Frequently Asked Questions
What do the letters after your name mean?
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LCSW stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. This means that in addition to receiving a master’s in social work, I completed 2000 hours of supervised clinical work to be able to work independently. “Clinical” work means I provide therapeutic services directly to clients.
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LCDC stands for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, which means I received extra training and certification in problematic substance use and treatment to ensure I can support people dealing with alcohol or other drug problems in the way they specifically need.
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PSS stands for Peer Support Supervisor. This means that I have received training and certification in supervising other peer support specialists. By blending my personal experience serving as a peer specialist with my clinical training, I am able to provide a uniquely balanced perspective to other peers.
Is online therapy as good as in-person therapy?
The honest answer is online therapy will be more comfortable for some people, totally unworkable for some people, and comparable to same-site therapy for others. These days, technologies like text, Facetime, and email have become a normal part of maintaining relationships. Some people experience relationships via technology with the same level of connection or “realness” as in-person interactions and some people don’t. As with any therapeutic relationship, it may be helpful to have a few sessions to see how we connect over a virtual platform.
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Do I need to be very tech-savvy to do telehealth sessions?
I do not believe you have to be particularly tech-savvy, but you will need to be able to utilize a webcam and microphone. I have chosen to use SimplePractice for my virtual practice, where clients are able to access a "patient portal."
What are some helpful tips for telehealth therapy?
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Make sure your internet is working well. ​
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Minimize the "self view" if it appears.
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Exit all other programs before the session.
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Consider wearing headphones and finding comfortable seating for the session.
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Mute your cell phone and other text notifications that may come through on your computer.
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Verify that antivirus program and system software updates aren’t scheduled to run during the session.