The first session is an intake. It’s a chance for us to talk through what’s brought you to therapy, what you’ve tried before if anything, and what you’re hoping to get out of the process. You won’t be asked to go deep into difficult material right away. The goals of that first session are for you to get a sense of whether I seem like a good fit, and for me to get a clearer picture of what kind of support would actually help you. From there we build a treatment approach around your specific goals.

Most people who start therapy aren’t sure they’re ready and that uncertainty is normal, not a sign to wait. If something in your life isn’t working, if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like you keep running into the same wall, that’s a reasonable place to start. You don’t need to be in crisis. You don’t need a diagnosis. You just need to be willing to show up and see what’s possible.

That’s a fair question, and it comes up often. Two things tend to explain why therapy didn’t work in the past: the fit with the therapist wasn’t right, or the approach wasn’t matched to what you were actually dealing with. Fit matters more than most people realize. The research on what make therapy effective points to the quality of the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client. Beyond that, some issues respond best to specific types of therapy. What you were doing before may not have been the right tool for the job.

Yes, I accept some but not all insurance plans. Because insurance contracts can change year to year, the best way to confirm whether your plan is in-network is to reach out directly before scheduling. You can use the Contact form or text the question to 386-663-4495, the main scheduling line. If your insurance isn’t accepted, private pay options are available, and a superbill can be provided if you’d like to submit for out-of-network reimbursement through your plan.

Yes, both are offered. In-office appointments are preferred and the office is in Edgewater, Florida.

Sessions are between 50 and 60 minutes long. Time is needed at the end of the appointment for payment and scheduling. Coaching and consultation session lengths may differ.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s an evidence-based treatment with a strong research base for trauma and PTSD. Rather than requiring you to talk through difficult memories in detail, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain process experiences that got stuck. Many clients find that it produces meaningful change faster than traditional talk therapy alone, particularly for trauma that hasn’t responded to other approaches. You are not required to do EMDR therapy if we work together. Videos and information about EMDR are widely available online.

No. This is one of the most common misconceptions about EMDR. EMDR does not require you to narrate your trauma or describe it in great detail and depth. This is helpful for clients who have found traditional talk therapy approaches too overwhelming.

It depends on the complexity of what’s being addressed. A single, well-defined traumatic event may respond in fewer sessions than a pattern of complex trauma that developed over years. We’ll have a clearer picture after the initial assessment, and progress is something we track together.