state, we’ll need to pause therapy while you’re away—or talk through other supportive options.

If this applies to you, feel free to reach out. I’m glad to clarify what’s possible or connect you with referrals in your current location, so you still feel supported even if we can’t meet during that time.

Therapy Process & Fit

Most clients begin with weekly sessions, which help us build momentum, establish trust, and create the consistency needed for meaningful, sustainable change. Regular sessions offer a sense of continuity and emotional safety—especially important when working through complex or long-standing patterns.

Some people choose to meet more frequently during periods of crisis, transition, or emotional overwhelm. As therapy progresses, others shift to bi-weekly sessions when they feel more grounded and resourced.

Together, we’ll find a rhythm that supports your needs, goals, and capacity. While I believe in the value of consistency, therapy should always meet you where you are—and we can revisit your schedule anytime as life changes.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The length of therapy depends on your goals, needs, and life context.

Some people come for a few months to work through a specific transition, loss, or decision point. Others stay longer to explore deeper emotional patterns, process trauma, or receive ongoing support as they move through different phases of life.

In our first few sessions, we’ll clarify what you’re hoping to get out of therapy. From there, we’ll check in regularly to reflect on how things are going—what’s feeling helpful, what’s shifting, and whether your goals are evolving.

Therapy doesn’t have to be linear or indefinite. You’re never locked in, and we’ll talk openly about how long therapy feels right for you. Whether you want to pause, continue, shift the focus, or prepare to end, we’ll explore those decisions together, based on your needs, timing, and capacity.

However long we work together, my role is to support your growth with intention, flexibility, and care.

That’s totally valid—and actually very common. You don’t need to come in with a plan or know exactly what to say. Therapy isn’t about performing or being productive—it’s about showing up as you are, in whatever state you’re in.

Sometimes the most meaningful work begins by simply noticing what’s present—what’s been weighing on you, what feels unclear or distant, or even how you’re feeling about being in therapy. That can be our starting place.

You don’t need to be “ready” or have everything figured out—just open to starting. We’ll take things step by step, at a pace that feels steady and respectful of where you are. I’ll be right there with you as we navigate the process together.

That’s entirely understandable—and more common than you might think. Therapy is a deeply personal process, and it’s important that you feel safe, understood, and supported in the space we share.

If you’re unsure whether we’re the right fit, I invite you to bring that into session. It doesn’t need to feel awkward—I welcome those conversations as part of a healthy, collaborative process. We can talk openly about what’s feeling off, what you’re hoping for, or what might make therapy feel more aligned for you.

If it turns out that a different provider may better suit your needs, I’ll fully support that process and offer referrals when possible. You deserve care that truly fits—and part of my role is helping you find it, even if that isn’t with me.

If you’re feeling uncertain, you’re also welcome to start with a free 15-minute consultation—a low-pressure space to ask questions and get a feel for how I work. You can learn more [on the consultation page].

If you’re using insurance (such as BCBS PPO), I’m required to assign a mental health diagnosis for billing purposes. This is a standard part of working with insurance and helps determine your coverage. I’ll always talk with you about any diagnosis I use—nothing is done behind the scenes or without your knowledge.

That said, a diagnosis is not the full story.

Diagnoses describe patterns of symptoms, but they don’t explain the root causes, context, or the why behind your experiences. They also don’t define the kind of support that will actually help you heal.

In our work together, we’ll look at the whole picture: your history, relationships, environment, nervous system, identity, culture, and lived experience. I view diagnosis as just one lens—not a label, and certainly not a limitation. You are always more than a code or category.

If you’re not using insurance, a formal diagnosis isn’t required. Either way, we’ll focus on what’s meaningful to you, not just what fits into a diagnostic box.

Approach & Philosophy

My approach is relational and integrative, which means I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. Instead, I tailor our work to your unique experiences, goals, and identity—drawing from multiple psychological frameworks to support healing in a way that feels grounded, respectful, and real.

An integrative approach allows me to respond to all parts of you—your emotions, thoughts, body, relationships, history, and environment. Whether we’re processing old wounds, navigating life transitions, or exploring identity, we’ll work together to understand what’s happening beneath the surface and build sustainable paths forward.

I draw from several core influences:

  • Interpersonal Process Therapy, which helps us explore how relational patterns—past and present—shape your emotional world
  • Somatic awareness, which brings gentle attention to your body’s signals, especially when words fall short
  • Multicultural and feminist frameworks, which recognize the impact of identity, power, and systemic forces on mental health
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which can offer practical tools for coping, reframing, and building emotional resilience

Sessions are a space to explore your patterns, needs, and inner experiences—with curiosity, compassion, and no pressure to perform. I’ll bring presence, thoughtful questions, and a deep respect for your pace and autonomy.

Above all, I believe the therapeutic relationship itself is a powerful vehicle for healing—and I’ll meet you with care, transparency, and a commitment to supporting you holistically.

Yes—when it feels supportive, I may weave in mindfulness, somatic awareness, or nervous system regulation practices. These approaches can help you feel more grounded, and deepen your emotional insight—especially when navigating stress, trauma, or chronic overwhelm.

This might look like:

  • Gently noticing sensations in the body as we talk through emotions
  • Pausing to check in with your breath, posture, or sense of safety
  • Exploring how your nervous system responds to connection, conflict, or pressure

If you’re new to these practices or unsure how they’ll feel, that’s entirely normal. We’ll move at your pace—I’ll explain why we’re using something, offer context, and always check in with your comfort. These tools are never required.

If you already know that body-based work doesn’t feel like the right fit, we’ll take a different path. Therapy is a collaborative space, and your preferences and voice will guide the work we do.

Absolutely. Your relationship with your body and your health is a vital part of your lived experience—and it’s more than welcome in therapy.

I take an integrative approach that honors the deep connection between mind, body, and environment. Whether you’re living with chronic illness, navigating medical trauma, or coping with symptoms like fatigue, pain, or conditions such as mold illness, or environmental sensitivities, these experiences are real, and they can have a profound impact on your emotional wellbeing.

In therapy, we can explore how your physical health affects your identity, emotions, relationships, or sense of safety in the world. You don’t need to compartmentalize, minimize, or explain away your symptoms. This is a space where all of it—your grief, confusion, resilience, and frustration—can be explored with care.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed or unseen in medical or mental health settings, I hope this space feels different: attuned, validating, and grounded in your full experience.

Absolutely—and this is central to how I practice. I believe therapy must consider the full context of your life: your cultural background, social identities, environment, and the systems that shape your lived experience.

This might include exploring how experiences related to:

  • Race, ethnicity, and culture
  • Gender identity, sexual orientation, and expression
  • Chronic illness, disability, or environmental sensitivities (e.g., mold illness, or medical trauma)
  • Class, privilege, and systemic oppression
  • Religious, intergenerational, or immigration-related themes
    …intersect with your mental health, relationships, and sense of self.

I draw from multicultural, feminist, and systems-informed frameworks that recognize mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. That means we’ll not only explore your internal world but also the external conditions—both subtle and structural—that impact your wellbeing.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, gaslit, or misunderstood in therapy or medical spaces, I hope this space feels different: one that is nuanced, affirming, and grounded in who you are.

Communication & Privacy

You’re welcome to use the SimplePractice Client Portal for logistical communication only—such as scheduling, paperwork, or technical questions. I typically respond within 1–2 business days during regular weekday hours.

For clinical topics, I encourage you to bring those directly into our sessions, where we have the time and space to explore them fully.

While I’m not available for real-time or emergency support, I understand that therapy can bring up emotions between sessions—and I’ll always make space to revisit what comes up in our next meeting.

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If you’re in crisis or need immediate support:

  • Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
  • Call or text 988, the 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  • You can also reach out to other 24-hour services like your local crisis line

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If you anticipate needing more regular support between sessions, we can talk together about options—whether that’s additional sessions, resources, or safety planning. You don’t have to navigate things alone.

Yes—confidentiality is a core part of the trust and safety we build in therapy. Everything you share is protected by law, by professional ethics, and by my commitment to providing a space where you can speak freely and without judgment.

There are a few exceptions to confidentiality, which exist to protect your safety or the safety of others. I’m legally required to share information if:

  • You are at imminent risk of harming yourself or someone else
  • There is known or suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult
  • A court orders me to release records as part of legal proceedings

Outside of these situations, your information will never be shared without your written permission. If you’d like me to coordinate care with a doctor, partner, or family member, we’ll talk about it together and complete a consent form beforehand.

If we happen to see each other in public, I won’t initiate contact—this is to protect your privacy. You’re welcome to say hello if you’d like, or not—it’s entirely your choice.

For a full explanation of confidentiality and your rights, you’ll receive clear documentation in your intake forms. And of course, I’m always happy to answer any questions you have.