frequently asked questions

When I began practicing privately, my office was located in the River Oaks area.

Also, because I’m a huge fan of trees and nature, as you can see when you come in my office, I kept the name.

Rates:

Therapy:  $180 per 45-minute session, $360 per 90-minute session

Insurance:

Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan. Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions:

• Do I have mental health insurance benefits out of network?

• What is my deductible and has it been met?

• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?

• Is approval required from my primary care physician?

As of January 1, 2022, all sessions are billed at the aforementioned rates. Our team can provide you the necessary support to file your claims.

Sliding Fee Scale: We have a sliding fee scale available in certain circumstances.

Payments:

Cash, Check, Venmo, Apple Pay, PayPal and all major credit cards are accepted for payment.

Cancellation Policy: If you do not show up for your scheduled therapy appointment, and you have not notified us at least 24 hours in advance, you may be required to pay the full cost of the session.

Schedule Online: Request a therapy appointment online here.

Contact: Questions? Please contact me for further information with insurance. Their rates are based on your company’s plan. 

You can schedule on my website here or leave a confidential message on my office phone anytime: (713) 785-1500. I will return your call as soon as possible. usually within 24 hours.

Therapy sessions are usually about 45 minutes long, but can vary depending on your needs.

Sessions are by appointment only and are scheduled weekly, twice weekly, every other week, or monthly.

The first visit is an opportunity for us to meet and get to know each other.

In the first session, I will work to develop an understanding of both the concerns and hopes that bring you to therapy and to get an initial sense of whether I can be helpful to you. It is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of how I see therapy and to see if you feel comfortable with me, and the way I work. Since the process and outcome of therapy are so connected to the therapy relationship, it is important that the decision to work together is mutual.

Confidentiality is the bedrock of psychotherapy; it protects your privacy to share freely and openly in our sessions together. Your sessions and all information you disclose are confidential. Except for the instances stated below, which are required by law, I will not share information or respond to inquiries of any kind from any source without your written consent:

• I am required to report any suspicion of child or elder abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities.

• In some instances the courts may subpoena my records or testimony. In rare instances, I am forced to honor these subpoenas.

These stipulations apply to all mental health practitioners in the state of Texas.

Therapy addresses the personal issues, relationship difficulties, and the life challenges that everyone faces at times.

It provides a safe and supportive space in which to initiate change in your life. Some of the benefits of therapy my clients have mentioned include: increased feelings of well-being, improved relationships, higher self-esteem, enhanced physical health through reduction of stress, and greater clarity about their purpose and direction in life.

This is a completely reasonable question to ask, and it is one of the hardest to answer.

The simplest answer is that it ends when you feel that you have completed the work you came to therapy to do.

This decision is always ultimately in your hands. Some people benefit from a single session, and others prefer to come in for weeks.

Provided that we have worked well together and have a strong and trusting relationship, it is ideal (and not uncommon) for us to arrive at that question at about the same time. It is then a decision that we explore together with the understanding that you can come back at any time.

Each person’s therapy is inherently unique and personal; it moves at its own pace.

I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Houston – Clear Lake, and a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Prior to becoming a therapist, I was a classically-trained singer, who entered the University of Texas on a music scholarship. I also worked as a magazine editor and was a marketing director for a large bank before I became a therapist. I have been in private practice for over 22 years and have served as a past president of the Houston Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

I have worked with thousands of people to help them make the changes they want to make through therapy.

Currently, I practice full-time with adolescents, individuals, couples, elders, work teams, and periodic offerings of group therapy.