There are different types of clinicians that practice psychotherapy: Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, Clinical Mental Health Counselors, and Marriage and Family Therapists. Each is governed by its own professional board and has specific education and training requirements. Each approaches therapy from a particular perspective on people and the world around them. Clinical Social Workers believe in the inherent worth of all people, paying special attention to social justice, strengths-based care, and the impact of larger systems on the mental, emotional, and physical health of our clients.

The most important thing to remember about therapy, is that it’s all about YOU. The first session will be spent collecting a lot of information about you as whole— not only the reason you’re coming to therapy now, but also your mental and physical health history, your family, your life experiences, other life stressors. The first session in particular can feel more like an interview, but I assure you, the sessions afterward are very different. Having a full picture of where you’ve come from and what you have experienced is critical to effective therapy. Subsequent sessions will be spent diving into the issues on which you’d like to focus, and working toward the goals you will personally set.

Both! My physical office is located at 4819 Emperor Boulevard in Durham. I love to see patients in-person, especially for the first session, but I also recognize that time, distance, ability, and comfort level may impact what type of sessions you choose. Sessions are the same cost regardless of whether or not they are in-person or virtual.

The first session is the longest, anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. After that, sessions last 50-55 minutes each time.

No, I do not prescribe or manage medications. Only medical providers like physicians (MD or DO) and nurse practitioners (NP, DNP) can prescribe medication. However, if you are in need of a prescribing provider, I’m happy to help you talk through options and resources so that you can get connected.

No, at this time I am self-pay only. My goal is to make therapy accessible to anyone who needs it. By making the decision to not bill insurance directly, I have the ability to work with clients who might need a sliding scale system to afford therapy. For clients who want to bill their insurance company, the system I use for documentation and billing allows me to create a “superbill” for you. You can submit this document directly to your insurance company for reimbursement. It will have all of the required codes your insurance provider needs.

My building has a large parking lot with plenty of spaces, and parking is always free! Once you’re inside the building, there is an elevator to get to the 4th floor. When you schedule your appointment, please let me know if there are any mobility or accessibility factors I should take into account; I always want to make getting to appointments as stress-free as possible.