FAQs

How do I pick the right therapist?

The relationship with any health care practitioner needs to be one of partnership, but it is essential with a therapist.

So, let your head pick someone with the right kind of training and experience and then let your heart tell you if you want to work with the person.  A healthy therapist will be very happy to refer you to someone else if you do not resonate with their style.

Meet Tina

 

What is the difference between Pastoral Psychotherapy and religious counseling?

Some of my clients are religious, others have nothing to do with an organized religion, but are people that are interested in a life of meaning and purpose. I do not represent a religion, but I am here to help you with your psycho-spiritual life, which may or may not include a religion.

View pastoral counseling information.

How do I find more information about pastoral counseling?
What do you mean by Spiritual Direction?

A guide or a coach that sits with you and helps you see how God is moving in your life, while giving suggestions on ways to strengthen your spiritual life.
**Spiritual Direction**

Do I have to talk about my Spirituality?

No, it is up to you what you choose to discuss in your sessions.

What do you need to know about me?

The following forms are required to be completed prior to your first session: Consent Form and Intake Form.

Please view the forms here.

What is EMDR?

EMDR is a type of therapy that helps to resolve the big hurts or accumulated hurts of life, using the normal way that your brain processes your life experiences each night as you sleep.

Read Trauma Resolution information.

Can I pay for my sessions with a credit card?

Yes.  There is an additional $6 charge for Credit Cards.  Or, I can bill  you and you can pay through PayPal, also $6 charge.

What insurance do you take?

 

I  do not take insurance. However,  I provide receipts that you can submit on your own.  Contact your insurance company and ask:

Does my policy offer out-of- network benefits for mental health services.”  If the answer is “yes”, then ask what are the rules?  Will you need a treatment plan before you start or at anytime during treatment?

 

What if I need therapy and I don’t have money?

The first consideration is what is your healing worth? Think of therapy, EMDR, spiritual direction or herbal coaching as an investment in yourself. It is hard to put a price tag on the benefit of having greater peace and satisfaction in your life. The investment in “self” pays dividends over a lifetime.

My clients have paid for services with their Flexible Spending Accounts. Many health insurance plans allow you to go out of network, plan for it next year. Upgrade to an open access policy.

Having said all of that, some people cannot afford my services at this time and I am happy to refer you to other counselors who may have more flexibility in financing arrangements.

What are your hours of operation?

By appointment only, so call or email me and we can arrange a time.

What is the difference between Counseling and Coaching?

The answer you will most often hear is that counseling and psychotherapy is about healing the past and working with any serious mental health diagnosis. Coaching is more future oriented helping to guide the client to a fuller life and discover what is standing in the way. Coaching is between equals and counseling is more about seeing an “expert”.

I find these distinctions useful to a point, however, as with life, nothing is that black and white! My training as a pastoral counselor was very similar to my training as an Herbalist and Coach – we are all whole, holy, and moving towards greater healing. I tend to counsel like a coach, believing that the client is the authority of their own life, already filled with grace, potential, and strengths. My job is to help you see that too and for us to discover what stands in the way of you living that reality.