Frequently asked questions

What kind of therapy do you offer?

My passion is utilizing the powerful benefits of EMDR with clients who are ready to live without anxiety, depression, dissociation, phobias, addiction, and post-traumatic stress. As a client in my private practice, you will receive your own, client-centered therapeutic process.

My approach is relational, and integrates what we know about neurobiology, ego states, and attachment in order to alleviate anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms. I am an EMDRIA-Certified therapist with advanced training in EMDR, Attachment Trauma, and Performance Enhancement. I also offer clients expertise in how people learn and change from my 20 years of training, research, and practice in settings from Community Mental Health, the Mayo Clinic and forensic settings. I believe in clinical excellence, always.

We will choose a mix of techniques and frameworks that are most beneficial for you.

Please note that I only offer EMDR for clients physically in the state of Minnesota. If you do not live in Minnesota, we can arrange for you to fly here for EMDR treatment

Can EMDR help me?

It’s highly likely. EMDR can be effectively utilized for:

• Resourcing: We will work to strengthen internal resources while soothing parts of you that feel limited. EMDR uses images, emotions, body sensations, and positive cognitions to increase feelings of calm, safety, and confidence.

• Resolving relationship difficulties: Attachment-focused EMDR works to repair unmet development needs (often called attachment wounding) when we have experienced an absence of care/neglect or abuse.

• Trauma recovery: While I often utilize EMDR for clients with big “T” trauma (e.g. a major car accident, assault), I also support clients with small “t” traumas (e.g. chronic or ongoing stressful conditions, such as interpersonal conflict, difficult parents, financial stress). One of the most overlooked aspects of small ‘t’ traumas is their accumulated effect. Multiple, compounded small ‘t’ traumas may lead to distress in the nervous system and trouble with emotional functioning.

• Medical Trauma: Patients, caregivers and providers are all impacted by the difficult experience medical treatment can be. The patient's body experiences physical trauma, the patient's caregiver may experience horror and helplessness as they try to support their loved one; the provider faces the limitations of medicine and skillfulness despite their best efforts and fervent hopes. This can be traumatic for each member, each role in the team. All deserve support.

• Performance enhancement Difficult experiences aren't just impactful on anxiety or clinical trauma response. They can impact a person's ability to respond quickly and effectively in high pressure situations. This can be sports, medical or career performance. Often the factors compelling high performers towards their achievements include a darker fear or unresolved memories of shame and embarrassment. Others see a confident and capable person who can be a little driven and intense. Internally, no level of achievement brings the success and satisfaction they are seeking. Or, one mistake in a clutch moment causes hesitation in future situations.

EMDR engages adaptive information processing which helps the brain evolve from limiting beliefs. EMDR may avoid some of the long and difficult abreactive work often involved in the treatment of anxiety, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress symptoms (such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks), dissociative disorders, depression, phobias, identity crisis, and other adverse experiences.

Research in neuroplasticity demonstrates that our brain has the ability to change, create new neural pathways, and produce new neurons. Because the brain has this ability to change, we have the ability to change our way of thinking and improve mood. Neural pathways in the brain are strengthened with repetition. One way to describe this process is “neurons that fire together, wire together.” Constant repetition of an experience leads to changes within the brain’s structure and how the neurons process that experience. EMDR uses our brains’ neuroplasticity to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, which allows the brain to compensate for injury and adjust to new situations. For more information on the benefits of EMDR, please visit my resource page.

Where and when will we work together?

I support EMDR clients who are physically in Minnesota in-person and online in two ways:

• Personalized treatment programs for treatment of mental health (Intensives) including anxiety, depression adjustment, trauma and medical trauma

• Personalized treatment programs to address blocks and yips in achieving highest potential in performance (work, sports, or artistic)

How often will we meet for sessions?

Treatment programs are customized for everyone's individual needs. For those on the intensive therapy plan, it can range from half-day to multi-day sessions. I no longer accept new clients for weekly one hour sessions, as I don't find that model to be best suited for the results my clients are interested in.

What is your fee?

Personalized EMDR & HeartMath treatment (called intensives) are half-day to multi-day programs that include a customized client workbook specific to your goals. Fees are based on your needs and program design, and are communicated ahead of time in accordance with the No Surprises Act. Typically intensive therapy is $275 /hour.

Half Day Intensive Package

3 Half-Day Weekday Intensive Package

3 Half-Day Weekend Intensive Package

Can I use my insurance to pay for therapy?

Yes. Many insurance companies reimburse a portion of the cost of psychotherapy. For insurance purposes, I am considered an out-of-network provider and will provide a monthly invoice for you to submit for reimbursement. It's best to determine the exact details of your policy ahead of time, including what benefits are available regarding out-of-network providers. Please know that I am making the choice to offer EMDR Intensive programs as I break free from the unhelpful restrictions of Insurance coverage. For example, as of January 2023, most insurance stopped covering more than 75 minutes of therapy per session. Most insurance will not cover more than one session in a day. Most insurance requires a lot of hours of paperwork on the part of providers which takes them away from the client care they entered the field to do.

Are we a good fit?

Let's find out. It's important that you feel safe with your therapist. Therapy is your space to do your work. The clients in my practice have this experience with me. If we feel we are not a good fit after our initial session, I am happy to share additional referrals of trusted colleagues.

What is your commitment to your clients?

An effective therapist is informed, available, and attuned. I stay updated on evidence-based psychotherapy research, continuously pursue advanced training, and receive ongoing consultation with international EMDR experts. I offer a limited number of spots in my practice to ensure that each client gets the attention, care, and responsiveness they deserve.

Do you offer sliding scale rates?

Yes. I offer a 12-hour, sliding scale program for a limited number of clients who wish to work with me on targeted treatment goals and are not able to pay my full fee.

What if I want weekly sessions or ongoing supportive therapy?

While supportive therapy is appropriate for many clients and therapists, my focus is on working with clients who seek change and are motivated to do intensive focused work to achieve their goals. If you are in Rochester or anywhere in Minnesota and seeking ongoing supportive therapy, I'm happy to provide a list of providers in the area whom you can contact for this type of service.