FAQ

WHAT IS EXPRESSIVE THERAPY?

I practice Expressive Therapy by welcoming all parts of you to be seen, heard, and understood. We do that by accessing and expressing sensations, emotions, and thoughts through words, colors, images, postures, movements, and more. Role playing a challenging conversation, communicating a complex emotion through movement, connecting with a memory through drawing... the possibilities are endless. Learn more about how I bring in Expressive Arts, Nonviolent Communication, Mindfulness, and Parts Work in the About Expressive Therapy page.

DO I HAVE TO BE ARTISTIC OR PERFORMATIVE?

Absolutely not! You don't need to have any experience with artistic, performative, or expressive arts to benefit and enjoy Expressive Therapy. I tailor my interventions to each client's comfort level and interest. Some clients are nervous about doing anything other than cognitive dialogue but are curious to try visualizations. Some clients love making sense of the world through metaphor and enjoy mining simple scenes for insights. I like to consider each session a "choose your own adventure" collaboration. We can get as cooky, serious, profound, humorous, or practical as you want. 

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO EXPERIENCE RESULTS?

This depends upon a lot of factors, including what your therapeutic goals are, how often you come in, what kind of support you have outside of sessions, and how committed you are to your healing. All that said, most of my clients leave their first session feeling hopeful and confident, and report positive shifts in perspective, experience, and/or behavior after nearly every session. Expressive Therapy sessions don't just leave you with self-knowledge, but also self-connection, which is the foundation for healing.

DO YOU WORK WITH PEOPLE REMOTELY?

Yes! The COVID-10 crisis launched me, like many, into seeing clients remotely. I use Zoom to facilitate one on one, relationship, and group sessions. It's surprisingly simple and effective! All you need is a computer or phone with a video camera, access to stable internet, and an appointment. :)

DO YOU DIAGNOSE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS?

I do not diagnose or treat mental health disorders, as I am not a licensed psychotherapist or mental health professional. I have studied "mental health disorders" but do not pathologize people's inner conflicts. I believe all behaviors and beliefs are natural efforts to cope with pain, stay safe, and survive present or past conditions. Rather than try to get rid of parts of yourself that are causing distress, we befriend them, get to know their motivations and fears, and help them find new and more effective strategies.

DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?

Insurance does not currently cover Expressive Therapy, so unfortunately I am unable to accept insurance for payment. While this may make it less affordable for you to attend therapy as often as you desire, there are several benefits to working with a therapist outside of insurance. One is that insurance requires a diagnosis, which is then permanently on your medical record. Insurance also puts many restrictions upon how a therapist cares for a client, and the therapist essentially works for the insurance company instead of the client. Finally, even if a therapist is covered by insurance, high deductibles and copays often mean clients still pay full cost out of pocket.

DO YOU OFFER SLIDING SCALE RATES?

All of my groups have sliding scale options for registration. I am also happy to offer a limited number of sliding scale one on one and relationships sessions per month. This limit ensures that I am still able to make a livelihood that pays the bills. Please get in touch to see if I have any discounts spots available.