Services Offered
Women
Do you feel like you can never catch a breath or find time for yourself? Are you always giving to others and feeling the need to be “perfect” most of the time? Or maybe you can’t seem to fit in, or look up and realize that everyone else has it “together” and you can’t figure it out? Maybe you are stuck in your job/relationship/life and nothing makes sense anymore. Maybe you are in transition and can’t seem to find solid ground. Whatever the reason, you feel alone, confused and exhausted and don’t know what to do.
As a woman in her mid-50s I have felt all of these things before. You are not alone, and together, we will surface what you need and who you want to be. You deserve the space to explore your past and present and look forward to who you want to become in the future.
Couples
Are you spending more time fighting than actually communicating? Are you both so busy with the business of life that you have forgotten how to show up for each other? Has there been a break or betrayal in the relationship?
Having spent countless hours training in attachment theory and working with gifted couples therapist mentors, I am qualified to help when a marriage feels stuck, broken, and on a path to destruction.
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I have also been married for 25 years and have experienced the joys and sorrows that life brings- bringing new babies home, growing them up, and saying goodbye; the death of parents and loved ones along with the celebrations of new friendships and old. In our marriage, we choose each other daily and work hard - which continues to ground me and provides deep insight into the work I do.
Parenting
Parenting is so hard! There is never enough time to take care of the needs of children and meet our own needs at the same time. As a mother to two emerging adults, I know what it is like to try to be “everything” to everyone - it is exhausting. I also know the importance of creating space for YOU.
As a former teacher, middle school counselor and therapist I have worked with many parents who are struggling to raise emotionally healthy children in a world of anxiety and turmoil. I have walked the path with parents of children contemplating suicide, experiencing OCD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders and just plain disrespect.
I am here to help guide you on your parenting path when you feel lost along the way.
Parenting Children with Special Needs / disabilities
Children with special needs require a lot of time and care. You may feel lonely, isolated and resentful. Your marriage may be suffering because of lack of communication and lack of time spent together. You may wonder how you will ever make it through.
As a mother of children with disabilities, I know what it is like to carry the guilt and shame that maybe I did something wrong to have children that are not “perfect”. I know what it’s like to spend long hours in hospitals, at doctor’s visits and either caring physically or emotionally for my children.
What I have come to learn is that all children are unique - some (like mine) may need more care. Processing the grief of having a special needs child is important. It is also important to have open communication with your partner as children with special needs require so much more than a typical child. My journey has uniquely prepared me to help those who find themselves on the same path.
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You can find out about my journey here - www.standbeautiful.me
Grief
Having completed specialized training in both hospice patient care, bereavement and grief I am uniquely qualified to help guide those who are on a path they never wanted to be on. I believe that when we have someone who can sit in our pain with us, we are able to process our grief and mourning in a more healthy way. I can’t promise you that this path will be pain free - the loss of someone, whether through death, divorce or brokenness is never easy - but I do believe that by allowing someone to bear witness to your pain, and hold it for you when you are tired, you will be able to heal.
Trauma Therapy / EMDR
Common symptoms after a traumatic event may include, but are not limited to:
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Difficulty concentrating
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Strong emotions such as anger, guilt, shame, resentment, sadness that may interfere with current relationships or ability to function in school or work
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Inability to stop thinking about the traumatic event
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Relieving the experience through nightmares or flashbacks
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Increased anxiety or mood changes
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Changes in sleep patterns or eating patterns
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Increased use of drugs or alcohol to attempt to cope
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This can even be more difficult when the traumatic event was ongoing and complex.
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When a traumatic event occurs, our brain does not store it in the same way that it stores other memories. It may store a physical sensation in a different part of the brain and the visual memory in another, which can be very confusing and overwhelming. Therapy helps make sense of these memories and allow the brain to store them in a more effective way. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) helps us to understand the core beliefs we developed about ourselves after the trauma and how it impacts our future thinking, feeling, and behavior. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) assists people in alleviating emotional distress caused by traumatic life events.
Fee Structure
Initial Consultation
I provide a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if we are a good fit for each other. Typically, clients like to know my approach to therapy and my fees for services. This is also a good time to let me know what you feel you are in need of and how I may work with you.
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My Rates are competitive with what seasoned therapists in San Franciso and Nashville charge. Please contact me for my current rates.
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I am a private pay therapist (meaning I do not accept insurance). I can submit a monthly superbill to you for you to submit to your insurance should you choose to do so.
See more information on Good Faith Estimate
Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, you must provide at least 24 hours notice before the scheduled session time. You will be billed the full session fee if 24 hours prior notice is not given.
Good. Faith. Estimate.
Notice to clients and prospective clients:
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Under the law, healthcare providers need to give clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.
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You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
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You can ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service, or at any time during treatment.
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If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or how to dispute a bill, see your Estimate, or visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises.