Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs}

There are different types of clinicians that practice psychotherapy: Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, Clinical Mental Health Counselors, and Marriage and Family Therapists. Each is governed by its own professional board and has specific education and training requirements. Each approaches therapy from a particular perspective on people and the world around them. Clinical Social Workers believe in the inherent worth of all people, paying special attention to social justice, strengths-based care, and the impact of larger systems on the mental, emotional, and physical health of our clients.

The most important thing to remember about therapy, is that it’s all about YOU. The first session will be spent collecting a lot of information about you as whole— not only the reason you’re coming to therapy now, but also your mental and physical health history, your family, your life experiences, other life stressors. The first session in particular can feel more like an interview, but I assure you, the sessions afterward are very different. Having a full picture of where you’ve come from and what you have experienced is critical to effective therapy. Subsequent sessions will be spent diving into the issues on which you’d like to focus, and working toward the goals you will personally set.

I offer virtual (telehealth) sessions for anyone living in Tennessee. I can only offer in-person sessions at my physical office in Durham, North Carolina. I am dually licensed in TN and NC, as I went to college in Nasvhille and TN holds a special place in my heart!

I use Simple Practice for my virtual platform. Free consults (15-20 minutes) and subsequent appointments— intake sessions (60 to 90 minutes) and follow up appointments (55-60 minutes) — are held via Simple Practice. You’ll receive appointment links and reminders via text/email.

No, I do not prescribe or manage medications. Only medical providers like physicians (MD or DO) and nurse practitioners (NP, DNP) can prescribe medication. However, if you are in need of a prescribing provider, I’m happy to help you talk through options and resources so that you can get connected.

I use a sliding scale/mutual aid model to make therapy accessible and affordable, but I do not bill insurance directly. This collective model of care honors my clients’ current life circumstances and available resources, as well as the reality that these circumstances can change.
Insurance companies prioritize profits over people; this profit-first design becomes extremely burdensome for people to both find and afford a therapist.
By making the decision to not bill insurance directly, I have distanced my practice from one of the harmful systems that perpetuate mental health inequity in our country.
For clients who are worried they cannot afford therapy without using their insurance, there is a service (Thrizer) that we can use to keep your session cost equal to your copay. (Please note that this service can only be used if you have OON- out of network- benefits.)