You can request a consultation using a secure scheduling tool on my Contact page. This process takes only a couple of minutes, and asks you to provide some basic background information. If you provide health insurance information in this form, I can begin the process of requesting Alma to verify your health insurance benefits.

This chance for me to briefly introduce myself, answer questions, and get to know you and your needs.

This is important to me, because we know that therapeutic alliance is a strong predictor therapy success (Norcross & Lambert, 2018). Plus, evidence suggests that the therapeutic relationships are especially important for the outcomes for children, adolescents, LGBTQIA+ & neurodiverse clients (Milton & Drew, 2019).

If we agree that it feels like a good “fit,” then we can get started on scheduling an intake appointment.  

If it’s not the best match, that’s okay! I’m happy to refer folks to any colleagues or mental health resources I know of any that appear to be a better match.

I’ll send you a link to my electronic health record (EHR), SimplePractice’s client portal, for you to make an account, read and sign consent forms, and to share more information about your background, experiences, treatment history, and concerns. 

I appreciate if you can complete these forms at least 24 hours ahead of the intake session (bonus points, if earlier!). It helps me the intake session run smoothly and helps us use that time more effectively.

In some cases (especially when an eating disorder is present or suspected), I may ask you to complete a “Release of Information (ROI)” form ahead of the intake session, so that I may receive and share specified information with third parties (e.g., medical providers, dietitians). This can be critical to ensure coordination, safety, and effectiveness of care from the start.

This session isn’t quite the first “regular” therapy session. It's common to feel some anxiety or awkwardness in anticipation of an intake, and that's okay! I do as much legwork beforehand to make it feel natural and smooth as possible.

Typically, we’ll cover:

• Confidentiality, reviewing the consent forms you signed, answering any immediate “housekeeping” questions

• Clarifying Background Info & Assessment

• Your Current Concerns & Desired Outcomes

• Treatment Recommendations

• Planning Next Steps*

*It’s possible that during or after the intake, one or both of us may decide that there may be a better “fit” therapist for you, or that may need a higher level of support than I am able to provide (e.g., “stepping up” to a higher level of care). I will be honest with you if I believe this may be the case and encourage you to let me know if you are thinking that as well. I can assist in finding the providers or services that better fit your needs.

What this looks like can vary, depending on your unique circumstances, the treatment approach(es) we are utilizing, the severity of concerns, and progress toward goals.

If you are local to me, you have the option of meeting in-person at my Sarasota-location on Wednesdays (pending availability) or virtually.

Whether we’re meeting in-person, virtually, or a hybrid, I value tracking progress using strategically-selected measures (like questionnaires) in the client portal.  You can do this ahead of sessions or we can go through them together during sessions. I’m also totally open to customizing our own tools and systems to capture what’s important to you.

Typically sessions reduce in frequency or length with progress towards goals, but we have the ability to dial that up or down to be responsive to your needs.

While it might be a good business model to keep clients around indefinitely, I aim to support clients to create positive, lasting change.

If you feel you’ve met your goals, want to transition to a new provider, or your life circumstances are changing, I’m happy to start the discharge process and/or help you connect with a new provider.