FAQs

Why don’t you accept insurance?

1. Self-pay offers clients a greater measure of freedom and control over their care. Instead of disputing charges with insurance, self-pay provides clients with greater flexibility with regards to the length and frequency of sessions. Insurance companies place limitations on therapists about the length of sessions, covered diagnoses, and covered treatments.

2. Self-pay offers clients increased privacy and confidentiality. When insurance reimburses an individual’s treatment, a mental health diagnosis is created for this person which then goes on their permanent medical record. This diagnosis constitutes a “pre-existing condition” which could potentially lead to a disqualification from benefits in the future or may otherwise interfere with your coverage if you change plans. Once you have used health insurance for mental health care you will also have to disclose your treatment history if you apply for life insurance and in certain other circumstances. With self-pay, going through this process can be avoided.

3. Self-pay allows client and therapist to address issues that are not covered through insurance. Through self-pay, we can consult on a variety of topics that are not billable with insurance.

4. Insurance can be a hassle! Therapists who work with insurance often spend a great deal of time disputing charges and other items which take our focus off of where we want it most (providing quality care for you and others).

Do you offer telehealth services?

Yes. I am able to offer tele-therapy to residents of Arizona and those who reside within the state of Arizona in accordance with the conditions set forth by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE). For more information regarding these conditions, please visit www.azbbhe.us or contact me and I’d be more than happy to discuss whether you might be a good candidate for telehealth services.

How does faith-based counseling work?

One’s faith, religion and/or spirituality can be a valuable resource that can bring meaning, purpose and a sense of support in a person’s life. However, for many, the experience of organized religion (and those encountered within these circles) has left significant shame, guilt and deep-seeded wounds. Recognizing many clinicians lack the knowledge and experience necessary to address people’s religious/spiritual needs (as well as the traumatic events potentially experienced within these circles), the American Psychological Association (APA) has called on clinical therapists to obtain further training in this area to help satisfy these growing needs.

In my practice, I elicit my client’s spiritual/religious preferences in the intake and if their faith is something they would like to incorporate into their treatment then that is something which may be done on a case by case basis. Additionally, I work collaboratively with individuals to help determine the right approach that respects where the person is at in their faith journey.

While I have extensive training in integrating Catholic-Christian principles in a counseling setting, I am not a pastoral counselor, member of the clergy or spiritual director. Unlike these other professions, I work with a more direct focus on how one’s psychological issues may be influencing their spiritual distress and less directly on giving advice or making recommendations of a spiritual nature. Some of the issues I have commonly dealt with involve: scrupulosity, despair, anger with God (or His Church), trauma/abuse (in these settings) and difficulties reconciling one’s sexual orientation or gender identity with their religious beliefs.

My personal background is in the Catholic-Christian faith tradition and I approach all of the issues in my practice through this informed lens.