(806) 316-5131

FAQ

IMPORTANT CORONA VIRUS INFORMATION: Because of recommendations to keep our distances from each other from the CDC and the Public Health Department, I am conducting all appointments via telehealth for the time being. There are many advantages to telehealth, and we can work together to make sure that you feel comfortable with the communication and format.
Where is your office located?

My office is located here:

2920 Duniven Circle, Suite 7 Amarillo, TX 79109

There is only a small waiting room. It is best if you shoot me a text or call me when you arrive, and I’ll come to unlock the door when it is time for your appointment. I also work with many clients through telehealth, so I see clients throughout Texas.

What are your hours?

Mondays and Wednesdays – 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday – 9:00 am – 5:30 pm

Occasionally, I have weekend events or seminars on other evenings.

How long do sessions last?

Normally a session will last one hour.

Occasionally, for EMDR sessions we will work together a little longer, so I always set aside 90-minutes for these sessions, even if we don’t end up using them.

How do I make an appointment?

You can call me at (806) 316-5131!

I don’t answer the phone while I’m with clients, but I will happily get back to you as soon as I have a moment.

How much do you charge?

I charge $100 per session.

I take cash or cards. For cards, I utilize Ivy Pay, which is a HIPAA-secure platform developed specifically for therapists.

The invoice is sent by text to your phone, and you fill in the card information.

Do you take insurance?

I am working on updating my information with several panels including Medicaid Superior and Blue Cross Blue Shield; however, it might be several months before I am able to accept those.

What ages do you work with?
I typically work with people 10 through 99 (ok, I’d work with someone in the triple digits… just haven’t gotten the request, yet!).
Do you work with women? Men? Couples?
I don’t offer couples therapy and have specialized in working with women and teen girls, but I have also worked with many men in therapy as well!
Do you give homework?

I like to give homework because I find that therapy is more successful if someone is practicing the concepts we talk about in between sessions.

That said, some people do not like having homework, and I get that! I won’t give you assignments if you don’t want them.

What modalities do you use?

I use a lot of different types of therapy including EMDR, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

I would say that I use EMDR and ACT the most and find that those are the areas that my clients connect with the most.

What is your professional training and experience?

I have a bachelor’s in English and a Master’s in Counseling. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas.

I am a certified EMDR counselor through the Institute of Creative Development. My consultation Specialist, Dr. Christie Sprowls, was one of the original EMDR practitioners who worked with Francine Shapiro.

There isn’t an official certificate in ACT, but I have been through many conferences and trainings in this as well!

I am certified in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia. And although there isn’t a certificate, I have completed the training for Cognitive Behavior Therapy for ADHD.

What else do I need to know about therapy?

There isn’t a problem too big or too small to come to therapy.

As a reporter, I’ve interviewed serial killers and read court documents of every type of crime.

I will empathize with you, but it will be hard to shock me. You don’t have to worry about overwhelming me, because I have worked with clients with every type of issue and am here to be a reliable sounding board for you.

I won’t scoff at “smaller” problems either. Everything that gives us difficulty in our daily lives is worth addressing.

My goal is to help each client leap into a life they love.

Do you work with clients who are queer?

 If you do, are you secretly judging me? I work with clients of all orientations.

I will not judge you and have seen how (especially in Amarillo) it can be a challenge to find a therapist who will not insert an opinion on the issue. I’m here to be supportive and advocate for you.

Are you going to use the Bible in therapy?

I do not use the Bible in my sessions, typically.

I am well-read in many different religious texts. If it is helpful to a client, I can refer to these texts; but I don’t approach counseling from a faith-based angle.

Am I going to cry or do you expect me to cry?

Maybe! I don’t know.

Sometimes it is hard to talk about things that we’ve been through, and sometimes tears do come up. But just as often, anger or laughter comes up. I’m not scared of tears at all (and don’t worry; I have the good tissues!) but not every person has to cry for therapy to be successful.

Are we going to have to relive every memory from my whole life?

NO!!! My goal in therapy is to focus on the current symptoms you are having, and sometimes that does mean talking about the past a little bit.

And in EMDR we may touch on many memories in the past, but the goal is to help them release the reaction in the present, not to rehash them endlessly.

Do I have to lie on a couch and talk about all my dreams and stuff?
Nope! I am a normal person just like you. We can talk about things when you are ready.
How do I know that you’re the right counselor?

Give me a call and let’s connect a little bit!

Your connection with the counselor is the most crucial part of therapy (in my opinion), so I want you to be sure to have the right counselor, even if it isn’t me.

I find that I connect with a wide variety of clients and that we bond over different things each time.