What are your qualifications?

 

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist (New York State license no. 001017-1) and a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. My experience ranges from hospital settings to private practice. I developed the Anxiety Camp program as part of my graduate clinical work, and have been running this program since 2009.

 

I am also a bestselling communications skills author with multiple books on how to communicate in difficult situations. My past experience includes being a group leader, a crisis counselor, and a longtime manager of workplace teams, as well as having a national speaking and consulting platform - all of which give me a unique perspective on individual, couple/family, and workplace issues. I am caring, competent, and educated on current evidence-based therapy approaches.

 

How much does therapy cost? Do you accept insurance?

 

I am a participating provider for Aetna and Fidelis (pending) health care plans, and also offer a sliding scale for self-pay clients ranging from $40-80 per session. Anxiety Camp, a low-cost 6-week group program for anxiety sufferers and their family members, costs $35/session per couple or family. Cost waivers are possible for clients of limited means.

 

Where is your office located?

 

I practice at the offices of Brief Therapy Associates, on the second floor of 122 W. Court Street in downtown Ithaca, NY (the Court Street Chiropractic building).

 

Can you help me if I am already in therapy?

 

Yes. I welcome referrals from area therapists for the Anxiety Camp program, or for adjunct therapy in areas such as couple/family issues and/or anxiety disorders. I am happy to work as a team with your current therapist, and your participation with me will not affect his or her current insurance reimbursement.

 

I suffer from an anxiety disorder, but I feel too nervous to face my fears right now.

 

I provide therapy for anxiety sufferers based on newer cognitive approaches to treatment. (Cognitive means “based on your thoughts.”) One of the guiding principles of this approach is to learn how to become comfortable with situations in your own mind - in small baby steps - before any actual exposure.

 

My philosophy is that you are the sole judge of what you are ready to try at any given point in time, and my goal is to give you evidence-based tools to gradually and comfortably gain more control in your life - at your own pace, with lots of support and no judgment.

 

Can I bring a support person or family member to therapy sessions?

 

Yes, if you wish. Family members and support persons are important members of your treatment team, and are welcome to attend therapy sessions with you at no additional charge.

 

Do you offer online therapy services?

Yes, I am very comfortable working with people online. Online therapy is particularly promising for people who suffer from anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia that make it hard to leave the home, as well as people who live a great distance from appropriate mental health care. Using a webcam and secure, HIPAA-compliant webconferencing software, online sessions have many of the benefits of live face-to-face therapy.

 

However, there are a few caveats to online therapy:

 

-Unfortunately, I can only offer this service to New York State residents due to licensing and insurance considerations. If you live outside New York State, I recommend finding a licensed professional practicing online therapy in your state of residence.

 

-Not everyone is an appropriate candidate for online therapy. Some issues, such as eating disorders, serious and persistent mental illness,  and other issues require in-person evaluation and therapy. I do a complimentary screening interview by telephone to discuss your specific situation.

 

-Online therapy sessions are generally NOT covered under most health insurance plans. Online sessions are self-pay and billed via credit card.

 

Is the Anxiety Camp program available online?

Not quite yet, unfortunately. Offering this program online requires (a) a whole different layer of technology for participants to interact securely, and (b) a means of attracting participants from a wide area. I am interested in pursuing this in the future, however, so stay tuned!

 

Frequently asked questions