Frequently Asked Questions

11 Common Questions…

Have different questions? Reach out and let’s talk.

Blue Bear Peering Inside
  • No, I do not only work with men. Although I am specialized in men's mental health, I am also happy to work with clients who identify as women, trans, and non-binary/non-conforming. Book a free consultation and we can get acquainted. What’s important is that you think I am a good fit as your therapist.

  • We will discuss at a high level what is prompting you to consider therapy. This is also a good opportunity for you to ask any additional questions that you may have. At the end of the consultation, we will talk about next steps if you’re ready to get started. If you want some time to think about it or visit with other potential therapists, that is fine too.

  • Being in therapy doesn’t mean there’s something “wrong with you.” Forget all the Hollywood depictions too…they’re mostly laughably wrong. Good therapy looks and feels like a conversation with a purpose. It simply means you are focused on self-understanding and personal growth. Individual therapy is a process where a counselor helps you look at how you perceive the world around you, and works collaboratively with you to understand yourself, and strategize on how to make best make forward progress in your life.

  • Counseling conversations are confidential. Any stored information is HIPAA-compliant and legally protected. That said, there are important exceptions to this confidentiality that are required by law: Suspected child, dependent adult, or elder abuse, or when a client intends to harm themself or another person. In these instances, a therapist is required to take action to ensure safety. Further, a court subpoena may also require that information be disclosed. These legal and ethical exceptions aside, please know that confidentiality is key to the counseling process. Your privacy is a paramount concern, always.

  • I provide what is commonly referred to as "talk therapy". I do this with various evidence-based approaches including, most-prominently, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). I utilize a variety of approaches such as these in order to customize your therapy in way that is most helpful to you.

  • Individual therapy is $150 per 50-minute session. Payment is due at the time of each session and all major credit cards and HSA/FSA cards are accepted.

  • I don’t accept health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. However, if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flex Spending Account (FSA) through work, you can likely use it to pay for therapy sessions.

    With that said, some health insurance plans may partially or fully cover therapy with me as an "out-of-network" provider. To help you obtain reimbursement, I can provide you with a "superbill" (an itemized receipt) that you can submit to your insurance provider. Please check with your insurance company to see how they handle out-of-network coverage for therapy.

    Mental health benefits can be complicated, so it's important to understand your health insurance plan. Keep in mind, using these benefits may require a formal mental health diagnosis.

  • I am not a psychiatrist and therefore do not prescribe medication. However, sometimes medication can be valuable in combination with psychotherapy. If that’s the case for you, I’ll be happy to assist you in determining how to best proceed in getting established with a prescriber.

  • Research indicates meeting more frequently improves outcomes so once a week sessions are the standard for individual counseling, especially if we’re just getting started. As treatment progresses, we may decide together to reduce the frequency of your sessions. You are also welcome to seek more frequent sessions if you feel you are in crisis or want greater insight.

  • As part of my commitment to providing excellent care and managing my appointment schedule effectively, I require a minimum of 24 hours notice for canceling or rescheduling any session. This policy helps me to open your reserved slot to other clients who are in need of scheduling. If you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, you will be charged the full session rate. If you are traveling within Colorado, ill, or otherwise can’t make it to an in-person session, teletherapy may also be an option.

  • It's hard to ask for help. Men in general are often real pros at compartmentalizing problems. We shove away the pain and white knuckle through the consequences, hoping it will go away or fix itself. Reaching out to a therapist for help isn’t easy. So maybe this will help it feel easier: Therapy always begins with a story. You’ll tell me your story about why you decided to schedule time with me. From there, we simply explore what your experience in the world has been so far. My job is to listen, ask questions, and look for patterns, blind spots, and discrepancies that can help you move forward. You'll get to know yourself, perhaps better than you thought possible. In a very short time, you’ll likely find that counseling is just like having a long conversation in a series of visits. Many of my clients end up looking forward to the time spent in therapy. Come to your appointment even if you think you have nothing to talk about...this is often when the best work is done.

Evidence-Based, 

Customized Approach

I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all therapy so I utilize an integrative approach. This simply means I customize your therapy to include a variety of research-rooted theoretical orientations and interventions such those listed here.

You may have heard of some of these. If you have don’t have previous therapy experience, they may sound like a whole lot of ‘alphabet soup’. For now, just know that these are approaches are like tools that can provide a pathway to healing and change.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a well-researched and highly effective form of therapy that's widely used today. It works on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. By spotting and changing unhelpful or negative thoughts, we can improve how we feel and act. CBT is a practical, goal-oriented approach that helps people build healthier ways of thinking, leading to real, lasting changes in their emotional and mental well-being.

  • Solution-Focused Therapy is an approach that focuses on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems. It’s based on the idea that even in difficult situations, people have strengths and resources they can use to make positive changes. Instead of digging into the past, this therapy looks at where you are now and where you want to go, helping you identify clear goals and steps to achieve them. Solution-Focused Therapy is goal-driven, empowering, and designed to help you create lasting change by building on what’s already working in your life.

  • ACT challenges the notion that pain, stress, and negative thoughts or emotions are inherently bad and should be avoided. Instead it proposes that trying to avoid or control distressing experiences actually leads to more pain, stress, and negativity. Acceptance, rather than control, can lead to committed change.

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy is a unique approach that views the mind as made up of different "parts" or subpersonalities, each with its own thoughts, feelings, and roles. These parts can sometimes be in conflict, which can create emotional distress. IFS focuses on healing by helping you connect with your "Self," the core, compassionate part of you that can lead and support the other parts. By understanding and caring for your inner parts, IFS helps you address past wounds and restore harmony within, leading to greater emotional balance and personal growth. This parts work approach allows for deep healing and self-compassion by fostering understanding and integration of all aspects of your inner world.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialized therapy used to help people process and heal from traumatic experiences and disturbing memories. It’s based on the idea that unprocessed trauma can get "stuck" in the brain, leading to emotional distress and negative beliefs. During EMDR sessions, you focus on these difficult memories while engaging in guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation, which helps your brain reprocess the trauma in a healthier way. Successful utilization of this approach reduces the emotional intensity of the past and helps you feel more in control of your present.

  • Work around attachment patterns is often useful when discussing intimate relationships, past or present. This approach refers to the ways we connect and relate to others, often shaped by early relationships with caregivers. These patterns can influence how we approach intimacy, trust, and emotional security in adult relationships. There are four main attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized. People with a secure attachment feel comfortable with closeness and independence, while those with anxious or avoidant patterns may struggle with fear of rejection or intimacy. Understanding your attachment pattern can help you build healthier, more fulfilling relationships by recognizing the influence of early experiences on your current behaviors and emotions.