Frequently Asked Questions

Well, that depends!

It will take as long as you need and never any longer.

It is really impossible to predict length of care as it can very so widely and will depend on complex individual variables.

You’re always in charge of this. You can end care after one session if you’d like (you’re never stuck with me) and you can also keep working with me for as long as is needed (I am not here to rush you along).

Change takes as long (or as short!) as it takes.

I do have limited openings on Saturdays, both in the morning as well as early afternoon.

I only provide mental health services only for individual adults 18 and older.

Yes! I would love to see you in person.

I offer sessions both online and in-person.

My offices are located in The LaPorta Center (18920 U.S. Highway 41 in Spring Hill/Brooksville). It’s a quaint, charming older home that’s a cozy, welcoming spot to chat. It’s convenient to get to with plenty of parking. (Here’s a map)

The location is easily accessible to residents of Hernando, Citrus and Pasco, including Hudson, Land O' Lakes, San Antonio, Port Richey, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Homassasa, and Inverness.

One of the most amazing benefits of online counseling is that you no longer have to be limited in your health care options based on your location.

Back in the day, you were pretty much forced to select a therapist who happened to have an office near you. Depending on where you live, this could really narrow your choices. You would select a provider simply because they were close by without much concern as to whether they were actually well qualified to meet your individual needs.

Online therapy gives you more choices and might make you rethink whether location is actually the most important thing after all.

Online therapy is also super convenient. Meeting online for counseling/therapy means not having to deal with traffic to and from our therapy sessions, no looking for parking, no gas costs, no lost time due to travel, no having to arrange for childcare, and allows you to meet with me at a time and in a place that works specifically for you. Online counseling/therapy can be much easier to fit into your life. Meeting in a therapy office requires not only the time for the actual session, but all the time driving back and forth. A 50-minute session can easily become a 2 to 3 hour ordeal.

Of course, online therapy isn’t for everyone. If you have a consistently poor internet connection or lack privacy in your location, this option won’t be a good fit for you.

It will be important to consider if this applies to you and whether it will impact your therapeutic progress.

Additionally, some individuals, such as those who are in crises, those having suicidal or homicidal thoughts, or those in an acute situation may benefit more from a more appropriate in-person treatment alternative.

Initially I want to know: What brought you to counseling? What may happen if you don’t get the help and support you need? How might your life be better as a result of a successful therapy experience?

My perspective in regards to mental health counseling is holistic and integrative. I emphasize the wellness & prevention paradigm (meaning I believe you can experience good health if the needs of your brain and body are met) over the sickness and treatment approach (which just addresses symptoms, never explores root causes, and allows you to function yet never truly thrive).

I emphasize a strength based and solution focused approach, meaning I know you have valuable skills and resources within you. My goal is to encourage you to become empowered and to be responsible for your health. We will be a counseling healing team - I will bring knowledge of health and psychology, and you will be present as the expert on you. I respect your ability to make choices and believe you should make the final decision on whether or not to follow suggestions. I may call you out on things, but then it’s up to you to decide what to do.

For counseling and therapy, YES! You must be in Florida - and yes, this applies to online counseling.

Your therapist must be licensed in the state where you live and I am only licensed to work as a therapist in Florida.

Unfortunately, at this time, the law does not allow me to work with individuals across state lines. This also means that if you anticipate being outside of Florida during the course of care, services may be required to be put on hold or stopped.

We can meet for therapy sessions if you reside in any part of Florida via virtual methods. I serve all parts of the state and meet with clients from lots of different Florida locations including Tampa, Odessa, Wesley Chapel, Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Miami, Sarasota, Orlando, Port Saint Lucie, Ocala, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Naples, Boca Raton, and beyond. Please note that if you leave the state, either short or long term, I will be unable to provide ongoing care.

This is an investment in you and your future. How important is it to you to be happy and healthy? How much is it worth to achieve your goals? Are you tired of wasting money and time on the quick fixes that never work for you?

Think about how your struggles may have already cost you - in terms of self-confidence, loss of peace, in your relationships, and possibly the toll on your health. Not getting help can be very costly in the long run.

This is an investment in you, your health, your loved ones, and your future. We are often quick to spend lots of money on hair styling and massages, or on beauty and skin care products. We’ll go out to eat, buy new electronics, and fund vacations. And while those things can bring us happiness, the feeling never really lasts.

And wouldn’t all of that actually be more enjoyable if you felt better about yourself and your life?

Consistency brings the best results. While I can shine a light on the way and help you get your footing, you have to put in the work. I can’t do the work for you.

But I will be there to support and guide you. I will be there as your teammate on the journey. Overall, I expect you to participate, to show up, and give your best effort. I do not expect perfection, just your best attempt.

Importantly, I work from an integrative therapy model. This means I appreciate that you have a mind, body, and soul – and you have to be willing to work on all parts of you. This means we will talk about all aspects of you and your life including discussing movement, eating, sleep patterns, etc. I may ask you to keep track of your meals, moods, exercise, and sleep habits. Disordered eating isn’t just about food, but what you eat (or don’t eat) does matter, too - so we need to consider this to ensure your nutritional needs are being met and that your pattern of eating is helping rather than harming you. Also, your overall mood and well-being are heavily influenced by what you eat. So if you are battling anxiety and/or depression, for example, it’s important to be sure your meals are built for healing and aren’t contributing to keeping you stuck. There is a strong connection between the brain and our gut!

Every system in your body works together. So we can’t truly fix one part of you while ignoring another. You’re a whole person and true wellness requires looking at all parts of who you are and what you do. Notably, I have training and experience in both mental health therapy and physical work, so it’s a natural fit for me to work on each aspect with you.