Frequently Asked Questions

No. Most clients come to me because things feel overwhelming, confusing, or hard to articulate. You don't need a perfect story or diagnosis. You just need a sense that something isn't working and a willingness to explore that together.

We go slowly. I'll ask what brings you in, what your life has been like recently, and what you're hoping to understand or change. You don't have to tell your whole story. You don't have to dive into trauma right away. The first session is about safety, pacing, and getting a sense of each other.

Schedule a free 20-minute consultation. You'll get a felt sense of the connection quickly. If it doesn't feel right, I can provide referrals to trusted colleagues.

That's completely normal. Many people reach out feeling exactly that way. You can literally say "I'm not sure where to start" or "I'm struggling with ___" and we'll figure it out together from there.

My work integrates existential–phenomenological therapy, EMDR, Brainspotting, Flash Technique, trauma-informed relational work, somatic awareness, and KAP preparation/integration. Clients often describe sessions as grounding, direct but gentle, emotionally safe, and deeply clarifying.

Traditional talk therapy focuses on insight and understanding. This work integrates that with body-based processing through EMDR, Brainspotting, and somatic awareness. You're not just talking about trauma—you're processing how it lives in your nervous system.

Yes. EMDR, Brainspotting, and KAP all have strong research support for trauma treatment. The existential-phenomenological framework provides the philosophical grounding that integrates these methods into coherent, meaningful work.

Weekly sessions are most common, especially at the beginning. As you stabilize and feel more grounded, we may shift to biweekly or integrate periodic intensives. I'll help you determine what structure best supports your goals and nervous system capacity.

There's no universal timeline—it depends on what you're working on and what feels right for your nervous system. Some patterns:

• Younger clients (20s–early 30s) sometimes move through trauma processing more quickly because patterns haven't had decades to solidify. Others need longer to build enough life experience to make sense of their past.
• Clients in their 40s and beyond often have more context and self-awareness, but may be unwinding patterns that have been running for 20+ years.
• What matters more than age: your readiness, your support system, the complexity of your trauma, and what you're hoping to build.
• Some people work with me for a few months during a crisis or transition.
• Others stay for a year or more as they move through trauma, identity, and relationship work.
• Some do intensives and then drop to monthly maintenance.

We'll move at a pace that feels safe and sustainable for you.

Very rarely—and only when it supports your process. Most of the work happens in session through presence, emotional attunement, processing, and understanding patterns in real time.

Yes. Many of my clients are men who feel shut down, don't know how to access their emotions, fear being judged, are successful at work but struggling at home, or want to be better partners, fathers, or humans. You don't need to know how to express feelings to begin therapy. We build that capacity together.

Yes—and not as an add-on. I provide deeply affirming therapy for:

• Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer adults
• Trans and gender-expansive adults
• Non-traditional relationships
• Identity exploration
• Minority stress
• Shame and belonging
• Trauma connected to family, culture, or religion

Your identity is respected and understood without assumptions.

No. Some of the deepest, most transformative work I do is with people in their 20s and early 30s. If you're dealing with trauma, complex family dynamics, relationship patterns you don't want to repeat, or identity questions that feel overwhelming—you don't need to wait until you're older to address them. In fact, many younger clients tell me they wish they'd started this work sooner. Age doesn't determine readiness for depth work. Willingness does. The modalities I use (EMDR, Brainspotting, existential therapy) work just as powerfully for someone at 25 as they do at 45. The difference is that younger clients often have fewer years of calcified patterns to work through—which can actually make the work move faster.

Yes—in collaboration with licensed medical prescribers through Journey Clinical. You meet with a prescriber for medical evaluation. If approved, they manage dosing and give you a prescription. I provide preparation, support during your dosing session, and integration therapy. I do not prescribe or dispense ketamine. KAP is especially helpful for trauma, depression, numbness, or emotional shutdown when done safely and relationally.

I provide integration therapy for adults who've had experiences with psilocybin, MDMA, ayahuasca, or other psychedelics—whether legal, clinical, or self-guided. This work focuses on processing trauma that surfaced and translating insights into lasting change. Learn more about psychedelic integration →

Yes. Intensives are half-day (3 hours, $550) or full-day (5–6 hours, $1,100) sessions for clients who want deeper, more focused therapeutic work. They're ideal for people who feel stuck in weekly therapy, lose momentum between sessions, or need more concentrated trauma processing. Intensives can include EMDR, Brainspotting, Flash Technique, somatic work, and existential–phenomenological exploration. We discuss readiness and pacing before scheduling. Learn more about Trauma Intensives →

This is extremely common for trauma survivors. We work slowly and collaboratively to stay within your nervous system's capacity. Flash Technique, Brainspotting, relational pacing, and grounding help us work without flooding or retraumatization. You will not be pushed beyond what feels safe.

Many of my clients have. We will move at your pace, build safety together, and check in regularly to make sure the work feels attuned and collaborative. Your past experience is not a barrier—it's part of the context.

You're not. I've sat with people navigating rage blackouts, compulsive sexual behavior, suicidal ideation, dissociation, complex religious trauma, combat PTSD, and shame so deep they can't look people in the eye. Nothing you bring will shock me or make me think less of you. The things you're most afraid to say out loud are often exactly where the healing needs to happen.

Yes—I am in network with Premera, LifeWise, Anthem, and most Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plans, as well as Kaiser Permanente PPO (via First Choice Health Network) and First Choice Health. If I am not in network with your plan, I provide superbills for reimbursement. I also work with Thrizer to simplify out-of-network billing — so you may only need to pay your estimated copay at the time of service instead of the full fee.

Individual sessions are $175. Trauma intensives are $550 (half-day) or $1,100 (full-day). KAP sessions range from $175–500 depending on the type. Many clients with in-network insurance pay only a $20–50 copay. See complete pricing →

Yes. I see clients in-person at my Capitol Hill office in Seattle and via telehealth throughout Washington State.

No. At this time, I work with individual adults only. I can offer referrals if needed.

No. My practice is focused on adult clients (18+).

We slow down. I'll ask what brought you here and what you're hoping for, but there's no pressure to have a polished answer. You don't need to arrive with your story organized or your pain explained. Most people leave the first session surprised by how much space there was—and how little they were pushed. We're building something together. That takes time to find its shape.

Just reach out. A brief consultation is the first step.