Treatment: Key ingredients

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a client-centered approach and your treatment experience will be unique to you. 

Here are a few essential ingredients of evidence-based therapy that you can definitely expect:

I owe you diagnostic feedback, including a rationale for any likely diagnoses and a review of the official criteria. It's important that I am transparent as your therapist to maintain trust between us. In addition, many people find it helpful to finally have language for the things they are experiencing.  

Treatment planning is a necessary, ongoing process that includes:

• Regular evaluation of symptoms
• A loose agenda for most sessions
• Assessment of progress toward specific, measurable goals

In theory, CBT is straight-forward and time limited. In reality, treatment is rarely linear, tidy, or easy. I'll pack my patience. As long as we both agree that you're moving toward greater resilience, independence, and a reduction in symptoms and distress, we'll keep going. 

No problem. Send me a message! 

I conduct all virtual treatment sessions using Simple Practice, a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform designed especially for behavioral health providers. I like it because it's easy for both of us to use. As a provider and business owner who aims to always exceed the standard of care, I also chose Simple Practice for the high-quality encryption. I have a contractual business agreement with Simple Practice providing additional guarantees that your information is safe. As my client, you will have your own secure login to the Client Portal (no additional charge), and will receive a unique link to join each video session. It is critically important that you do not provide this link to anyone else to ensure the security of our treatment sessions.

With the exception of an occasional visit from my cat (Mister Nixon), I will always be the only being that can hear your treatment sessions. I will never make videos or recordings of our conversations without your permission and a specific, agreed upon purpose for doing so (e.g. an exposure exercise for social anxiety disorder). If you are struggling to find a safe, private location during available appointment times, let's me problem solve with you.

I first started using telehealth as an Army psychologist on deployment to Afghanistan. I was hesitant at first, but unable to travel consistently to remote, sometimes dangerous locations. It was a game changer. Since then I've used a variety of video teleconference apps and platforms. I'm convinced that with the right equipment and therapist, you'll feel the same sense of connection in telebehavioral health treatment as you would "in the room." 

To ensure you make the most of the technology:

• Use a laptop or desktop computer instead of a smartphone whenever possible
• If you frequently use video conferencing for work, try to sit somewhere else, preferably somewhere more comfortable, for your treatment sessions.
• Login to the client portal 10-15 minutes before your scheduled appointment (just like you would for an in person medical appointment).
• Review the Simple Practice recommendations for getting started using telehealth.

One key limitation of telepsychology is the increased potential that your therapist will have limited knowledge of emergency resources in your community. Before we start working together, we will identify crisis treatment options near you. I will also ask you to identify an emergency contact person and provide a phone number and other contact information. As you consider what level of care is appropriate for you, keep in mind that I do not provide emergency services as an element of my practice.