About
I am here as a counselor and life coach. I use acceptance and commitment therapy. I may also bring in cognitive behavior techniques, behavior analytic techniques, boundary development, forgiveness, mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy skills/techniques, and development of coping skills depending on the person's individual needs and situation.
I am trained in CBT, DBT, and ACT; however, in this scope of practice as a life coach, I will use the techniques as needed for your individual needs. I have Masters Degree in Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Marriage and Family Therapy.
*I am not licensed and I will not function in the role of a clinical diagnostic therapist so I do not treat or diagnose mental illnesses.
I use HIPAA-complaint record keeping and telehealth practices.
I do not participate in custody disputes, legal actions, or forensic interviewing.
*I do not treat or diagnose mental illnesses or recommend medications.
I know first hand how it feels to go from sad, nervous, and full of self-doubt and negative thinking, struggling with anxiety and depression, to having the skills and confidence to use positive thinking, with the confidence to work toward a happy, healthy family life and personal success. Sharing that feeling with others brings me the most joy I can imagine, second only to the joy I have as a mother and wife.
I don't accept insurance, and my fees will not increase once we have agreed to begin working together. There is no contract; however, payments are due up front. I strive to have a goal-oriented approach, which averages approximately 10 to 12 sessions, depending on each person's unique needs it may be more or less.
My goal is to help you gain the ability to practice your skills so that you're able to help yourself stay positive and productive. I can't guarantee a specific timeframe, of course, as some issues may take less time or a few extra sessions to work though. However, it's my goal for each person I work with to gain the skills to independently work through any new problems or life stressors independently.
Highlights
Reviews
Jennifer R.
Megan
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Every person is unique. On our first session is a free 15-minute consultation. I want to meet you and let you get to meet me. There are a couple of questionnaires that I provide.. I like to send the questionnaire to you before our first official appointment to save our session time for talking about how you're doing and what we want to accomplish during that session.
We will talk about which techniques are best for you in your situation, and come up with a plan together to meet your goals.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Masters Degree in psychology and applied behavior analysis. I have training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy, as well as motivational interviewing and narrative therapy.
Important Information: *I use the training to implement the techniques of each therapeutic approach, but I am not a licensed therapist. I will not conduct therapy as a therapist. Instead, I will teach you the techniques of some of these approaches, as well as my own life experience, for you to gain the skills and make your own changes. I function in the scope of a life coach in this venue. I will not treat mental illness, and if I feel your needs require a licensed professional counselor for diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of such, I will give you the appropriate referrals to get the appropriate services.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
I do not accept insurance. My fee is a standard $55 for 55-minute hour.
Why am I charging such a low fee?
I'm able to keep my self-pay fee incredibly low as I am completely remote using video chat for sessions with no overhead.
Also, before starting my business, I couldn't afford a therapist to help me with the negative self talk and stress - because I made too much to have Medicaid/Medicare, but not enough to comfortably pay $125 a week either.
I knew if I went to a Clinical Licensed Therapist, I would be given a diagnosis and treatment plan and it would be sent to my insurance. NO THANKS! I didn't want a diagnosis in my files with my insurance company first of all, and second, insurance covered only a few visits at 80% after my deductible. So I would have paid full price anyway.
I don't give diagnoses, and I don't treat mental health issues, such as schizophrenia, bipolar, or other issues that require a Licensed Clinical Therapist. I may work with someone who has a diagnosis, as long as we are working on coping skills, emotional regulation, mindfulness, developing positive thought processes, and not on anything regarding treatment of a Clinical Diagnosis.
Therefore, I decided if I'm fortunate enough to maintain a small number of clients and have the ability to make things as easy for them as possible to get help with these things, like coping skills, stress, negative self-talk, boundaries, and so much more, that I would make sure to follow through on that dream of mine to provide coaching and counseling for those of use that otherwise would keep putting it off because of costs.
How did you get started in this business?
My history is as a social worker for 15 years and then as a behavior therapist. I found that there are so many people who fall between the cracks, like me, who need a little help, but really don't need a "whole therapist" to be diagnosed with a mental illess and get treatment.
Some of us just need someone who cares, who listens, and can provide guidance and teach a few important skills to cope and handle stress and sadness so we can learn how to succesfully manage obstacles and feel hopeful, successful, competent, and independent!
You're hear because you want change. I'm here because I want to help you get there!
What types of customers have you worked with?
I've worked with children, adolescents, adults, as well as families in relationships. I have worked with children with autism, where I taught skills and decreased challenging behavior. I also worked as a specialized crisis counselor for mobile crisis assessing suicidal and/or homocidal youth (I will not treat serious emotional or mental health concerns in this capacity as a life coach).
I've worked with women who felt overwhelmed, sad, or anxious where anxiety came out as irritability who wanted to be a calmer, gentler parent and improve their relationships with their children and help their children with behavior concerns.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
A mother and her adolescent son softening toward each other, realizing they love one another and they can let down their defensive behaviors.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
If you're looking for someone to help you, make sure they have the education and experience in the area you need. Sometimes a licensed therapist is needed for intense concerns. A good coach or counselor will refer you to an appropriate licensed therapist for your needs if they are beyond their scope of practice.
What questions should customers think through before talking to pros about their needs?
Think about what you need out of your therapeutic relationship. Do you need a little help from someone or do you need therapy for a significant issue with severe depression or serious family trauma? I will always suggest referral to a licensed therapist for significant concerns, and it is safer and healthier to go to a licensed therapist in those instances.
If you only need a little direction and to learn some skills to become more positive and confident, I am here for you! You can feel secure in knowing I will refer you, without hesitation, to the appropriate professional if I assess that you need more specialized care.