General FAQs

Dr. C does not offer complimentary consultation calls. Finding the right provider is an important decision and is not something that can be meaningfully rushed or concluded in a brief 15-minute phone call. Initial consult/intake sessions are scheduled appointments that allow adequate time to thoughtfully review your concerns, answer questions, and determine whether the therapeutic relationship feels like the right fit. During your consult/intake session, you can expect a brief review of informed consent documentation and the information provided in your intake forms. Dr. C will explain her approach and role in the therapeutic process while guiding a conversation to better understand your presenting concerns. Together, you’ll explore whether this feels like the right fit and how support can be offered moving forward. By the end of the session, you’ll have the opportunity to share your thoughts about continuing and, if you feel comfortable, schedule your next appointment.

There is no universal timeline for therapy because each person’s needs, goals, and life circumstances are unique. The length of therapy often depends on several factors, including your goals for treatment, your commitment to the process, the concerns bringing you to therapy, and the pace at which meaningful change feels sustainable for you. Some individuals seek short-term support around a specific challenge, while others benefit from longer-term care as they navigate deeper patterns, healing, and personal growth. Therapy is not meant to be rushed. The goal is to support meaningful progress in a way that feels intentional, realistic, and aligned with your needs.

Not at all. Reaching out for support often reflects self-awareness, courage, and a willingness to address what feels difficult rather than avoid it. Everyone needs support at different points in life. You likely already have strengths, tools, and resilience that have helped you navigate challenges before—but sometimes stress, burnout, grief, trauma, or life transitions can make those strengths feel harder to access. In our work together, Dr. C will help you identify those existing strengths, explore what may be getting in the way right now, and develop new ways to support yourself moving forward.

Support from friends and family can be meaningful, but there is a difference between receiving personal support and working with a trained mental health professional. Therapists are trained to help you explore your experiences from new perspectives, build healthier coping strategies, identify patterns, and navigate challenges in ways that support long-term growth. Therapy also offers a space that is confidential, objective, and free from the expectations that can sometimes exist within personal relationships. You do not have to worry about burdening others, protecting their feelings, or filtering your experiences. In some situations, consistently relying on loved ones for emotional processing may unintentionally create strain within those relationships. Therapy offers dedicated space to process difficult experiences while helping you strengthen both your relationship with yourself and your connections with others.

No. Dr. C is a psychotherapist and does not prescribe medication. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe and manage psychiatric medications. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) are advanced practice nurses who can also prescribe and manage psychiatric medications in many states. Psychotherapists/Therapists are trained mental health professionals who provide talk-based treatment and therapeutic support for emotional healing, personal growth, and behavioral change. If medication support is needed, Dr. C may encourage you to consult with your primary care provider, a psychiatrist, or a psychiatric nurse practitioner for further evaluation.

Medication is not required for everyone, and it is not the right fit for every situation. While medication can help reduce or manage certain symptoms, it may not fully address the underlying experiences, patterns, or stressors contributing to your concerns. In therapy with Dr. C, you may explore the root of what you’re experiencing, better understand behavioral patterns, and develop practical strategies that support your personal and relational goals. Medication can be helpful and, in some cases, may be most effective when used alongside therapy. Dr. C is available to support conversations around this decision and can help you navigate feeling more informed and comfortable discussing medication management with your medical provider.

Dr. C may review requests for documentation on a case-by-case basis; however, completion of paperwork is not guaranteed. Documentation requests such as FMLA paperwork, disability-related forms, emotional support animal letters, court-related documentation, or other administrative requests require clinical appropriateness, sufficient therapeutic history, and adequate information to make an informed professional decision. These requests are typically not appropriate to complete during early sessions or solely for the purpose of obtaining documentation. Additional fees may apply for administrative paperwork completed outside of scheduled sessions. If documentation is needed, clients are encouraged to discuss their request directly with Dr. C so expectations can be reviewed early in the therapeutic process.

Because each individual enters therapy with different experiences, needs, and goals, the therapeutic process will look different for everyone. Dr. C tailors her approach to meet your specific needs while creating space for meaningful growth and healing. Your role is to show up with honesty, openness, and a willingness to engage in the process. You do not need to have everything figured out—just a willingness to be present and curious about your growth.

It’s great that you want to get the most out of your sessions. Your active participation, honesty, and dedication are important to your progress. Therapy sessions may occur weekly, bi-weekly, or in some cases monthly depending on your needs, goals, and other clinical considerations. For individuals who are new to therapy or beginning with a new provider, weekly sessions are strongly recommended at the start of treatment to help establish a strong therapeutic foundation. At minimum, bi-weekly sessions are encouraged to maintain continuity and momentum in the therapeutic process. Clients are strongly encouraged to communicate if they feel they may be better served elsewhere or no longer wish to continue services. No personal feelings will be attached to that decision—open communication simply allows Dr. C to appropriately support your transition and potentially open space for individuals currently waiting for services. Failure to engage in services or respond to communication for a period of 30 days, unless otherwise discussed, may result in your account being archived. A notice will be issued prior to archiving your account. If no response is received within 7 days, your account may be discharged from services. Dr. C understands that individuals may need to pause services for various reasons. Communication is key and allows space for planning accordingly. Additionally, if a follow-up session is not scheduled within 14 days following your initial intake appointment, this policy may also apply. Once an account is discharged, access to the scheduling calendar will be removed and communication will be required to request reinstatement. If you are discharged or archived and would like to return, you are welcome to do so pending availability within Dr. C’s caseload. To initiate this process, please contact Dr. C via email or through this website to request that your account be reopened. Updated intake documentation may be required before resuming services.

Therapy with Dr. C may look different from traditional talk-only approaches because she works with the whole person—mind, body, and emotional experiences. In addition to traditional psychotherapy, sessions may incorporate holistic and somatic practices when appropriate and aligned with your comfort level. This may include things such as: grounding techniques mindfulness practices breathwork body awareness exercises guided reflection nervous system regulation tools meditation movement-based practices attentional focus techniques These approaches are used to help you better understand how stress, trauma, and life experiences may be stored or expressed within the body. You are never required to participate in any intervention that feels uncomfortable. Therapy remains collaborative, and your comfort, consent, and readiness are prioritized throughout the process. Some sessions may involve deeper emotional processing, while others may focus on practical tools, reflection, or creating space to slow down and reconnect with yourself. The goal is not to force healing—it’s to support meaningful, sustainable integration.

Dr. C does not provide couples or family counseling services. If multiple individuals are concerned about a relationship and are interested in support, she may initially work with each person separately when clinically appropriate. It is often recommended that individual therapy remain separate from couples or family counseling to help maintain clarity, appropriate boundaries, and each person’s individual therapeutic process. When appropriate, Dr. C may also provide resources or referrals to providers who specialize in couples or family counseling.