Online Therapy
I provide online therapy to clients located in MA, MD and DC
COVID-19 changed how we do things. It’s that simple. The gold standard in mental health had always been in person, face to face meetings between client and therapist. In our post-pandemic world, that is simply no longer true. Out of necessity, we were all forced to experiment with doing things differently during the pandemic. Therapists like myself were forced to sit in the very same seat as clients: we all needed to change - and on a dime. And, like many experiences with change, once we did the new thing, it wasn’t half bad. Teletherapy is different, yes. But not worse.
The good news is that, as we have resumed more normal patterns of daily living, we now are presented with new choices and options. This is true in many areas of life including mental health services. Some therapists have resumed working solely in person. Others have stuck with teletherapy. While still others are offering a hybrid arrangement of both.
I have concluded that, for the couples and individuals that I typically serve, teletherapy provides a level of flexibility that is desirable. For new moms and couples with children at home, being able to join a session without leaving the house or having to drive to yet another place improves access to services. Students and young professionals value not having to undertake the time and expense of commuting to my office. As a clinician I have found that in most circumstances I am able to leave teletherapy sessions feeling that I have provided services comparable to what I would in person. Mainly given these factors, I have chosen, for the time being, to continue working mainly via telehealth.
Online Therapy Can You Get Back On Track
In the midst of all the headlines and guidelines concerning how we are to go about what we are doing, it’s been hard to stay focused upon what we are doing. Maintaining a steady pathway towards personal goals and aspirations has been challenging. Along the way here, once presented with more pressing realities associated with maintaining good health, things that were once essential to do may now seem less pressing. There may be a sense of overwhelm amidst the resumption of prior work and activities along with a sense that these prior commitments no longer serve the person you are now.
As your online therapist, I can be:
· someone to whom you can freely unburden your thoughts and concerns
· someone who can sit with you to process, manage and accept feelings like anger, fear, sadness and loneliness in these post-pandemic times
· someone who can help you handle any simmering conflicts, whether new or temporarily abandoned when the world turned upside down
· someone who can help you find a pathway forward.
How Online Therapy Works
Many of my online clients locate me through this website, Zencare.co or Psychology Today. After making an initial appointment, my online clients enjoy access to my client portal where we will connect for our video sessions. Insurance claims, billing and payment are fully integrated in this client portal.
Maintaining the privacy of personal information is important to me when working with clients online. The video connection on my client portal is secure and compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) regulations.
In preparation for our sessions, we should both try to locate ourselves in a private space that offers a reliable connection to the internet. Current laws also require that you be located in a jurisdiction where I am licensed as a mental health professional: Massachusetts, Maryland or the District of Columbia.
Common Reasons for Beginning Online Therapy
I specialize in helping clients navigate moments of transition in their lives. While women have been giving birth for centuries, we have only recently acknowledged how this life transition presents challenges for even the most resilient personalities. Pregnancy losses and fertility challenges may contribute to a difficult postpartum adjustment. Changes in the primary relationship which may have been hard-won and undertaken later in life can be anxiety-producing. And then there is the pressure to successfully balance work and family as new mom, often before hormonal and emotional adjustment to life as a family is complete.
Couples may seek my counsel when they’re having trouble communicating and experiencing repetitive arguments. For those debating whether to end their relationship, I can provide discernment counseling as well as helpful education about separation and divorce. I am also an experienced parenting coordinator who can provide assistance to separated couples who are struggling with co-parenting.
Higher education students and young professionals undergo a series of transition in a period of just a few years. COVID-19 changed the college experience for many students while at the same time many young adults began their working lives remotely, without proper mentorship and training. Sometimes, on the other end of life, there are some difficult transitions related to the empty nest, separation/divorce or the death of a life partner.
I feel privileged to help my online clients through a variety of life challenges. Working together, I can help you move forward with confidence and strength. Many of my clients come to me with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. I am very mindful of the degree to which you appear to be impacted in your daily life by these symptoms when we are working online. Please understand that your safety and well-being is most important to me. I do feel that my online office is not properly equipped to manage severe depression, active thoughts of harming yourself in any way, or thoughts and ideas which do not connect to existing reality. If we begin working together and symptoms like these become apparent, I will make additional referrals for you in order to assure that you receive the best possible care and support.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you accept insurance?
I accept Blue Cross Blue Shield. It may be possible to submit for out-of-network benefits if your plan is through another insurer. My client portal provides you with the documentation that you will need.
How Will I Pay for My Sessions?
I submit on your behalf to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. You will be invoiced through the client portal for any portion of my fee that is not paid by Blue Cross Blue Shield and payment is made via a major credit card using Stripe.
How Often Will I have Online Therapy?
I will have a strong preference for weekly sessions when working with you in the online. I want you to start feeling better as soon as possible. We can always revisit the question of the frequency of our sessions later, if this feels right.
Will We Ever Meet In Person?
Quite possibly we will complete our work together entirely online.
Ready To Get Started?
If Online Therapy sounds like something that you would like to try, please contact me using the button below and we can get the process started. I am looking forward to talking with you.
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