FAQ

I'M NOT A DANCER; DO I HAVE TO DO DANCE THERAPY?

Contrary to how it sounds, dance and movement therapy isn't therapy for trained dancers; it is an expressive psychotherapy modality. Where traditional therapies focus on talking and verbalization, dance therapy uses creative movement to enhance communication and understanding. Dance therapy believes in the body's wisdom and that anybody with a breathing body is a dancer. That said, I am also very person-centered in my approach to therapy so we will go at your pace regarding the inclusion of this modality in our work together. There are lots of ways to incorporate this somatic work!

WHAT DO ALL THE LETTERS AFTER YOUR NAME MEAN?

I am an MA, LMHC, and R-DMT. That can absolutely look like a mouthful!
MA - this means that I am a master's level clinician with a Master of Arts degree.
LMHC - this means that I am a licensed mental health counselor in Washington State who can practice independently (without supervision, though I do utilize supervision and case consultation regularly!)
R-DMT - this means that I am considered a registered dance and movement therapist with the American Dance Therapy Association. The "registered" part acknowledges my graduate-level specialization and training in dance and movement therapy.

HOW DO I PAY FOR THERAPY?

Through my work with Salvéo Counseling, I am able to take a variety of insurances, as well as take private pay for 60, 45, and 30 minute sessions. Please see the Rates and Insurance page for more detailed payment information.

If you have more questions, reach out to Salvéo directly. Please see below for more information.

What do you mean you work with Salvéo?

When I started my practice, I felt that being an ethical therapist meant providing the care that clients deserve, and I believed that insurance often gets in the way of providing you that care. For example, to bill insurance, I am required to provide diagnoses and report certain treatment information. I do still feel that these disclosures, while legal, can violate a client's right to privacy. And that while diagnoses can be helpful, diagnosis can carry stigma, and I still believe in working through clients' experiences largely without potentially harmful labels.

However, what has changed over time is my understanding of accessibility. And while I still believe what I do about insurance, it also enhances access to necessary services, like therapy. So to that end, I have expanded my network, and I am now fully partnered with Salvéo Counseling (under Optum) for in-person as well as telehealth sessions.

HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT?

Please reach out to me to schedule a consultation so that we can determine whether we will be a good therapeutic fit. The consultation is a phone call and will last about 15-30 minutes. If we both feel like we'd like to proceed with an appointment, I will make it with you over the phone following the consultation, or we can follow up via email.

Go to the Contact page to set up your consultation!

I THINK I'M READY TO GET STARTED! WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

Great! I'm looking forward to working together. Here's a brief overview of next steps.

You schedule and complete a phone consultation. It will last about 15-30 minutes and is helpful in determining whether we are a good therapeutic fit. Fill out the form on the Contact page to do so!
Then you schedule and attend your initial sessions. We will start with 3 sessions so that I can better understand you and so that you can better assess whether you would like to continue working together. At that point, if we mutually agree to continue, we proceed with the deeper work of therapy.

You can expect to feel challenged. I am an active therapist, which means that I may redirect, shift focus, and ask you to be willing to experiment with me in our sessions together as it becomes appropriate.

You may find yourself feeling deep, complex emotions that you don't often experience. You may find that you have fun, too! Dance therapy is inherently child-like and playful and can connect us with joy, but those same characteristics can also activate some old wounds that have not healed. Any and all emotions are valid in the therapeutic space.