More Information

How Often Do I Have to Come In?

I do 75-minute sessions and require you to attend weekly, especially at the beginning of treatment. I will give you tools to use on your own between sessions. Each session I give you more to integrate into your life. I have found that most people find it challenging to disrupt their old patterns and institute new ones so coming in irregularly has not worked. I have found people who attend irregularly or even every other work have not met their treatment goals. Real change requires focus and consistency. Once you are winding treatment down, we can look at a less frequent schedule.

If we are doing EMDR you must come to session the week after an EMDR session, especially in the early phases. Since you continue to process in between sessions old memories, feelings or thoughts can arise which may require targeting the next week. In some cases, people have reported becoming overwhelmed so attendance the week after a session is mandatory to make sure we can settle things down.

How long does therapy take?

There are many factors which affect length of treatment. What resources you already have in your life and how your nervous system responds to treatment makes a difference. If you have had an extensive history of emotional abandonment and/or neglect or abuse therapy can take longer. How consistent you are with practicing the resourcing activities I prescribe makes a difference. How focused you are in treatment makes a difference. How consistent you are in attending sessions makes a difference. If you have financial limitations, it may be best to set realistic goals for a limited number of sessions and return later to work on the next goal. How can you speed up treatment?

1. Attend sessions weekly. 2. Practice daily the activities I prescribe. 3. Make time for yourself to integrate your new changes - make yourself a priority. 4. Make time to notice changes and make brief notes to share with me at your next session. 5. Stay focused on your treatment goals.

Confidentiality

Washington State and Federal Laws are very protective of patients’ rights. All of what you share in session is kept confidential with some exceptions. I am required to report child abuse/neglect, elder or those with developmental disabilities abuse or neglect, or if you commit or contemplate committing a crime (past or present). If I receive a subpoena for your records, I can protest them being released but ultimately if a judge orders me to release them I have to. You may authorize me, in writing, to release or share information to anyone, ie: a family member who will help your treatment, another health care professional to coordinate treatment.

Communicating with Me

I do all communication with clients via telephone. I can be reached at 425-747-5774 (landline). I do get my voicemail regularly.

I don't use email with clients because it is not secure, and my schedule is such that I am unable to get to email on any consistent basis.

I return messages as soon as I am able during my regular business hours, or by the next business day. Messages left outside of business hours are returned on the next business day. If you are a client of mine and are having a clinical emergency and do not hear back from me in the time you require you can call the Crisis Clinic at: 206-461-3222 for assistance. Please Note: There is a charge (based on my usual rate) for clinical phone work. There is no charge for other business-related conversations, ie: changing appointments.

Any cancellation or rescheduling of appointments must be done via telephone. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment leave me a message. Please note: 48-hour notice is required or you will be charged for the appointment time.