Frequently Asked Questions

+ Do I need therapy?

I get it! It’s hard to make that decision. There are costs involved, time, and the ole “whatever will I talk about?” question. The short answer is yes. I believe much like finding a good dentist, everyone is in need of a therapist. If you have found yourself anxious, depressed, looking for answers, have a mom, have a dad, been in a relationship, then you can benefit from therapy.

+ Can I just take medication?

While medication can help with symptoms of anxiety and depression, it is not the magic cure-all for life and does not get to the root cause of our symptoms. Medication combined with psychotherapy has been a well-proven tool in getting to those root causes.

+ What is therapy like?

A typical therapy session is 50 minutes. I’ll start out asking questions related to the presenting problem(s), or why you’re seeking therapy, and we’ll work to bring a new perspective to these issues. In the beginning, it’s recommended that the client commit to coming once per week in order to gain traction with the therapeutic process. Every client is different, so length of treatment depends on the presenting issues, the commitment you have to the process of therapy, and your goals for therapy. Some issues are short-term, focusing on a specific problem, and others are more long-term addressing complex issues and personal growth. Much like working out, clients get out of therapy what they are willing to put in to therapy. (I promise not to mention ‘working out’ anywhere else on here).

+ Do you take insurance?

At this time, I am not on any insurance panels which basically means, no...I do not take insurance. There are some pretty big reasons for that of which I am happy to answer for you individually. That being said, I do offer receipts that can be turned in to insurance for reimbursement depending on your specific plan.

+ What is your rate?

My rate per session is $150.

+ Is everything confidential?

Everything we discuss in our therapy sessions is confidential. I also abide by all HIPAA regulations regarding client privacy. There are specific reasons for breaching confidentiality such as suicidal ideation, suspected child or elder abuse, and the suspected intent of harming another person.

+ What is your cancellation policy?

I require 24-hour notice for any cancellations otherwise I will charge the full rate for that session. This is the time you and I have carved out for just you and I want to hold us both to that commitment.

+ What forms of payment do you take?

Payment is easy as I take most anything! You will sign up with a credit card that I keep on file, but I can accept cash, check, card, HSA cards, and even Venmo!

+ What ages do you work with?

I work with all ages between 18-65 years. I see men, women, couples, families and premaritals.

+ What do you actually do in sessions with clients?

I work alongside you, the client, to find solutions to help you get to your goals. I encourage, champion, and hold space for you while you learn to grow and become the best version of yourself. Every time may look different depending on what you need. Some days we may process a particular situation and another we may decide that EMDR is the best fit for you. I work in tandem with you to decide the best fit and course of action. This is your journey and I want your input as much, if not more than what I am giving you!

+ What modalities do you use?

I am trained in EMDR which is a mode of therapy used with a lot of victims of PTSD. It stimulates the two sides of your brain bilaterally (with tappers that you hold in your hands) to help organize the memories floating around in our brain. It is an effective tool for those places that feel really stuck and problematic. I have seen incredible results both professionally and personally in helping the brain process traumatic events and memories.

I am also a big fan of something called IFS. It stands for Internal Family Systems, but all you need to know is that it is a wonderful tool in getting to know the different parts of us that wear us out during the day. It slows down our most common recurring voices and thoughts and we spend time with them to reveal the wounds that have driven those voices.

The Enneagram (if you haven’t heard about it yet, are you even a Nashvillian?) is this amazing personality test with 9 personality or archetypes that combines traditional wisdom with modern psychology. I have been studying it for over 15 years and use it quite a bit in my practice. While everyone is unique and complex, I have found that the Enneagram is a great shorthand for understanding a person and their motivations.

At the foundation of my practice is something called Attachment Theory. Again, the jargon is not as important as understanding that my framework comes from the idea that we are all made to attach to God, ourselves, and others. Even if God is not in your framework, maybe we can agree that we all need to be someone’s number 1. The research supports it too and it turns out we do way better physically, mentally, and emotionally when we are doing life with others. Depending on how you were raised and how you were wounded determines a lot about how you are in relationship. Healthy attachment is something I hope to model to you so you can take what you learn and gather in the therapy room out into the world you’re a part of!

+ Did you dye your hair to make that white streak?

This gets asked to me all the time, so I thought I’d save you the trouble. No, I am not Rogue from X-Men, but it is a very strong genetic trait in my family that I have had since I was born. It even goes back as far as 4 generations in my family and all in the same spot! We call it the Walker Streak!

+ Does therapy ever get tiring?

You might be surprised to know that I actually feel energized at the end of a full day because it inspires me to see others enact change and become their best selves!