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  • HOME
  • CLINICAL SERVICES
  • VOCATIONAL SERVICES
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  • FAQ
  • RESOURCES
  • ABOUT ME
  • CONTACT
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Frequently Asked Questions

I offer four main service areas:


Mental Health Counseling (North Carolina residents only): Individual therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and personal growth using depth-oriented, trauma-informed approaches.


Career & Vocational Services (Available nationwide): Career counseling, vocational assessments, disability employment services, return-to-work planning, and veterans career services.


Youth & Family Services (Available nationwide): Teen career exploration, disability transition planning, and parent consultation for high school students and their families.


Professional Consulting (Available nationwide): Training and consultation for mental health providers, vocational rehabilitation companies, and school districts.


Complete the contact form on the website. Provide a brief description of what brings you here and which service interests you. I'll respond within one business day to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. During this call, we'll discuss your needs, answer questions, and determine if we're a good fit. If we decide to work together, I'll send intake paperwork and we'll schedule your first session.


The consultation is a brief phone conversation where we can get to know each other and discuss whether my services are right for you. You can ask questions about my approach, share what you're looking for, and learn more about how I work. There's no obligation—it's simply an opportunity to see if we're a good fit before committing to services.


The first session is an intake assessment where we explore what brings you to therapy or counseling, your goals, relevant history, and current challenges. I'll ask about your background, family, relationships, work, and previous experiences with therapy or counseling. You'll also complete brief assessment measures to establish baseline symptom levels (for mental health services). By the end of the first session, we'll have a shared understanding of what you're working toward and how we'll approach it together.


Do you accept insurance?


I do not accept insurance at this time. While I may explore insurance participation in the future, currently all services are private pay. This actually benefits you in several important ways:


No insurance restrictions: Insurance companies often limit the number of sessions, dictate treatment approaches, or require specific diagnoses. Private pay means your care is truly personalized and focused solely on your needs, not insurance company requirements.


Complete confidentiality: Your insurance company won't have access to your mental health diagnosis, treatment notes, or session details.


Flexibility: We can adjust session frequency, duration, and approach based on what works best for you, not what insurance will cover.


HSA/FSA reimbursement: I provide detailed receipts that you can submit to your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for possible reimbursement.


Individual Mental Health Counseling: $150 per 50-minute session


Vocational Services: Fees vary based on the scope and complexity of services needed. Contact me for a customized quote after we discuss your specific situation during the free consultation.


Youth & Family Services: Contact for pricing, as services are tailored to each family's needs.


Professional Consulting: Pricing varies based on service type, duration, and format (workshop, ongoing consultation, etc.). Contact for details.



I provide an invoice for services rendered, and you can submit payment via the method that works best for you. I'm currently working on implementing credit card processing directly through the website for added convenience. Payment is expected at the time of service.


I understand that life happens and schedules change. Here's my cancellation policy:


First cancellation: No charge (this is your one-time courtesy cancellation)


Subsequent cancellations: If you cancel or reschedule with less than 24 hours' notice, there is a $50 cancellation fee. This fee applies to missed appointments as well.


Why this policy? When you schedule an appointment, that time is reserved exclusively for you. Late cancellations prevent me from offering that time to other clients who need services. The 24-hour notice allows time to potentially fill the appointment slot.


Emergencies: If you experience a genuine emergency (medical crisis, family emergency, etc.), please contact me and we'll work something out.



As a North Carolina resident, you have access to ALL of my services:


  • Mental health counseling (LCMHC licensure allows me to provide clinical therapy to NC residents)


  • Career and vocational services (CRC certification is nationwide)


  • Youth and family services (available nationwide)


  • Integrated services: You can receive both mental health counseling AND vocational/career counseling in an integrated approach—this is a unique strength of my dual credentials



If you live in any state other than North Carolina, you can receive:


  • Career and vocational services (vocational assessments, career counseling, disability employment services, return-to-work planning, veterans services)


  • Youth and family services (teen career exploration, disability transition planning


  • Professional consulting (training and consultation for organizations)


You cannot receive mental health counseling if you're not a North Carolina resident. Mental health licensure is state-specific, and I can only provide clinical therapy to individuals physically located in North Carolina during sessions.


For mental health counseling services, you must be a full-time North Carolina resident—meaning North Carolina is your primary state of residence and you're physically located in NC during all therapy sessions. Part-time or seasonal residents cannot receive mental health counseling services, but you can still access vocational and career services regardless of your location.


Absolutely—this is one of the unique advantages of working with someone who holds both LCMHC and CRC credentials. For North Carolina residents, I can provide fully integrated services that address both the emotional/psychological aspects of your challenges AND the practical career/vocational components.


For example, if you're experiencing anxiety about a career transition, we can work on the underlying anxiety while simultaneously developing a strategic career plan. Or if you're dealing with depression impacting work performance, we can address the depression clinically while also improving workplace functioning and career satisfaction.


This integrated approach is rare in the field and creates more comprehensive, effective outcomes.



You'll need:


Device: Computer, tablet, or smartphone with a camera and microphone. A computer or tablet generally provides the best experience, but smartphones work too.


Internet connection: Reliable high-speed internet. A wired connection is ideal, but strong WiFi also works well.


Private space: A quiet, private location where you can talk freely without being overheard.


Platform: I use SimplePractice, a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform designed specifically for mental health and counseling services. You'll receive a secure link before each session—simply click it to join. No software download required.


Privacy and security: All sessions are conducted on encrypted, HIPAA-compliant platforms to protect your confidentiality.



This is a part-time practice,, To accommodate clients' schedules, I offer:


  • Evening appointments (weekday evenings)
  • Weekend hours (Saturdays and Sundays)
  • Some holiday availability (as needed)


Specific appointment times are scheduled individually based on mutual availability. We'll find times that work for your schedule during the initial consultation.



My primary service delivery is via telehealth. However, I can provide in-person sessions when clinically necessary or when vocational services require face-to-face evaluation (such as functional capacity observations or certain vocational assessments). In-person sessions are available for an additional fee and must be scheduled in advance. Contact me to discuss whether in-person services are appropriate for your situation.



Yes. While many clients benefit from longer-term depth work, I also provide short-term therapy (typically 6-12 sessions) for focused concerns such as:

  • Career transitions or job stress
  • Specific anxiety or depression episodes
  • Life adjustments or transitions
  • Immediate coping strategies for current challenges

During our initial consultation, we'll discuss which approach best fits your needs.


Why this works:

  • Addresses the question directly
  • Gives timeframe (6-12 sessions = "short-term")
  • Lists specific situations
  • Keeps door open for depth work


The terms "counseling" and "therapy" are often used interchangeably, and in practice, they overlap significantly. However, there are subtle differences:


Counseling traditionally refers to:


  • Shorter-term, present-focused work
  • Addressing specific life challenges or transitions
  • Career guidance, educational planning, life coaching aspects
  • Solution-focused and skills-building approaches


Therapy (Psychotherapy) traditionally refers to:


  • Longer-term, depth-oriented work
  • Exploring underlying psychological patterns, trauma, and unconscious processes
  • Treating mental health diagnoses (depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.)
  • Addressing root causes, not just current symptoms


In my practice: I provide both. My mental health services lean toward deeper therapeutic work (psychotherapy), while my vocational services are more counseling-oriented. But there's significant overlap, and the approach is always tailored to your specific needs and goals.


I do not have specialized training in couples or family therapy, so I focus on individual work. If you're seeking couples counseling or family therapy, I'm happy to provide referrals to qualified marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) in the area who specialize in these modalities.

For youth services, I do work with parents and families around career planning and disability transition—but this is educational/vocational consultation, not family therapy.


Yes. Everything you share in therapy or counseling is confidential and protected by law. I take your privacy seriously and adhere to all HIPAA regulations and professional ethical standards.


What stays confidential:


  • Everything you say in sessions
  • The fact that you're receiving services
  • Your treatment records and notes
  • Assessment results and diagnoses


Legal exceptions (when I must break confidentiality):


  • Imminent risk of harm to yourself: If you express credible intent to harm yourself and have a plan, I'm required to take steps to protect your safety (which may include contacting emergency services or family)
  • Imminent risk of harm to others: If you express credible intent to harm another specific person, I'm required to warn that person and notify authorities
  • Child abuse or neglect: If I have reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect, I'm required to report to Child Protective Services
  • Elder or dependent adult abuse: If I have reasonable suspicion of elder or dependent adult abuse, I'm required to report to Adult Protective Services
  • Court order/subpoena: In rare cases, a court may order release of records (though I would contest this to protect your privacy whenever possible)


These exceptions are rare and exist to protect safety. In all other situations, your confidentiality is absolute.


Not without your written consent, except in the rare legal exceptions described above. Your information will not be shared with:


  • Family members (unless you provide written consent)
  • Employers
  • Insurance companies (since we're private pay)
  • Other providers (unless you request coordination of care and sign a release)


If you're receiving vocational services through an insurance company, attorney, or vocational rehabilitation agency (B2B referrals), those referring parties will receive the reports and findings they contracted for, as that's the nature of those professional relationships.


If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. You can also contact:


  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (call or text)


  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741


  • SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (substance abuse/mental health crisis)


  • Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1


I am not available for crisis intervention. As a part-time private practice, I cannot provide 24/7 emergency response. If you're in crisis, please use the resources above—they are staffed by trained crisis counselors available immediately.


During our regular sessions, if you're experiencing increased distress between appointments, we can discuss whether more frequent sessions, a higher level of care (such as intensive outpatient), or coordination with a psychiatrist would be appropriate.


You can email me for administrative matters only—things like scheduling, appointment changes, paperwork questions, or insurance/billing issues. I'll respond within 1-2 business days.


I cannot provide clinical support via email. If you're experiencing a mental health crisis or urgent clinical concern between sessions, please use the crisis resources listed above. Email is not secure or appropriate for clinical emergencies, and I may not see it in time to help.


If you find yourself frequently needing support between sessions, that's valuable information—we can discuss increasing session frequency or adjusting our treatment approach.


Generally, sessions are one-on-one (just you and me) to create a confidential space where you can speak freely. However, there are exceptions:


When family can participate:


  • If you have a disability that makes you nonverbal or significantly limits communication, and you need a caregiver present to assist with communication
  • In vocational or youth services, parents/family members may be involved in career planning discussions (with your consent)
  • If there's a clinical reason to include someone briefly (such as discussing family dynamics), we can arrange this with your consent


Family members cannot:


  • Sit in on therapy sessions "just to listen" or "see what happens"
  • Answer questions for you or speak on your behalf (unless communication disability requires it)
  • Be present without your explicit consent


Your therapy is YOUR space. If involving family would be clinically beneficial, we'll discuss it together first.


This depends entirely on your goals, the complexity of your concerns, and the type of work we're doing.


Short-term (8-16 sessions): Some people come for focused work on a specific issue—career transition support, coping with a particular life stressor, developing specific skills.


Medium-term (6 months - 1 year): Many clients work on anxiety, depression, or trauma for several months to a year, seeing significant improvement and then transitioning to less frequent "maintenance" sessions or ending therapy.


Long-term (1+ years): Depth-oriented work exploring unconscious patterns, healing complex trauma, or making fundamental personality changes often takes longer. Some people engage in this work for years, finding it valuable for ongoing growth and self-understanding.


For vocational services: Career counseling and vocational assessments are typically shorter-term (4-8 sessions for comprehensive assessment and planning).

There's no predetermined timeline. We'll regularly check in about your progress and goals, and you're always free to end therapy whenever you feel ready.


Life circumstances change, and sometimes you may need to pause therapy temporarily—financial reasons, scheduling conflicts, feeling ready for a break, or wanting to practice skills on your own. This is completely normal.


You can pause therapy at any time. If you'd like to return later, simply reach out and we can schedule a session. Many clients work with me for a period, take breaks, and return when new challenges arise or they're ready for deeper work. There's no penalty for pausing and no requirement to commit to a specific number of sessions.


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