Freqently Asked Questions
How long are individual therapy sessions?
55 Minutes
Do you take insurance?
The short answer is no. If you want to know why, check out my Rates & Billing page. TL;DR: I worked with insurance companies for a long time, but I stopped seeing benefits for therapists and clients after health insurance companies made changes that put restrictions on client sessions and diagnostic requirements.
You may still be able to use your insurance if you have out-of-network benefits and/or want to use your FSA/HSA (tax-advantaged accounts used to pay for medical services and products).
What is the difference between parenting stress and parenting burnout?
This is such a good question. The things I look for between the two are: patterns, intensity, and your ability to cope.
Burnout: Chronic, persistent, high intensity, draining, requires lifestyle changes and boundary setting
Looks like: being on "autopilot," zoning out, yelling, shutting down, feeling "touched out," reactive to your family, feeling like a failure, resentment
Stress: Short-term, overwhelming but manageable, usually improves with rest or when stressful situation ends
Looks like: anxiety (short-term), overwhelm, irritability, insomnia, body tension
How long will I be in therapy?
There is no one-answer I can give you here. I've had clients who've been in therapy for 6 months and clients who have been in therapy for 6 years. It depends on what you want to work on in therapy (your goals) and how long you continue to feel a benefit from regular therapy.
I have many clients who transition to less frequent sessions (e.g., bi-weekly) as they progress in therapy. We'll work together to find the cadence that works best for you and, along the way, assess what you need and when feels like the right time for you to graduate.
I don't "kick" people out of therapy; that is a choice you get to make, and we can discuss when you have questions along the way. This is part of why I don't work with insurance companies, so you get to have agency over your therapy.
Do you offer in-person and online therapy in St. Louis, Missouri?
Yes. I offer both in-person therapy sessions in the St. Louis area at my office located in Richmond Heights (near Clayton, Kirkwood, Ladue, Maplewood, Brentwood, Webster Groves, and the Central West End). I also provide virtual therapy (telehealth) for clients across the state of Missouri and Illinois.
What does therapy for adult children of dysfunctional families look like?
Our goal in therapy isn't to just blame your parents for everything; it’s about understanding how your upbringing shaped your current relationship patterns, emotional responses, and stress. Together, we will look at breaking generational cycles, changing the role you play in your family, challenging people pleasing, not feeling guilty for setting boundaries, and learning how to have healthy relationships, where you feel your needs matter.
How do I know if I’m experiencing intergenerational trauma?
Intergenerational trauma shows up in your past experiences, but also primarily it can be seen in your relationship habits. Meaning not just in what you remember from childhood, but how you behave in your adult relationships.
You might be navigating intergenerational trauma if you experience:
A Caretaking Role in Your Relationships: You feel responsible for regulating the emotions of the adults around you, often at the expense of your own needs.
Hyper-Independence: You struggle to ask for help because, growing up, relying on others felt unsafe, inaccessible or unhelpful.
Persistent Guilt: You feel an intense wave of guilt whenever you attempt to say "no," set a boundary, or prioritize your own well-being over family expectations.
High-Expectation Pressure: You feel very fearful of disappointing your family or falling short of their standards, often expecting perfection from yourself.
In therapy, I support adult children from high-expectation or dysfunctional families untangle their true identity from the roles they were expected to play growing up.