FAQs

No, definitely not!  Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) see people individually and in all sorts of relationships - parent and child, dating couples, co-parents, siblings, families with adult children and chosen families.

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) have extensive training in both individual therapy and couple/family therapy.  MFTs are trained to look at the context that someone is coming from rather than just the symptoms that are present.  None of us exist in isolation and widening the lens with which we view ourselves can be helpful.

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) have a Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy Degree, which has an intensely clinical focus compared with other mental health professional programs.  Prior to graduation, MFTs must complete a minimum of 500 hours of face-to-face therapy, half of which must be with couples or families.

My approach is always uniquely tailored to my clients’ needs and goals.  Therapy is not a “one size fits all” deal.  I work using a systems theory lens and utilize Internal Family Systems therapy, Narrative Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and attachment-based therapies like Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Yes.  Therapy with kids looks different from the usual talk therapy.  I use a variety of play therapy techniques and games to engage and get people talking.

It would be unusual for me to see children under the age of ten without a caregiver present. When working with children I like to meet with caregivers first, without the child present, to give us a chance to put our heads together about how best to help.  You know your child best and amazing things can happen when we work together.  

For older kids and adolescents, sessions can be with or without a caregiver present.    Sometimes, this means inviting caregivers to join the session at the beginning or end and can also mean having joint sessions every now and then.  This is something we can figure out together.

It depends, but I think it works best if we meet every week or two in the beginning as we get to know each other.  As you begin to progress towards your goals, we can lengthen the time between sessions as needed.

This will vary based on your needs.  You do not have to commit to a certain number of sessions.  I’ve worked with clients who made significant changes in a few sessions and for others I have provided long term support.  We will discuss if you have any financial or availability factors that need to be considered.  I also love working with clients on specific concerns and having them return months or years down the road, for the same reasons or for new concerns.

The first session is all about getting to know each other to determine if we are a good fit.  We will also go over some policies and I will answer any questions that you may have.  I’ll want to hear about your reasons for coming to therapy, and if you’ve previously tried anything that has helped (or hasn’t).  We’ll also talk about your hopes and goals for therapy.