Two office options in great locations.

I have a country and a city office. Both the urban and the county office are stylishly appointed and have ample, easy parking.

I also have the ability to see patients through a secure web portal (telepsychology), which offers even more ease and flexibility. Patients can continue services once they move, with a separated spouse, or while on business away or overseas.

Scheduling

How soon can I schedule an appointment?
I understand that once you have decided to seek help, the need can seem urgent. Therefore, I try to schedule new patients within the same week, and often on the same day. I always keep some appointments open for new patients.
How do I schedule an appointment?
The easiest way to schedule an appointment is to request an appointment through my website. After I receive this, I’ll email you right back. If you would feel better calling me – please feel free to do that instead at 540-680-8150. I don’t answer my phone when I am with clients, but will quickly call you back.
Is your office handicapped accessible?
My city office is in a historic building with stairs. My county office is accessible. In addition, I do provide phone sessions for those that are unable to access to my office(s) or prefer to avoid traffic and parking.

Therapy provides: Awareness, insight into entrenched patterns & behaviors, and the chance to discover & process core emotions.

Are you currently accepting new clients?
Yes, I am always taking on new clients.
Why do you have room for new clients when other people have months-long waiting lists?
While some of my clients benefit from long-term supportive relationships, I often help clients see significant improvements in much shorter times — an average of just 10-12 sessions. Therefore, I have more frequent slots opening up. I also reserve space for new patients, so help is available when it is needed.
How do I pay for therapy?
Payment is required at the beginning of each session. Payments can be made via check, cash or credit card at the time of service.
How long is a session?
Sessions last approximately 50 minutes. Extended or abbreviated sessions are utilized for some treatments.
How soon do you return phone calls?
Out of respect for my patients, I typically do not answer phone calls during a session. However, I do monitor my phone each day until approximately midnight and try to return phone calls within a few hours.
Do you do phone or online sessions?
I understand that some prospective clients do not live close enough to my office to visit in person or prefer phone or online sessions to accommodate their hectic schedules. For those clients, I am happy to do phone or online sessions.
What is your cancellation policy?
I request at least 48 hours notice if you must cancel your appointment. Payment will be due for appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice. Prepaid therapy sessions are also available and allow for at least one no-show/reschedule with no additional fee.
Can I bring my baby/very young child with me to the appointment?
Obviously, if you are seeking an appointment for your child – by all means, bring your child along! However, if you are seeking an adult or couples session and would like to bring your child – please note that I do not have anyone on the premises to do babysitting during your appointment and babies/young children can be distracting. However, some clients have success bringing young children to Walk-n-Talk sessions in strollers.
What is the cost for therapy?
We charge $299 per standard session and $449 for an intake session. We also offer 60 minute sessions for $399 and 90 minute sessions for $599. A limited number of slots for sliding scale (reduced) rates are available.
Do you take insurance?
I am currently out-of-network with most insurance plans. I can help you with the process or submit the claims for you.

Have an expert in your corner.

Support Groups for The Worplace

When you struggle at work, many factors can interfere with success. Often times, environmental factors (e.g., boss, schedule, work expectations) can exacerbate problems. In contrast, many modifications, often times relatively simple changes, can greatly improve outcomes.

Having worked as a psychologist in high pressure settings, I understand firsthand the growing pressures on employees. Workplaces are a complex space with many competing demands, and I am an expert in navigating the system. I work with the system and for your success. I succeed by helping you create allies instead of adversaries.

Everyone benefits when individuals are more successful, and I help workplaces see how to achieve this.

Knowing what strategies would best benefit you or your workplace often begins with an assessment and expert guidance and support.

Monthly Young Professionals Support Group

A complimentary support group for young professionals. We meet at 8:00 a.m. on the 3rd Tuesday at Spruce Mind Pyschology. While the group chats are free, registration is required. Use the contact form on the main site to register for the next group.

Psychology in the Community

• Happier Hour A Happy Hour — when you are in a pickle. Featuring non or low alcoholic beverage choices and a speaker on a relevant topic such as mindfulness or burnout
• Take Action: Advocacy Support: Let others know what you need. Share information/stand up for your rights and create environments for success.
• Feel Better: A supportive, functional environment can make all the difference.Get a consultation to make your community or workplace more suited for wellbeing.

Jumpstart your well-being by going beyond therapy.

Walk & Talk Therapy

Just like it sounds. You do therapy while walking, a two for one - mental and physical exercise. Sometimes when we feel stuck, physical momemtum can actually accelarate our cognitive and emotional progress as well. I started offering Walk & Talk therapy by accident, when I met to talk with clients who lacked the time or proximity to meet in traditional offices. Seeing the effectiveness of the approach firsthand, I was pleased to discover a large body of supporting research. Just being outside can help ammeliorate the symptoms of disorders ranging from depression to ADHD. Exercise offers additional benefits, and when coupled with the cathartic and clarifying aspects of talk therapy, the results can be synergistic.
Where does it occur?
At local parks and trails near my office.
How does it happen?
The initial intake occurs in office. Most clients who do Walk & Talk also alternate with periodic office visits.
Is it physically strenuous?
No, the pace is comfortable to you. I do, on occassion, offer longer individual and group sessions with more challenging hikes to scenic vistas.
What about privacy?
Usually, no one is really paying attention to what we are saying, and no one knows we are in a session - we could be just exercising. Secondly, you are in control. If you ever want to stop or pause talking about something - we can. Or, we can wait and discuss it back at the office.
What is the fee?
The same as a regular session.
Other benefits?
Some parents of young children find they can bring them along in a stroller.

Nutrition Insights

Cognitive functions are primarily biochemical. So, it is not surprising that our thoughts and feelings are impacted by the nutrients (or lack thereof) in our diet. I can provide evidence-based information on the associations between dietary choices and pychological health. In addition, I can facilitate consultation with partners I collaborate with in the nutrition field.
Fee?
Nutritional insights can be incorporated into regular sessions for no addtional charge.
Extended Evaluations?
Comprehensive reports and recommendations are available idependent of therapy services.

Gain self-knowledge you can apply to many settings.

The Evaluation

I enjoy helping people gain insight and get to the root of their problems. A psychological evaluation assesses the social-emotional and/or behavioral functioning of an individual. A key component in the diagnosis of developmental, psychological, or learning disorders, this testing may also lend a deeper understanding of vocational strengths and weaknesses. Assessment can also guide treatment planning or help reevaluate situations where current approaches are not working. Lastly, these evaluations may provide useful insights in forensic settings.

Psychological testing is nearly always performed by a licensed psychologist. Psychologists are the only profession that is expertly trained to perform and interpret psychological tests.

The Process

Physicians run “tests” to diagnose illnesses or diseases. Sometimes one test can point to the source of a problem. However, most cases aren’t so clear-cut, and a battery of tests and medical procedures can be required to adequately diagnose a complex condition.

Likewise, clinical psychologists also use a variety of instruments, called psychological tests, to assist in diagnosing mental illness. Psychologists develop and apply effective therapeutic treatment plans and interventions based on these assessments.

Here are some examples of assessment types:

Cognitive Testing:
Assess overall intellectual ability, as well as strengths and weaknesses in verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed.
Memory Testing:
Visual and auditory memory, short and long-term memory tasks, crystalized vs. fluid memory, and/or delayed recall tasks and cued recall procedures.
Achievement Testing:
May be in the areas of word reading, phonics, reading comprehension, written language, math reasoning and calculations, and academic fluency. Measures of oral language may also be obtained.
Attention and Executive Functioning Testing:
To assess attentional processes, along with any difficulties pertaining to initiation, sustained effort, emotional modulation, ability to monitor and self-correct, working memory, organization and planning.
Conduct and Behavioral Risk Assessment:
To assess behavior problems, difficulty with self-regulation, and risk of harm to self or others.
Diagnostic Interview and Developmental History:
To obtain information about the examinee outside of the testing situation, and to obtain a comprehensive history in order to make a more reliable diagnosis.
Social Emotional Assessment (Projective Testing):
To obtain information of the individual pertaining to psychiatric diagnosis, interpersonal relationships, self-concept, etc..

I’m an expert on helping people move past traumatic life experiences.

Psychological trauma can take many forms. Trauma often results after an accident, loss or illness of a loved one, violation (sexual or criminal), affair/divorce, combat, natural disaster, or job loss. The experience of trauma is subjective and sometimes even minor events can have a traumatic effect. I provide extensive trauma assessment to understand how negative life experiences can affect you.

Sometimes the traumatic stress reaction occurs instantly, and other times it can resurface years later. Whatever the original cause or current manifestation, psychological treatment can help. While trauma symptoms are among the most debilitating, they are also very treatable. In fact, if you have sought treatment before, but have not seen results, it could be because your practitioner was not using evidenced-based trauma approaches. We now know that treating trauma goes beyond talk therapy, so make sure you are getting the latest treatment.

I have extended training in trauma therapy. I trained in person with the founder of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Anthony Mannarino, and completed and received continuing guidance from the Trauma Center at Yale University. I have worked with many traumatized populations, such as African war refugees, children who have been removed from the home due to abuse/neglect, and people dealing with traumatic changes in their families. Evidenced-based trauma therapy can be completed in as little as 10 sessions, with 12-16 sessions being the norm. In other words, in a few months, you could be feeling significantly better.