Frequently Asked Questions

How will I know you're the right counselor for me?
A large part of what makes counseling helpful is the relationship between the therapist and the client. The first one or two sessions are a good time to make that judgment. I suggest that you ask yourself questions like "Do I feel comfortable here? Can I talk about my problems? Do I feel listened to and understood?" If you decide that I am not a good fit, then I can help you find some other names and referrals to try. That's absolutely fine. I might also decide that I would not be the most appropriate person to help you at this time: again, in this case, I will help you find another route.

What happens during a counseling session?
If you decide that counseling with me will be helpful, then we will work together to establish some goals for your treatment. This might include focusing on particular symptoms such as anxiety or depression and developing new ways of managing them in the present moment, it might mean looking at patterns from your past and how these have influenced and impacted your life today. I encourage people to bring whatever is on their mind into their counseling appointments, and we work with where you are at on that day. My sessions are 50 minutes long, and we will typically begin by meeting on a weekly basis. Once we have established a relationship and you are making progress, then the session frequency will be based on what you need and want.

How long will I see you for?
This is a difficult one to predict: to some degree, the answer is "as long as you need to be, but no longer". For some very specific difficulties, we can do short-term work and see significant progress and achievement in ten or twelve visits. Other people might be more interested in longer-term, ongoing counseling for a period of several months, to help them better understand themselves and make deeper changes in their lives.

How will I know if it's working?
The obvious answer to this question is that you will start to feel better! My hope is that you will find new ways of thinking about yourself, new ways of seeing your life, and new ways of understanding your past that can bring about change in how you cope with the circumstances of your life in the present moment.

What insurances do you take?
Through the agency I work for, I can accept most major insurances, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, CIGNA, and HAP. I cannot see clients with straight Medicaid, and my license does not permit me to see Medicare clients.

What is Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan?
Catholic Charities (formerly Catholic Social Services) is the "charitable arm" of the Archdiocese of Detroit. You do not have to be Catholic to receive services from the agency, and areas of spirituality and faith will only be raised if they are a concern for you in your life.

How much does it cost?
If you do not have insurance, then I can offer a sliding-scale fee based on income and ability to pay. Please contact me for more information.

How do I get started?
Call or email me today and we can set up an initial appointment to see if I would be a good counselor for you. I offer a free initial phone consultation which might help answer any questions you have that are not covered on this page.