Where is your office located?

At the moment, my psychotherapy practice is done ONLY virtually via telehealth (videoconferencing) which is as effective as when done in person. If you seek in-person therapy only, then I cannot help you at the moment. Telehealth is convenient and helps to avoid the potential hassle of dealing with motor vehicular traffic congestion - among other benefits. If you seek doing therapy via telehealth or are willing to consider it, then you and I can work together.

How does payment for therapy work?

You come to psychotherapy (a.k.a., counseling) and pay for services either 100% out-of-pocket (self-pay) or according to your healthcare insurance plan schedule of benefits, if they happen to include outpatient mental health and/or substance abuse, specifically telehealth office visits. Some insurance plans require an amount to be paid to me at the time of service (therapy).You may choose to not use your healthcare insurance plan to pay for services, as this provides certain advantages over using it. I can go over the details with you. By using your health insurance plan, you are agreeing for people -- who have never met you personally – to look at your protected health information (PHI) and to make decisions about your very own and personal treatment. Insurance companies also require a psychiatric diagnosis and can randomly stop paying for sessions due to a variety of reasons.

What healthcare insurances do you accept?

Currently, I accept the following health insurances: Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, Optum Behavioral Health, Oscar Health, Oxford, UMR, United Healthcare, and United Healthcare Student Resources.

What if you do not accept my insurance?

If I do not accept your health insurance plan, then I am considered to be an “out-of-network” provider with your insurance plan. Some plans allow you to use “out-of-network” providers, while some allow you to see only providers that are part of their contracted provider network (a.k.a., an “in-network” provider). Typically, you will need to contact your insurance plan directly to inquire about your “out-of-network” benefits. I may be able to do it on your behalf – if you so authorize me.

If your plan includes “out-of-network” benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for part of the cost of services—usually a percentage of the cost per session. In that case, I can give you the statements – often called a Superbill – which you will then need to use to file an “out-of-network” reimbursement claim with your insurance plan.

What payment methods do you accept?

I accept Zelle app cash transfers and credit/debit card payments. I can store debit/credit card numbers securely on file so that you are not asked the same information at every visit. Another accepted form of payment for services is health savings plan accounts which some people use.

How long are your sessions?

One individual therapy or counseling session typically is between 50 and 60 minutes in duration.

How long will I be in therapy?

A recommended approximate time length of therapy, or total number of sessions, depends on several factors including the issues you want to address, your active participation, and therapy approach used, among other factors. Also, for example, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy typically produces results at a much more accelerated pace compared with other forms of therapy like simply talking about “stuff,” which may not even be effective long term.

Do you work offer couples and family therapy?

Unfortunately at the moment I do not offer therapy with couples or family. At the moment my practice is focused on individual and group therapy.

Are you LGBTQIA+ Affirming?

I absolute am! We all deserve equal treatment regardless of sexual orientation and other individual and group differences. As a member of two minority groups myself, I certainly understand and can relate to the challenges that minority groups face.

What do you actually do in session?

This depends on the issues you want to address, your therapy goal(s) and active participation, the therapy approach(es) used, as well as other factors. I do not use “one-size-fits-all” or “cookie cutter” approaches to therapy like some other therapists do. Every person who comes to therapy, his/her/their symptoms, and contributing factor(s) are different; therefore, you and I tailor the therapy accordingly.

What therapy approaches do you use?

My approaches therapy are not hocus pocus and are scientifically proven to be effective; They are the following: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), IFS-Informed EMDR, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and somatic-, attachment-, and mindfulness-based interventions. My professional knowledge, skills set, and experience is such that, according to your treatment goal(s), I am able to combine these approaches so as to increase your treatment effectiveness and bring you deeper, longer-lasting healing than just talking about anything, week after week, which often times is not even effective.

What is your professional education and experience?

I completed a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling degree at Argosy University. I have been practicing counseling (therapy) at the post-master’s level, in a variety of settings and full-time basis, since January 2010. Presently, I am fully licensed to practice psychotherapy in the state of Georgia, and properly registered to practice therapy via telehealth in the states of Florida and South Carolina.

Do you work with people of all faiths or lack thereof?

I absolutely do. If you are an atheist, that is fine with me, too. I will not browbeat you with a Bible. And no, I do not do pastoral (religious) counseling: This is a specialized area in the field that I am not qualified to practice.

Does going to therapy mean that I am "crazy?"

No, it does not. Many of life’s challenges are NOT “craziness” and neither do I assign such label. A lot of folks seek therapy or counseling before their particular challenge(s) meets diagnosis criteria for a psychiatric disorder. These folks are being proactive about their mental health because it matters to them as much as physical health does. I encourage you to do the same! Human beings are both mind and body which mutually affect each other. In fact, by going to therapy you may prevent some people labeling you as "crazy."

If I go to therapy, will you tell me how to live my life?

Absolutely not! Family members or friends usually do that for free (I know this all too well), so why pay a professional counselor to do the same? While certainly I have completed advanced education and training in psychology and have developed and improved skills that may help you alleviate your symptoms and heal from what ails you, ultimately YOU are the expert on your own life. Think of the proverb: “Give a human a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a human to fish, and you feed the human for a lifetime.” I teach adults to “fish” so that they may feed themselves, hopefully for a lifetime.