FAQ's

$125 for individuals and $140 for couples.

I understand your concern. I have tried therapy before myself that wasn’t helpful. It is my goal to see you (and your spouse) improve your life and your relationships. That is why I only use methods and approaches that are scientifically researched and evidence based. I think you owe it to yourself to try again!

You should come! I can help you look for ways to turn your partner’s heart toward the possibilities of what a great marriage for you two could look like!

Yes I do! I work with individuals.  The goal of therapy is for you to feel better and to learn new tools to help you cope with whatever life brings your way.

Well….you have probably tried that. My guess is that you are not completely satisfied with how things have turned out and that is why you are on this page. Therapy is like getting the right tools for the job. If you are going to build something, you need a variety of tools in your toolbox. I can show you through therapy the tools you can use to build the life and relationships that you are wanting. Tools to help you communicate, de-stress, cope with change, or connect with your loved ones.

Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the courage to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. In our work together, I’ll help you explore and identify your strengths and how to implement them to reduce the influence of the problems you are facing.

The difference is between someone who can do something, and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, counseling is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, and you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.

Medication can be effective but it alone cannot solve all issues. Sometimes medication is needed in conjunction with counseling. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing and expand on your strengths that can help you accomplish your personal goals.

Absolutely not. I am an advocate for marriage and believe in marriage whole-heartedly. That being said, there are times when couples decide it is best for them to separate and/or divorce. This would always be your decision to make and I will support you and your spouse in whatever decision you make. There may be times when a couple would be better served to separate and for each to do individual counseling before trying to work on their relationship as a couple. My job as a therapist is to help you sort our your thoughts and feelings so you can decide what is best for you, your spouse and the marriage!

Yes, therapy can definitely help. I’m not going to tell you it is easy, but trust can be rebuilt and the relationship can be a stronger and better one than it was before the affair. An affair is an actual rupture in the relationship and causes significant damage to the partner who was betrayed. A lot of work will go into repair and rebuilding of the trust between you two and the foundation of your relationship. If there has been an affair, Dr. Shirley Glass’s book, NOT Just Friends: Rebuilding Trust and Recovering Your Sanity After Infidelity will help you to realize you are not unique and that your marriage can get better. Her book is fact-based and is based on research studies and clinical cases from her 25 year as a psychotherapist.

No, I cannot guarantee that. Honestly, things might seem to get worse, or actually get worse before they can get better. You are going to be dealing with things that you have left alone for a very long time and it could get really messy before you can start to repair your marriage. The good news is that you are going to be addressing the very issues that brought you and your spouse to this unhappy place and you will be learning new skills and ways to bring about change and improve your relationship. Therapy does work and couples can make amazing progress if they are willing to do the work.

See the blogs on this topic. After reading these, you will look at the cost differently. The Real Cost of Marriage Counseling, The Cost of Counseling and the Value of Therapy. Refusing to pander to audiences expecting Dr. Phil-type quick fixes, Glass (who has appeared on Oprah herself) chooses "a new, fact-based, scientifically and therapeutically responsible approach" to a subject she contends is fraught with public and professional misconceptions. Drawing on research studies (her own and others') and clinical cases from her 25 years as a psychotherapist, she explores "the new crisis of infidelity" resulting from platonic relationships that become progressively intense. Personal and professional friendships between men and women have become so prevalent and accepted that, according to Glass, even "good" people in "good" marriages can be swept away in a riptide of emotional intimacy more potent than sheer sexual attraction. Glass scrutinizes affairs and offers well-defined guidelines, including tips for determining how vulnerable individuals and relationships are to temptation, and prescriptions for keeping relationships "safe," repairing betrayal-induced damages and recovering from the trauma. Glass's credentials and commitment lend this book credence as a valuable resource; Staeheli's easy, personable style and the well-organized format make it user-friendly, too.

Because each person has different issues and goals for counseling, it will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs.

Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time counseling can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek counseling in the first place.  I do believe in solution focused brief therapy typically lasting from 6-12 weeks.  We will work together to get the most out of our time together each session.  

Keep showing up till you meet your goals for therapy. I am glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication will be crucial to your success.