I know the process of finding a psychotherapist is an extremely important one. Research has consistently shown that the connection between a client and a therapist is the single most powerful predictor of positive change. My goal is to provide enough information about myself and my practice to help you make an informed decision.
My approach to therapy is tailored to the needs of each client. I work with adolescents and adults and offer individual, couples, and family therapy. I help individuals identify their goals and make the changes necessary to help them lead more productive and fulfilling lives. I am directive, and I provide a warm, caring and non-judgmental environment to explore the issues and life-events with which you may be struggling.
I received my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia. While there, my research focused on how traumatic childhood experiences affected individuals' developmental trajectories. I focused on parental divorce and family violence. I also looked at the powerful effects of child custody mediation in helping to enhance post-divorce family functioning. I came to Denver to do my clinical internship at Children's Hospital Colorado in 2000 and fell in love with the people and beauty of Colorado. I now have four young adult children, I believe that my education and training as well as my life experience help make me a more insightful and empathic therapist.
While I believe that our histories help us understand why we behave the ways we do, I do not believe that we should be trapped by our histories.
I draw primarily from ACT, Internal Family Systems, and insight oriented schools of psychotherapy. I am also trained in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and currently offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).
My fee is $220 per therapy hour (50 minutes). For couples sessions, I require 75 - 90 minutes and thus are $300 to $400 per session.
If you are interested in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), please ask me for a more detailed explanation of its unique benefits and processes, as well as the fees associated with it.
Payment is expected at the time of service by check, cash, credit card. or Venmo While I do not accept insurance, I work with many insurance providers as an out-of-network provider and provide monthly super-bills that help many clients get reimbursed a substantial portion of my fee. Psychotherapy services are also reimbursable through both health savings and flexible savings accounts
The prevalences of both depression and anxiety disorders have increased dramatically over the last ten years, especially among adolescents and young adults. Entrenched problematic thinking patterns only exacerbate these feelings. Learning meditation and mindfulness techniques, as well as cognitive-behavioral strategies can greatly help reduce these symptoms. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is yet another potentially useful tool for clients who are stuck in rigid, unproductive thinking patterns, often found in anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD.
Life is about change, but change can often bring on feelings of fear and unease. Rather than avoid these feelings, it's important to process these emotions and embrace the opportunity for growth and change. Who do you want to be in this next chapter?
Relationship counseling can be beneficial to couples who are looking to strengthen their emotional connection, in all stages of their relationship. Couples are provided a supportive, non-judgmental place to discuss issues and solutions to better strengthen their relationship. Communication skills and conflict resolution techniques are often an integral part of the therapy. I am a Gottman-inspired therapist.
In addition to ACT, IFS, and insight-oriented talk therapy methods, I am pleased to also offer a therapeutic modality called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a holistic modality in which ketamine is used as a complement to psychotherapy to help eligible patients experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms. Ketamine's effects on the brain are well known. Ketamine (1) Enhances neuroplasticity by significantly increasing Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (2) Ketamine essentially quiets the default mode network (DMN), the brain network responsible for obsessive negative thinking in depression, anxiety and OCD, creating an opportunity to experience an obsession-free mind. (3) ketamine blocks receptors for glutamate, a neurotransmitter associated with brain excitotoxicity and inflammation. The increased neuroplasticity and decreased DMN activity in the brain last for two to three days post-dosing, which allow for enhanced potential for therapeutic breakthroughs.
Richard Schwarz, PhD, father of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, has called psychedelic medicine "the portal to divine wisdom." The results of numerous studies show dramatic reductions in reported levels of depression and anxiety up to 2 years after a course of Ketamine Assisted Therapy. Double-blind studies are currently underway at prominent research institutes, and the results are extremely promising, especially for individuals struggling with anxiety and depressive disorders, OCD, trauma (PTSD, et al.), and addiction. .
Please reach out if you are interested in finding out more about this area of my practice. I offer both intramuscular (IM) and sublingual ketamine dosing sessions