Services

This is usually our first contact. It may be your first call to my office or my return call to you. There is no charge for this call. During this phone conversation, I will ask about your concerns, discuss with you the possible fit with what I can offer and determine with you if want to make an appointment for an intake. If for whatever reason it is determined that your concerns can be better met elsewhere, I will try to provide other referral resources in the local area.

This is your first appointment. For individuals, this meeting typically lasts an hour. For couples, it lasts an hour and 20 minutes. Prior to your appointment, you will electronically complete some paper work and standard forms. When we meet, I will ask you in detail about your concerns, various aspects of your history and other details of your life as they pertain to your presenting problems and goals. At the end of this meeting, we will collaboratively decide how to proceed.

Individual therapy sessions normally last 50 minutes. They generally begin on the hour and end at 10 til the next hour. This is flexible, however, and can be modified as needed. The structure and content of therapy varies person to person, depending on his or her needs, concerns and preferences. People often start out meeting weekly. Sometimes they space out therapy once they have been seen for a while and their concerns seem less pressing. Therapy can be remedial to address psychological problems or crises. Therapy can also be growth oriented and preventative in nature. The latter is almost like tweaking one's life for the better. Growth goals may have to do with improving confidence, leadership qualities, being more assertive, effective communication, learning to say no/set limits, etc.

Typically couples therapy will begin with a joint intake with both partners present. A couples intake takes approximately an hour and 20 minutes. After the initial couples intake, couples therapy sessions typically last an hour. Couples therapy may be focused on any range of issues that negatively impact the relationship. Ineffective or differing communication styles; personality differences; underlying sources of tension; jealousy; anger; infidelity; sexual problems; and conflicting goals and values are all common topics seen among struggling couples. Sometimes people seek out premarital counseling either to determine if marriage is a good next step or to work on issues preventatively so they don't cause problems later in the marriage.

Individual and couples therapy are offered via a secure video telehealth format. You can participate in this form of treatment with your computer, tablet or cell phone in the comfort of your home or another private space of your convenience. Although some aspects of communication are lost or not ideal via internet video, research suggests that teletherapy is similarly effective to in-person treatment and can be a good alternative during the current pandemic or for other circumstances that may make online therapy more accessible.

Recently I obtained an Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT), which means I can provide teletherapy/telepsychology from my home licensure state of Kentucky to individuals and couples in 33 other participating PsyPact states and territories.

I am a certified Koru Mindfulness Instructor, a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Trainer, and BASICS certified. In the past I have led mindfulness groups, done a variety of preventative programming presentations (e.g., stress management, healthy relationships, effective communication, assertiveness, equity and inclusion, resilience, suicide prevention, substance use disorder prevention and intervention, addictions, and a variety of topics regarding specific psychological disorders), conducted a support group for young adults on the autism spectrum, provided interpersonal process/general therapy groups, co-led a men of color therapy group and co-led a support group for graduate and professional students. Additionally, I have gone into various organizations to conduct debriefings after stressful events or losses, and I have done consultations with work groups, departments and offices. If you have interest in any of these types of services, please email to discuss further.