Frequently Asked Questions

I offer individual therapy sessions to adults only, done through a HIPAA compliant video platform. I also offer sessions in nature in the Charlotte, NC, area, as well as culinary therapy sessions via zoom. 

I am licensed to see clients in the states of Massachusetts and North Carolina. My services are primarily virtual with the exception of nature focused therapy. 

It is incredibly understandable to experience a myriad of emotions in even considering therapy - anxiety, fear, and resistance are so common when thinking of starting therapy. There's only one conclusion to draw from this - you are human. Navigating to this page alone exhibits courage and curiosity about what therapy could be like. Movies and television shows do an incredibly poor job of depicting what therapy is like, and if we've never been, it only makes sense that this would be our expectation. It's not always easy to immediately open up and be vulnerable in therapy, nor is it my job to dictate things to you. You are the expert on your life, and I look forward to building a relationship with you that helps facilitate more vulnerability as we work to accomplish what you wish. 

During your first session, I usually conduct a comprehensive background and diagnostic assessment so we can mutually determine the best course of action and treatment plan going forward. After the first session, there can be a few sessions of psychoeducation depending on the goals and treatment approach to the unique difficulties you face. 

A typical session is really driven by you! Please come to sessions as you are, and wherever you find yourself on that day. I will meet you wherever you are and let what is at the top of your mind dictate the approach we take to session on that day. This may be listening and validating, it could mean worksheet and skill practice, an in-session meditation, or anything else that might be helpful. I tend to be a very active therapist, though, with consistent reflection, validation, and challenging where necessary. 

Culinary therapy is adjacent to an expressive art therapy, enabling expression of oneself through the arts of cooking and mindful eating to aid in healing and growth. There is also a strong mindfulness element to both cooking and eating, accessing all of our senses to access more fulfillment and satiation. After establishing a recipe via consultation call and shopping for the ingredients, we meet on zoom, set your intention for the session, and cook together. There tends to be strong metaphors that we discuss throughout the session related to your intention - i.e., connection, perfectionism, anxiety, communication, adapting to unexpected events. This can be an effective practice for folks that want to: advance in their mindfulness practice; alleviate symptoms associated with grief, anxiety, depression, relationship, and communication challenges; boost self-esteem; and even learn some new cooking skills! 

More insight: https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/from-the-magazine/michael-kocet-culinary-therapy/

Nature therapy, sometimes referred to as ecotherapy, is a combination of talk therapy, mindfulness, and "forest bathing",  allowing for a more relaxed, expansive environment than an office or a virtual room. Spending time in nature has been proven to be beneficial for mental health, and often, clients can feel more relaxed and more free to open up when walking side-by-side in an outdoor setting. Please note, because of needing to feel more comfortable and safe to be in nature with your therapist, I do not offer nature therapy as a stand alone - prior sessions would be required. On the day of the session, however, we meet at an agreed upon location, begin with intention setting and a brief mindfulness practice, before journeying on a  nature walk together while discussing things as they arise. 

More insight: https://earth.fm/earth-stories/ecotherapy-benefits-of-the-great-outdoors/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6747393/#sec5-ijerph-16-03202

I agree; therapy can seem pricey on the surface. However, there is no better investment in yourself, and it is hard to put a monetary price on growth, healing, self-improvement, and the prospect of a more fulfilling life. I am thankful to offer numerous options of paying for therapy -- out of pocket, through insurance, sliding scale (select spots) and through out-of-network benefits. Please refer to the 'paying for therapy' page for more specific details. 

Our lives are busy and things come up unexpectedly! I do require 24 hours notice to cancel a session which is standard in the therapy industry. If a session is cancelled within that 24 hour window, a cancellation fee of $115 will be charged.