FAQs

Telehealth refers to therapy services provided online via video. Research has demonstrated that telehealth is equivalent to in-person services in regards to effectiveness. There are many benefits of telehealth! Accessing therapy online increases your access to competent providers, as you are not limited to providers in any particular geographic region (who may or may not be accepting new clients). Online therapy also reduces the time needed for appointments, as you do not have to deal with traffic or parking. Plus, you can access services from the comfort of your own home. Some people also appreciate telehealth for increased confidentiality, particularly in smaller communities where they may run into people they know in the parking lot or waiting area.

Summerland Psychology only provides online therapy services. If you give this a try and decide that telehealth is not the right fit for you, I can recommend other resources for you to look into in-person options.

Summerland Psychology does not accept insurance and payment is due at the time of session. Initial visits (intakes) are $300 and follow-up visits (50 min) are $240. Please refer to the Pricing page for more information.

I have been described by clients as supportive, understanding, warm, caring, effective, and non-judgmental. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is the most important element in effective therapy, and I take time to establish a trusting relationship.

Before we dive in, I will take time to get to know you, your story, and your goals for therapy. My approach to therapy is change-focused, which means that we will actively be identifying and working on aspects of your life that may be keeping you stuck (and generating ideas for what to do about them).

Therapy will not always feel comfortable, but that is often a sign that we are moving in the right direction (change is hard!).

The initial phone consultation is optional and is free of charge to you. One function of the phone consultation is for you to have the chance to learn more about what it would be like to work together. I will ask some brief questions to understand what brings you into therapy (just a short summary is fine, we’re looking for a thumbnail sketch here) and your goals. If I believe that you could benefit from services elsewhere, I may recommend other resources to you.

In the intake appointment, we will dive deeper into what brings you into therapy and your goals. I will also ask a series of semi-structured questions that will give me an understanding of your experiences, identities, and background – for example, childhood history, work history, cultural identity, relationships, previous medical and mental health treatment, etc.

Sometimes we need to split this into more than one session. After I have a solid understanding of your current concerns and goals, I will recommend treatment options. We work together to create a treatment plan.

This depends on a number of factors. Generally speaking, I recommend weekly appointments for at least 1-2 months so that we establish a trusting relationship and can build momentum together towards your goals. From there, we can decide what frequency works best for you.

Summerland Psychology was named after my favorite place in Mt. Rainier National Park, which holds a dear place in my heart. Summerland is a beautiful Alpine meadow, only accessible during the summer months. Some of the photos on this website are of Summerland. Please enjoy!

Appointments are available Mondays through Thursdays during regular Pacific Time Zone business hours (8am to 5pm, PST). Upon request, an earlier time slot may be available (7am PST). 

No. This requires a specialized assessment that I do not provide.