Frequently Asked Questions
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General / Getting Started • OCD • Trauma & PTSD • Phobias, Panic & Anxiety • Telehealth • Insurance & Logistics
General / Getting Started
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Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and talk about what has brought you to therapy. We'll discuss your current concerns, how those concerns are affecting your life, and what you'd like to be different. From there, we'll branch out into other areas of your life and background.
I'll also explain how I approach treatment and answer any questions you have.
Usually, this phase of therapy tends to be 2 sessions, depending on each person and their needs. After this initial assessment, we can begin discussing what your treatment plan will look like.
Therapy isn't about me simply telling you what to do. My goal is to create a collaborative space where we can understand what's keeping you stuck and develop practical, evidence-based strategies to help you move forward.
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All sessions are 50–55 minutes.
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When it is feasible, I prefer and recommend most patients begin with weekly sessions. Meeting consistently can be particularly helpful when we're working on anxiety, OCD, or trauma because it allows us to build momentum between sessions. As treatment progresses, we can adjust the frequency based on your needs, goals, and progress.
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This is a common question, but one that can't be predicted with certainty. There isn't one answer that applies to everyone. The length of treatment depends on what you're working on, how long you've been experiencing symptoms, your goals, and how actively you're able to participate in treatment outside of sessions.
For some concerns, meaningful progress can happen relatively quickly. Others may require more time. Some people are in therapy for a season; others stay for a while. My goal is for treatment to be purposeful and focused on helping you develop the skills and confidence to move forward independently, while also remaining a source of support for as long as it is helpful.
For those who appreciate some degree of structure and predictability, here's a very general, tentative outline of how treatment may progress:
Initial assessment and getting-to-know-you phase: Sessions 1–3
Treatment planning, psychoeducation, and skill introduction: Begins during the first few sessions and continues as needed
Putting skills into practice and engaging in specific treatment: Often begins early and develops throughout treatment (e.g., ERP)
Progress assessment and treatment plan adjustments: Ongoing throughout treatment
Maintenance or supportive therapy: As needed
For exposure-based treatment in particular, the goal isn't to rush through a hierarchy or check off a predetermined number of sessions. We move at a pace that is challenging enough to promote change while still allowing for collaboration and flexibility.
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You don't have to be at a crisis point to benefit from therapy. Sometimes you know something isn't working, but you're not quite sure what needs to change. Other times, coping skills that have worked in the past don't seem to do the trick anymore.
If anxiety, OCD, trauma, panic, avoidance, or other concerns are interfering with your relationships, work, health, or ability to enjoy your life, therapy may be helpful. You also don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. That's part of what we'll work through together.
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Absolutely not. You don't need to have a diagnosis or know exactly what type of therapy you need before reaching out. You can simply tell me what's been happening and what you'd like help with. During a consultation, we can talk about your concerns and determine whether my approach and areas of focus are a good fit.
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Yes. A consultation is an opportunity to briefly discuss what you're looking for, ask questions about treatment, and help determine whether we're a good fit before scheduling an initial appointment.
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The first step is simply reaching out. You can schedule a consultation to talk about what you're experiencing, ask questions, and see whether working together feels like a good fit. You don't have to have everything figured out before you contact me.
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Sometimes. Especially when we're using exposure-based treatments, what happens between sessions is an important part of the process. This might include practicing a skill, completing an exposure, noticing a pattern, or approaching something differently during your everyday life. Therapy isn't limited to the 50-ish minutes we spend together — the goal is to help you take what you're learning in therapy and apply it to real life.
OCD
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Yes. OCD is one of my areas of focus. I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), an evidence-based treatment that helps people gradually face feared thoughts, situations, sensations, or uncertainties without relying on compulsions or other behaviors intended to reduce anxiety. OCD can look very different from person to person, and treatment is tailored to your specific symptoms and goals.I'll also explain how I approach treatment and answer any questions you have.
Usually, this phase of therapy tends to be 2 sessions, depending on each person and their needs. After this initial assessment, we can begin discussing what your treatment plan will look like.
Therapy isn't about me simply telling you what to do. My goal is to create a collaborative space where we can understand what's keeping you stuck and develop practical, evidence-based strategies to help you move forward.
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You are absolutely not alone. People with OCD often experience intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that are deeply disturbing precisely because they conflict with their values. Having an intrusive thought does not mean that you want to act on it, that it reflects your character, or that it will happen.
People often tell me this is the first time they are acknowledging and saying these unwanted thoughts out loud. You don't need to be embarrassed about what happens in your mind. Therapy is a place where you can talk openly about these experiences without judgment.
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First and foremost, you will never be forced or pressured into anything. ERP involves intentionally approaching thoughts, situations, sensations, or uncertainties that trigger your OCD while learning not to respond with compulsions.
That doesn't mean I'll throw you into your worst fear on day one. In fact, I intentionally start with exposure exercises that we expect to be minimally challenging. Exposure exercises are developed collaboratively and thoughtfully, and slowly increase in difficulty as you build confidence.
The goal isn't to eliminate anxiety. It's to help you learn that you can experience uncertainty and discomfort without allowing OCD to dictate your behavior.
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Exposure can temporarily increase anxiety or discomfort — that's part of the learning process. But the goal isn't to make you suffer unnecessarily. Over time, repeated exposure with response prevention can help you become less afraid of anxiety itself and less dependent on compulsions, avoidance, and reassurance. Treatment is challenging at times, but it should also feel purposeful and collaborative.
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Contrary to stereotypes, OCD isn't always visible. Some people experience primarily mental compulsions, such as reviewing memories, analyzing thoughts, mentally checking, comparing, praying, seeking certainty, or repeatedly reassuring themselves. These experiences can be harder to recognize as OCD because there may be little outward behavior. ERP can still be an effective treatment.
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Yes. OCD can take many forms, and the content of the obsession(s) isn't what determines whether ERP is appropriate. Treatment may address concerns such as:
Harm OCD
Health anxiety and health-related OCD
Relationship OCD (ROCD)
Sexual or relationship-related intrusive thoughts
Religious or moral scrupulosity
Contamination fears
Checking
Existential OCD
"Pure O" or primarily mental compulsions
Perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty
The focus of treatment is on the OCD process, rather than proving or disproving the content of the thought.
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Yes. Reassurance can provide immediate temporary relief, but when reassurance becomes a repeated way of trying to achieve certainty, it can unintentionally strengthen the OCD cycle. This can include reassurance from other people, repeatedly Googling, asking questions, reviewing situations, or trying to convince yourself that everything is okay. Therapy can help you learn a different way of responding to uncertainty.
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That's okay, and a very common concern. OCD and anxiety can overlap, and sometimes it isn't immediately obvious what's driving a particular pattern. For example, people can worry about their health, relationships, work, or the future without having OCD. OCD can also involve many of these same topics, but the experience and the behaviors that follow are often different. Part of the assessment process is figuring out what's actually happening so that we're treating the right problem. You don't need to diagnose yourself before reaching out.
Trauma & PTSD
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Yes. Trauma work has been an area of particular interest throughout my education and training. I've had the privilege of working with Service members, Veterans, and first responders, and I also work with people who have experienced other forms of trauma. Trauma can be confusing, overwhelming, frightening, and can completely change the way you see yourself, other people, and the world around you. Treatment begins with understanding what's happening and determining which strategies and tools best fit your needs.
Usually, this phase of therapy tends to be 2 sessions, depending on each person and their needs. After this initial assessment, we can begin discussing what your treatment plan will look like.
Therapy isn't about me simply telling you what to do. My goal is to create a collaborative space where we can understand what's keeping you stuck and develop practical, evidence-based strategies to help you move forward.
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Not necessarily, and definitely not right away if you aren't there yet. Trauma treatment is not about forcing you to tell your story before you're ready. We'll first work together to establish safety, understand your symptoms, and determine what approach makes sense for you. When trauma-focused treatment involves discussing or approaching memories, we'll do so in a structured and collaborative way.
People often tell me this is the first time they are acknowledging and saying these unwanted thoughts out loud. You don't need to be embarrassed about what happens in your mind. Therapy is a place where you can talk openly about these experiences without judgment.
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Prolonged Exposure is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD that helps people gradually approach trauma-related memories, situations, and feelings that they've been avoiding. Avoidance can make PTSD symptoms persist. PE helps you learn that you can safely experience memories, emotions, and situations without continuing to organize your life around avoiding them.
Phobias, Panic & Anxiety
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Yes. Exposure therapy is one of the primary tools used to treat phobias — and yes, this means facing your fears. But exposure therapy isn't about forcing you into the deep end. Education is an essential part of my approach. Before beginning exposures, we'll make sure you understand why we're doing them and that you have appropriate tools for managing physiological responses to anxiety. You set the pace. I'll guide and direct as needed.
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Yes. Panic Disorder and panic attacks that occur in the context of other disorders (e.g., OCD, phobias, PTSD, etc.) are something that I treat regularly. Part of treatment involves understanding what is happening in your body and brain during panic and identifying the behaviors that may unintentionally keep the panic cycle going. Depending on your symptoms and goals, treatment may incorporate cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness, exposure, and other behavioral interventions. The goal isn't simply to teach you how to make a panic attack disappear — it's to help you understand panic well enough that it becomes less frightening and less controlling.
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Not all anxiety is created equal. With generalized anxiety, an important first step is figuring out exactly what is making you anxious and how that anxiety shows up in your thoughts, body, and behaviors. We'll also look at your coping strategies — are they actually reducing your overall anxiety, or are they providing temporary relief while keeping the anxiety cycle going? Treatment may incorporate CBT, mindfulness, and behavior modification strategies to help you develop a different framework for understanding and responding to anxiety.
Telehealth
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Yes. I provide individual psychotherapy through secure video sessions, making it possible to receive treatment from the comfort and privacy of your own home. Telehealth can be especially convenient for people with busy schedules, families, or anyone who prefers not to spend time commuting to appointments. I am currently only offering telehealth.
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Research supports telehealth as an effective way to provide many forms of psychotherapy, including evidence-based treatments for OCD, anxiety, and trauma. For many patients, the convenience of meeting from home makes it easier to attend consistently and incorporate treatment into everyday life. I'll also talk with you during the consultation about whether telehealth feels like a good fit for your particular needs.
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I provide telehealth services to patients across the state of Florida. I am also an approved Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) provider, which allows me to provide psychotherapy via telehealth to individuals located in other PSYPACT participating states.
Click here to see if you are in a PSYPACT participating state: https://psypact.gov/page/psypactmap
Insurance & Logistics
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Currently in-network with:
Aetna (must be employer-provided/not purchased through the marketplace)
United Healthcare (Optum and Oscar)
Curative Network
Self-pay Option: If you do not have one of these insurance providers or choose to not use your health insurance for psychotherapy, self-pay is also accepted. The self-pay rate is $175.
Out of Network: Some plans offer out-of-network benefits. If you have an insurance that is not listed above, you can call and ask if you have any "out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental healthcare via telehealth." If so, superbills can be provided for reimbursement submission.