Faq

Tuesdays: 6 pm – 9 pm
Thursdays: 6 pm – 9 pm
Saturdays: 9 am – 4 pm

Call me or email me! We’ll set up a free 20-minute consultation to decide if we are a good fit for each other.

You’ll be investing time, money, and energy in therapy. That’s why it’s important for you to find the right person to work with you.

During our consultation, I’ll listen carefully for why you want counseling and what you hope to achieve. I’ll then explain my style and approach.

If we’re a good fit, we will set up your first appointment. If not, I will work to find you someone who can best serve you. Getting help with the right person is the most important thing.

I work with pre-teen boys ages 7 through 12. I also work with men ages 19 through 60.

If you’re looking for therapy for pre-teen girls, or for adolescents, or women, I’m happy to refer you to someone who is well-qualified.

I do take insurance for certain plans.

Insurance is an affordable way to invest in counseling. Do remember that your healthcare insurance company will have access to your diagnosis and number of sessions. I am in network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, United Healthcare/Optum Health, and Cigna.

Please educate yourself on your deductible (in an insurance policy), a specified amount of money that the insured must pay before an insurance company will pay a claim, and co-pay (a payment made by a beneficiary (especially for health services) in addition to that made by an insurer) or co-insurance (a type of insurance in which the insured pays a share of the payment made against a claim).

I’ll ask you to fill out an insurance worksheet form (which I will provide) and bring it to your first appointment. You can get this information by calling the customer service number on the back of your healthcare insurance card.

I’m happy to provide you a Super Bill (a detailed receipt for your to submit to your insurance company for out of network benefits). Again, make sure you call the number on the back of your insurance card for information on how this works.

First, insurance requires that you be given a mental health diagnosis. If you are a couple, one of you has to take on a diagnosis. This, along with other personal details about you, stays on your medical record for life.

Lots of life and relationship problems are not mental health disorders. In fact, it is wise to seek help BEFORE you meet the criteria for a mental health disorder.

Second, insurance can dictate the kind of therapy you get, number of sessions you receive, and when you are done with therapy. If you self-pay, you can decide these things with your therapist, and you are in the driver’s seat.

That said, upon request, I can absolutely provide you with a monthly Super Bill with all necessary information for you to apply for out-of-network benefits with your insurance company. If you have a healthcare savings account, you can pay for sessions that way as well.

(1) Register online as a new client. When you set up a new appointment with me, you can register as a new client via Simple Practice. This is an electronic record-keeping system certified by ONC-ACB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (this just means that your information is very safe, just like any of the electronic records at your primary care physician’s office). You’ll receive, via your email, a notification to open your portal and fill out the online forms needed prior to our first appointment.

(2) If I am going to be counseling your child or adolescent, bring in your medical records. Also, prior to our first appointment, please bring all records from any other medical providers, school testing, IEP plans, 504 Plans, or any other records you think will help me better understand you or your child/adolescent’s situation.

Initial Intake Session: $180
Individual Psychotherapy Session, 60 minutes: $140
Individual Psychotherapy Session, 45-50 minutes: $120
Family Therapy Session: $150

I accept cash, checks, and debit/credit cards.

Any cancelations of appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled session.

If you do not call to cancel and/or fail to show, you will be charged the full fee for that appointment.

If you need to reschedule an appointment, please contact me as early as possible and I will make every effort to schedule another time to meet.

In my practice I see about half kids and half adults. Why is this?

When I started out as a counselor I worked with primarily kids and teens, first in a residential setting, then at a local university. And I found out that I relate well with kids and young people. I drew upon those experiences when I started private practice in 2003.

I’ve also worked in hospitals counseling adults in partial hospital and in-patient programs. I found that I like working with adults as well. And the variety of kids from age 7 to adults up to age 65 keeps me very interested in all that I do.

It’s because I’m a guy!

I’ve found that it’s easiest to relate to boys and men out of my own experience growing up from a boy to becoming a man.

Yes, I’ve personally decided to be a follower of Jesus since a young age.

If you’re a Christian, whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant/non-denominational, I very much will enjoy working with you.

I work as a Christian counselor when my clients wish to bring that perspective into whatever counseling issues they are going through.

No way!

I’d say up to 60% of all clients I have worked with and continue to work with are not Christian.

I respect where you’re coming from, just as I’ve expected counselors from whom I’ve received counseling to respect my beliefs.

At Trinity International University (formerly Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), I learned about counseling theory and practice—as well as how to integrate that with a deep understanding of theology.

I’ve also come to enjoy the relational, cognitive-behavioral, and solution-focused approaches to therapy.

Over the years I’ve enjoyed learning about cognitive behavioral therapy from Dr. Judith Beck, the daughter of cognitive therapy founder, Dr. Aaron Beck. I’ve also taken continuing education seminars in solution-focused therapy, which I enjoy because of its emphasis on pragmatic solutions.

Oh, so many!

Some of my favorites are Calm (for meditation), Strava (for running), and Duolingo (for learning new languages).

By nature I’m a dog lover, but I married a cat lover!

So, we have one dog and four cats! Guess who “won” that battle! 😉