Both. I offer in-person sessions in my Gig Harbor office and online sessions via secure video for clients located anywhere in Washington State. You can choose the format that works best for you.
What can I expect in the first session?
Before our first session, you’ll complete intake paperwork through my secure online client portal. I review this information ahead of time so I can come into our session with a sense of your history, what brings you to therapy, and what you're hoping to work on.
If you're using insurance benefits, I'm required to provide a diagnosis in the first session. Because of this, the first session will feel a bit more structured and therapist-led than future sessions. We’ll focus on reviewing your history, exploring your current concerns, and identifying initial goals.
After that, sessions will be more collaborative and shaped by what you want to focus on. We'll work together to create a plan that reflects your values, needs, and preferred pace.
How often do we meet?
At the beginning of therapy, most clients meet with me once a week or every other week, depending on their needs and goals. Over time, most client transition to a monthly slot until therapy is complete. We’ll decide together what frequency makes the most sense for you.
Do you take insurance?
Yes. As a social worker, one of my core values is making therapy more accessible. While using insurance comes with certain limitations—such as the need for a diagnosis and adherence to medical necessity guidelines—I know that for many people, paying out-of-pocket simply isn’t an option. Weekly therapy can quickly add up to the cost of a car payment, and I believe finances shouldn’t be a barrier to getting support. For this reason, I choose to be in-network with a variety of insurance plans, including:
Premera
Lifewise
Regence
Blue Cross & Blue Shield
Kaiser Permanente Washington (HMO and PPO)
First Choice Health
Lyra EAP
Tricare
Medicare (see below for details)
I accept traditional Medicare (with or without a supplemental plan), as well as some Medicare Advantage Plans, as long as I am also credentialed with the insurer providing the Advantage Plan (those insurances listed above). Please note: I do not accept Medicaid or dual-eligible Medicare/Medicaid clients. I am happy to refer you to providers who take Medicaid if you need that.
If I am not in-network with your insurance, I’m happy to provide a superbill—a detailed receipt you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your plan. Visit my Rates & Insurance page for more details or feel free to contact me with questions about coverage.
Do you offer sliding scale rates?
I don’t offer sliding scale rates. Instead, I choose to be in-network with several insurance plans as a way to make therapy more accessible and affordable. Accepting insurance is one of the ways I can reduce financial barriers for clients—many of whom wouldn’t be able to afford therapy at typical out-of-pocket rates.
That said, insurance reimbursement rates are significantly lower than private pay rates and come with added administrative work and oversight. Because of this, I’m not able to also offer sliding scale fees. If I’m not in-network with your plan, I can provide a superbill for you to submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your benefits.
Is therapy confidential?
Yes. What you share in therapy is private and protected by law, with a few exceptions for your safety or the safety of others. You will get a good idea of the exceptions to confidentiality when you complete the intake paperwork, and I’ll review confidentiality in more detail during our first session.
Getting Started Starting therapy can feel like a big step—and I’m here to make the process simple and supportive.
Step 1: Contact Me Fill out the Contact Form or email me at [email protected] to express your interest in working together. I’ll follow up within 2–3 business days to let you know if I have availability that matches your schedule.
Step 2: Complete Intake Paperwork If I have a potential opening, I will email you the paperwork to get started. You will complete this paperwork in my secure online client portal. Once your paperwork is complete, an appointment can be scheduled.
Step 3: First Session We’ll schedule your first 60-minute intake session and begin the work together—at your pace. Subsequent sessions can be of varying length, between 16-55 minutes, depending on your needs and preferences.