Therapy

The Therapeutic Approach

We will work on as much or as little as you choose to. I am an interactive systemic therapist who desires to help bring healing to the whole-person using techniques from various clinical approaches including family systems theory, cognitive behavioral, REBT, strategic, solution-focused, Gestalt, existential and positive psychology. I want to work with you in a team approach to meet your goals for treatment and will look at your issues from a perspective that examines your mental, emotional, behavioral, social and spiritual situations.

I believe that each area of a person’s life can affect them and therefore, each area should be explored, as applicable and desired. As we work on your therapy goals, I will consider your medical history and physical health, your social life, your work life, how you handle emotions and your thought processes, as well as behaviors. I also explore the spiritual side of you because ultimately, we will live what we believe. If you believe you are worthless, you will live that way. But if you truly believe you have great worth and have hope for your life, you will live that as well. And although I am a follower of Jesus by faith and practice and can offer Biblical/Christian counseling as a part of the therapeutic process, I also treat clients of all walks of life and faith. I will honor you where you are in your spiritual journey.

Ever work on a 1000 piece puzzle? When clients come into my office, they essentially bring in a completed puzzle picture that they don’t really like. We can explore all thousand pieces and see what you want to change or not, but it will really be better if you are able to come in and bring me that picture on the top of the puzzle box that lets me know what you want to see! We will focus our work on what YOU want to change or are willing/able to change.

I have been treating individuals, couples, and families in private practice for over 17 years. I am honored to be chosen and trusted by clients to help them in an array of areas of difficulty in life.

Most of my background, training and experience are focused on helping people come into wholeness in the area of relationships with other people, with themselves, with food/substances, or with God.

Although I specialize in marriage and family relationships, eating disorders, and trauma recovery, I also treat other common therapeutic issues.

Clinical Therapeutic Offerings

CHILDREN (AGES 6 AND UP)

Children (Ages 6 and up)

School issues, behavior problems, discipline, AD/HD, poor social skills, bullying, trauma, eating disorders, mood disorders.

ADOLESCENTS

Adolescents

School issues, peer/social problems, drug/alcohol abuse, acting out behaviors, abuse/trauma, depression, anxiety, self-harm issues, eating disorders, body image, self-esteem.

INDIVIDUAL ADULTS

Individual Adults

Depression, anxiety, abuse/trauma, unresolved issues, lack of boundaries, addictions, eating disorders, anger issues, work issues, low self-worth, chronic pain or other medical issues, grief and loss, job issues.

COUPLES

Couples

Premarital, marital, divorce adjustment, remarriage, blended family work, parenting, communication and conflict resolution skills, sexual intimacy issues, infidelity, grief and loss.

FAMILY

Family

Parenting/discipline issues, conflict resolution, communication, establishing family meetings, step/blended family issues, life stage adjustments, grief and losses, family trauma.

PROFESSIONALS

Professionals

Performance issues, stress reduction, conflict with co-workers, supervisors.

ATHLETES

Athletes

Performance issues, eating disorders, exercise addiction, body image issues, mental wellness, life moderation skills, stress management.

CHRISTIANS

Christians

I offer Christian professional counselling by integrating strong clinical skills with Biblical healing principles. This approach can be used in dealing with any presenting issue, including addressing spiritual struggles, and hearing and connecting with God in a more personal way. If applicable, Andrew Miller’s HeartSync healing model may be introduced. For more on HeartSync, click here. For more about The Gold Monarch Healing Center, click here.

New Clients

1. To book your first appointment, you have three options:

a) Register as a new client online here www.therapyappointment.com.

b) Call my office at 830-632-5186 and leave a voicemail.

c) Complete the contact form, adding any comments/questions you may have.

My assistant or I will contact you as soon as possible.

2. Appointments are held Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm. A 1-hour initial session is $150.

3. Print, complete and bring these forms with you to your first appointment:

a) All Therapy Clients: Read the Notice of Privacy Policy. If you want me to exchange information with someone, such as a doctor or previous therapist, print and complete the Release of Confidential Information Form. If someone else is paying for your sessions, please have them sign the Credit Card Authorization Form.

b) Adult Therapy Clients: Print and complete the Adult Therapy Packet.

c) For Minors in Therapy: Parents, if your child is 13 and up, print and have them complete the Adolescent Intake. If your child is 12 and under, print and help them complete the Child Intake. You will need to also print and complete the Parent Intake for each child.

4. If you choose to use insurance, for your mental health counseling/therapy, I am only in-network with Tricare and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Remember that in order to use insurance, the identified patient must have a mental health diagnosis whose treatment plan is considered “medically necessary”. Insurances may also restrict how much time and how many sessions you will be able to be seen or treated. I do not accept insurance for marriage/relationship counseling.

For other common Q & A, see the section below.

FAQ About Therapy

How many sessions will this take?

The length of therapy is really determined by the severity of the issues that are to be addressed. It is hard to say exactly how many but after my initial assessment, I can usually offer a bit of a time line for you. We will, of course, continue to evaluate your progress on your goals for the duration of therapy to determine an end time and discharge session.

I need marriage counseling. What if my spouse doesn’t want to come?

I would say come in for yourself for now. You could benefit from individual therapy as you address your own individual concerns as it relates to your marriage. As a systemic therapist, I also believe that what changes you personally will directly impact your spouse and how you interact with them. This can often later encourage the spouse to join in when they see positive changes you are making yourself.

Do you offer phone sessions?

I do offer phone sessions to established clients on a case by case basis. These sessions are usually for clients with minor issues and/or are at a maintenance level of therapeutic care. These sessions are not covered by insurance, so they would be billed at full cash rates.

Do you offer online sessions?

Yes! I am now able to provide online therapy services to anyone in the state of Texas via Doxy. Simply go to the www.doxy.me website and find my profile and request a session. These online sessions are secure, confidential and HIPPA compliant, unlike other methods such as Skype. A few insurance companies are covering telehealth/online therapy. If yours does not, they would be billed at full cash rates.

How is therapy/counseling different than coaching?

Therapy or counseling is focused on bringing resolution and healing to areas or relationships that are causing some problem in your daily life. Oftentimes, therapy will not only look at your present circumstances but will also look into the past to identify root issues where healing or help is needed to bring a person to wholeness in the present.

Coaching, on the other hand, focuses more on present-future situations. Coaching offers strategies so you are able to grow, change, and be empowered to accomplish the goals you want to achieve.

You can think of wellness like a numbered continuum from -100 to 0 to +100. Therapy clients are often walking in negative numbers and work to progress to zero and beyond. Coaching takes you from being around zero or above and then moves you into higher positive numbers.

What are your rates? Do you offer packages?

My therapy rates are as follows:

$150 for 1-hour initial intake session
$150 for 1-hour session
$325 for 2-hour session.

Packages (available for private pay clients only):

$725 for 5 1-hour sessions ($25 savings)

Packages are non-refundable and non-transferable, however, a credit to your account will be available for up to one year. I accept cash, check, and debit/credit cards.