Ohio: Healing is on the horizon.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your professional background?
I earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Missouri State University in 2016 and followed by a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Akron in 2020. I became a Licensed Professional Counselor in Ohio in 2020 and became a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio in 2023. I have worked in various environments including: inpatient psychiatric hospitals, private practices, substance abuse and recovery agencies, and alternative schools. I am grateful for the opportunities that have impacted the way I approach my clients and their journey in therapy. I have learned the most important aspect of therapy and the greatest indicator of success is the therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist. This is one of the reasons I offer a free 15 minute consultation phone call before scheduling and refer out clients who may be a better fit for another therapist.
What populations do you work with?
I provide mental health therapy services within the state of Ohio and Florida (telehealth only) primarily with individuals between the ages of 17 years to 40 years, couples, and groups who identify as outcasts, scapegoats, 'the one who doesn't quite fit in' and the creative mindsets. I generally work with individuals who experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, suicidal ideation (who are able to maintain safety and follow agreed upon safety plan), self-harm, school stress, life stress, and personal and professional boundaries.
What styles of therapy do you practice?
I focus on interventions from solution-focused theory, Rogers Theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. I will periodically incorporate creative interventions such as journaling, music, TV show/movie references, and meditations as it benefits the client as an individual. Active listening is a technique I use frequently as I believe most clients want to feel genuinely heard and understood, rather than provided with answers to their life circumstances.
What hours do you provide therapy?
I provide mental health therapy Monday and Tuesday from 8AM to 7PM, as well as Wednesday and Thursday from 5PM to 8PM. Appointments are not scheduled on Fridays, weekends, or holidays.
Where do sessions take place?
I complete sessions on a telehealth video via a HIPAA-complaint portal on Simple Practice. This allows clients to engage in therapy in a space that is already comfortable and familiar to them such as their living room, car, or home office. I encourage clients to keep tissues nearby along with any items that may bring a sense of peace and joy (candles, stuffed animals, non-distracting pets, or stress balls.) It is important that the environment is private in an area where others cannot hear the conversation to allow confidentiality to be upheld. Once we schedule our first session, Simple Practice will send you an individual link to begin our session along with required paperwork.
What do we talk about in therapy?
Therapy can be a time to discuss anything from your biggest hopes and dreams to how much sleep you have gotten over the last 3 nights! Therapy is a time for you to focus on your needs, your progress, and your goals. As a therapist, I am here to encourage you to work towards your goals, actively listen without distraction, and when appropriate, offer alternative perspectives or ways to think about life's ups and downs.
Here are a few topics we can address in session:
Sleep patterns
Appetite
Concentration
Thoughts of harming yourself or others
Individual emotions (Fear/Anxiety, Anger, Sadness, Joy)
Habits
Coping Strategies
Self-Care
Relationships
Grieving (person, job, pet, opportunity)
Progress made in therapy (or looking into additional options or alternatives)
Career/School
& more
When and how do we terminate or stop therapy? Can I take a break for a few months?
This answer depends on a variety of factors including why you are initially coming to therapy, what your goals are for therapy, ability to schedule on your end and mine, and how you feel throughout the process. On average, most people attend therapy on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for 6 months to 1 year before they complete their goals. Some people may do therapy for shorter or longer amounts of time. We will communicate throughout our sessions to determine your level of comfort with stopping therapy or decreasing frequency to monthly sessions or "as needed" sessions.
There may be times you are unable to schedule a session for a few weeks due to life circumstances, financial constraints, vacations out of state, or just wanting to take a pause on sessions. This is something we can discuss beforehand to create a plan for how and when you will re-engage with therapy sessions. Although I try my best to accommodate your schedule, you are not guaranteed a certain day or time slot until it is officially on the schedule.
If you do not schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks and have not communicated with me beforehand, you may be discharged from the practice. This means your file will become inactive and you may be required to fill out the Intake paperwork again if you decide to re-engage in therapy at a later time. Your files and notes will be kept according to state law at that time then destroyed after the allotted time period has passed.
If your discharge is planned, we will typically have a "termination session" which allows time to reflect on the hard work you have done in sessions. This may involve words of affirmation from the therapist, an activity to encourage reflection on the client's growth, and planning for continued success after therapy is completed.
We will work together every step of the way from Intake/first session until Termination/last session to determine what's right for where you are at in your mental health journey at this time.
What are your fees?
I offer self-pay with options for a sliding fee scale on an as-needed basis. My sessions are $100 for individuals and $150 for couples. I also accept Aetna insurance. Please visit my Headway page to learn more about using health insurance.
What is included in the free 15 minute consultation call?
In this phone call, we will discuss why you are seeking therapy, previous experiences with therapy, any questions you have for myself or my practice, and scheduling our first official appointment if we both feel comfortable moving forward. Once you request a date and time for the phone call, I will call you at the number provided by you initially and it will be a phone call unless discussed beforehand. If you schedule via my website, you will be sent Intake paperwork automatically. This paperwork is not required for the phone call as therapy will not be conducted over this call, however it will need to be completed prior to the first 50 minute session.
What is the first step to scheduling?
After reviewing my website, if I sound like I may be a good fit, please call or text me at 330-961-1724, email me at sunflowertherapyservices@proton.me, or click here to schedule a free 15 minute consultation phone call. If I am not quite what you are looking for at this time, I recommend looking at Psychology Today or Open Path to see other therapy options.