FAQs

What does “Zoe” mean? In Greek, zoe is the word that means life, full life, the abundant life as God intends. It’s used in John 10:10 when Jesus said, “ I have come that they may have life (zoe), and have it to the full.” Counseling should be a safe place for us to explore not the hurts and disappointments of life, but a place where we can find the healing to experience the fullness of a life worth really living.

 

Are you a Christian counselor or a therapist? Yes! I am an ordained minister and have served on church staff for more than twenty years. I also hold a Masters Degree in Counseling and am licensed as an LPC-Associate through the state of Texas. For me, counseling integrates all of who we are–physical, mental, social and spiritual beings. 

 

What if I don’t want to talk about spirituality as a part of my counseling process? You get to decide what parts of your life you want to explore in therapy, and I’ll honor your wishes. 

 

How young do you see clients? I see adolescent girls and women from ages 13+. I will work with girls ages 10-12 on a case-by-case basis. 

 

What should I expect at my first appointment? Before your intake appointment, you’ll receive access to my HIPAA compliant patient portal. After filling out your basic information, you will receive a few intake assessments. It’s important that you complete them before your first session so that I can best prepare for our time together. In your initial 80 minute appointment, we’ll go over your intake paperwork, discuss your concerns, and work together to establish your goals for therapy.

 

How long does therapy last? It’s hard to determine how long someone will benefit from therapy. Some clients need help getting over a speedbump or life change, and can benefit from just a few sessions. Other clients need support for an ongoing period of time, first to help relieve symptoms, and then for maintenance. Because each client’s needs are unique, and therapy is a personal and nuanced thing, it is hard to determine how many sessions will benefit you. We will discuss treatment timelines during your intake session and help create a schedule that works for your family’s time and resources. 

 

Do you see boys? Couples? My primary focus is counseling teen girls and women. I am happy to make referrals to other local therapists for your other needs or for marriage counseling. 

 

What types of counseling do you do? I use an eclectic approach to counseling and utilize techniques and interventions from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). I am always on the lookout for clinically proven techniques and interventions to help my clients achieve their therapeutic goals.

 

Will you give me homework? Not always, but yes! While not intended to be labor intensive, homework between sessions is what helps you solidify what you’re working on in session, practice techniques in real world settings, and learn to integrate new skills into your daily life. Whether it’s practicing an intervention, completing a guided meditation or breathing exercise daily, or reading a chapter in a book about mental health, homework is designed to help you reinforce what you’re learning, and it’s an important part of your therapy. 

 

If my teen comes to you for therapy, how much will you tell me about what they say? As a parent or legal guardian, you have the right to your minor child’s medical records. That said, giving me as the therapist and your teen time and space to create a therapeutic alliance, earn trust, and begin to work on her problems, will help us make progress faster than if she thinks a report is made of everything she says in session. Respecting her privacy in session will go a long way in building trust in your relationship with your teen and with me as her clinician. Feel free to request a call from me in between sessions if you need an update on your child’s progress in counseling. 

 

If you see my teen, will you see me too? In working with teens, we will spend the first four to six sessions together, and then I will generally ask for a session with the teen and her parent(s). We will talk beforehand about what she wants to discuss, and I will be there to help create space for her to authentically share. I will let you know in advance when we are ready to set up a parent/teen session. 

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What are your rates? Individual sessions (50 minutes) are $125, and the initial intake session (80 minutes) is $145. For information on group counseling rates, contact our office.

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Do you accept insurance? At this time I do not accept insurance, although I am happy to provide a superbill if you would like to inquire with your insurance provider about reimbursement. 

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Do you have a sliding scale? I have a limited number of sliding scale slots available for clients who need financial assistance to begin therapy. For more info, please reach out on my contact page.