Frequently Asked Quesitons

Consultation basics

A big part of therapy, and its success, is the therapeutic relationship, so you want to make sure there’s a good therapeutic connection. Consultations are a great way to see if we vibe, as well as to make sure my skill set and areas of specialties match your goals and needs. During the 15-20 minute free consultation call, I usually ask folks to give me the “broad strokes” overview since we don’t know each other yet. You can tell me a little bit about yourself, why you’re seeking therapy, and anything else you might think important for me to know right away. You then have the opportunity to ask me questions that might help you make an informed decision. By the end of the consultation, if it feels like a good fit, we will go ahead and book the first session.

How does therapy work/What does a session look like?

This question is a bit challenging to answer because I don’t take a cookie cutter approach to therapy. We come into therapy from different places, with different resources, different life experiences, and with different goals. Therefore, sessions will look different - not just different for each client, but oftentimes different over the course of your treatment.

Overall, I believe in collaboratively creating individual therapeutic plans with you, the client. I might be the “expert” in therapy skills, but you’re the expert in you - together we will build an approach that supports where you’re at and helps you to get where you want to go.

At the beginning, it’s helpful to see each other weekly. This helps build the connection and lets the nervous system settle as we get into the swing of things. After a period of time (unique to each individual) we can discuss meeting every other week or at an interval that works for you and your overall goals.

Basic overview of therapy

Intake: the first session or two will be a basic intake. We will go over the new client paperwork, a bit of your history, and your overall therapeutic goals.

In the next few sessions we deepen the therapeutic relationship, build resources (if needed), start to dive deeper into content, and learn a bit about things that are relevant to your situation (psycho education).

From here, we continue to deepen into the work. Some sessions are heavy, hard, emotional, and challenging. Other sessions are smoother, lighter, and easier. Either way, we can trust the process to know that the work is happening. Periodically we will check in to see how we’re doing, if we need to update goals, or if we need to adjust the approach. You ALWAYS have the right to let me know if something isn’t working for you!

How do I know if therapy is right for me?

If you’re asking this question, there’s a good chance you already know the answer. Overall, I believe therapy is great for just about everyone. We could all use an unbiased ear to support our personal growth and healing, a space that is safe and non-judgemental, a space that is just for YOU. The real question is, are you ready to work? Healing is an investment in yourself. It takes time. It takes some work. And if you’re ready to dive in, then therapy is right for you!

How do I know if you’re the right therapist for me?

There are two key elements in making sure a therapist is a good fit.

First: The first is scope of practice. Are you seeking support in areas where the therapist is knowledgeable and trained? As therapists, we are legally and ethically required to work within our scope of practice. During our consultation or our intake, if I feel like the support you’re seeking is outside of my scope of practice, I will let you know and provide you with several local referrals for experts in that area. Once we’ve begun therapy, if at any point I believe we are entering an area that’s outside my scope of practice, we will discuss finding the support you need for that area.

Second: Do we vibe? It might seem silly, but the truth is therapy is a special relationship built upon trust. After all, you might be sharing information with a therapist that you’ve never told anyone! You want to make sure you’re comfortable with and trust whomever you’re sharing that information with. When you trust and feel connected to your therapist, you’re more likely to dive deeper into your healing work.

What populations do I work with? What are my views of working with historically excluded identities?

Many of us with trauma have faced a level (or a lifetime) of oppression, and often find themselves checking the “other” box far too often. I function from an anti-oppression, social justice, non-judgemental/acceptance, trauma-informed lens. I also acknowledge that I am in a white body and pass as part of the dominant culture in some areas of my life. I also acknowledge that I am a work in progress and continue to unpack the conditioning of the systems in which I was raised.

My practice is:

Body/fat positive
Sex positive
Kink positive
Varied-abled positive
LGBTQAI+ Safe Space
Open, poly, anarchist relationship positive
Anti-oppressive

I work with folx of all genders, all stages of transitioning, and all sexual orientations. I work with folx questioning their identities and sexual selves, as well as those who have various kinks and picadillos, including living the lifestyle. I work with those in monogamous, open, polyamorous, and/or anarchist relationships. I work with folx who have varied-abilities due to chronic illness, chronic pain, and/or disease. I work with folx from a variety of backgrounds and who have intersecting identities.

Do I prescribe meds?

Only licensed psychiatrists or Psychiatric ANPs can prescribe. However, if you’re interested in going this route, we can talk about the pros and cons in a general sense, and if it’s something you want to pursue, I am happy to provide referrals to local prescribing providers.

Pricing and sliding scale.

Individual therapy sessions are typically 50-minutes.*

Couples therapy sessions are typically 90-minutes.

Base price for sessions is $185/50-minutes & $285/90-minutes. Sessions that fall outside of these times are prorated. If you’re interested in a different session length, please let me know and we can discuss it.

Any additional work, such as letters, consultation with lawyers, doctors, etc. will be discussed ahead of time and billed at this rate. You will never receive a surprise bill!

I hold a few sliding scale spots for clients who find themselves in a financial hard spot. Oftentimes there is a waitlist for such spots. If you’re in need, please reach out and let me know. If you need a deeper sliding scale, please check out https://openpathcollective.org/

What if I need to cancel, cancel late, or forget an appointment?

When possible, we will set up a steady meeting time. You don’t have to guess when your next appointment is or try to play the calendar tetris game of squeezing something else in. A consistent schedule makes it easy to block this time in your calendar so you can keep your appointments. When you sign up for the client portal, you will also have the option to opt-in for email and text appointment reminders.

That said, life happens. If you need to cancel, please do so at least 24/hr in advance so you avoid any late cancellation charges. With notice, we can usually find a different day/time to meet or decide to skip a week.

There is a detailed breakdown of my policy in the new client paperwork. Since your session spots are reserved for you, last minute cancellations (within 24 hours of the session) or no shows can’t be filled and have an impact. In order to hold a professional boundary and in honor of our therapeutic commitment to the process, my policy is similar to other professionals in the field. Late cancels and no shows result in a full charge with the card on fie for the missed session*.

*Late cancellations and no show charges are not typically reimbursed by insurance companies.

What city or state do I have to be in for us to work together?

I am licensed in both Colorado and Alaska. For us to work together you must physically be in any city within either of these states. If you live in a different state and feel like we might be a good match, you can contact me to see if you live in a state that is part of the PSYCPACT. This does not guarantee we'll be able to work together, but we can look into it.

How do I get started?

Text me at 720-340-8389 or email me at windingpathcounseling@gmail.com to schedule a free 20-minute consultation or to get your first session on the books!