FAQ'S
Starting therapy often comes with questions, and it’s important to feel informed and comfortable. If anything isn’t answered here, I’m happy to connect and help.
Do you offer free consultation?
Yes. I offer a 15-minute free consultation to all potential clients so we can determine whether working together is a good fit. If it does not feel like the right match, I’m happy to provide recommendations.
What insurance do you accept?
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Blue Cross Blue Shield (Regence) of Utah
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Cigna
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Aetna
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United Healthcare (Optum)
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Bishop Pay
Insurance reimbursement outside some networks (via the superbill process) is also possible.
What ages do you work with?
I work with verbal children as young as age 3, adolescents, and adults. I do not specialize in geriatric therapy, or end-of-life counseling. I do not conduct child-custody evaluations.
Do you speak other languages?
I speak English only, though I have experience working with interpreters when necessary.
Do you provide documentation for schools or court?
Yes. With a signed information release, I can provide:
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Advocacy letters
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Proof-of-treatment letters
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Diagnostic declarations
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Letters of recommendation
I cannot provide documentation related to therapy animals or housing permissions for pets.
Do you perform assessments?
Yes. During intake and case formulation I perform a psychological assessment to determine diagnosis and treatment planning. This assessment allows industry standard billing codes to be applied for billing purposes. More detailed psychiatric testing may be performed when/if necessary, though full psychiatric evaluations are typically referred to a psychologist.
Do you have a waitlist?
Availability varies, but I can often fit urgent sessions into the schedule within the week. Waitlists rarely extend longer than three weeks.
Do you offer telehealth?
Yes, both in-person sessions and HIPAA-compliant telehealth are availible.
Telehealth is generally less ideal for younger children, though I have developed methods that help maintain therapeutic engagement when it is necessary.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is an intake appointment where we review paperwork and discuss goals for therapy. Most sessions are 55 minutes long. Couples sessions are often 120 minutes.
How do you approach therapy with children?
A creative, fun, open, optimistic child-centered environment allows children to employ their own problem solving skills.
Sessions may include:
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Appropriate Video games
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Magic tricks
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Puppets
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Therapeutic Board Games
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Art Therapy
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Educational toys
When behavioral issues are present, I often use Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).
How involved are parents?
Parental involvement varies depending on the child's needs, therapy approach, and family circumstances. This may always be discussed during treatment. Parents are kept informed regarding
general therapeutic progress and the needs of their children in therapy. The specific things children/teens share is kept as confidential as possible (i.e.: as long as the content does not involve risk to self, or others).
Do you give homework between sessions?
Homework is optional. Some clients request assignments or therapeutic exercises, while others prefer discussion-based sessions only. I often recommend books from my personal collection of therapeutic and non-fiction materials when appropriate.
What hours do you currently Offer?
I am currently building my own practice after a hiatus I took following working for various community therapy practices for the first half of my career. Therefore, I am currently filling sessions only on Fridays (all day), and will be adding office days as my caseload shows interest. If you are interested, (or only able to come to therapy M-Th & Sat), then please let me know. Note: I chose to start with Fridays as it has been a preferred day of the week for my younger clientele.
What makes you different from other therapists?
What sets me apart from other therapists is my background and training as a Mental Health Counselor. It can be useful to understand the distinctions among various types of clinicians, such as Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists. While experience plays a significant role in effectiveness, I believe the depth and rigor of my training provides unique insights that enhance the success of my counseling approach.
How do you utilize A.I. in your Counseling Practice?
I do not use AI tools for transcription, documentation, or any task that would involve sharing your personal health information. This is because these tools are not currently developed enough to easily meet HIPAA standards, so I avoid them entirely.
I may use AI in a limited, ethically guided way to support my clinical thinking — for example, to explore treatment ideas, review evidence‑based practices, or assist with case‑conceptualization. When I do this, I only use general, non‑identifying information, and I remain fully responsible for all clinical decisions. This approach aligns with current guidance from professional organizations such as the ACA and AMHCA. You can read more here and here.
Can I opt out of A.I. use in my treatment?
Absolutely. While I have made effort to become trained in all aspects of utilizing A.I. (including a study of the technology itself and it's inherent risks), I believe a cautious and judgmental relationship with the technology is ethically prudent in all areas, not just professional counseling. If you are no longer comfortable with it's use at any point in the course of your treatment, please let me know. Afterall, the therapeutic relationship may eventually be one of the last valued areas we can benefit from a human-only encounter.
Contact Ridgedale Counseling
If you’re considering therapy, feel free to reach out—I’m here to help you take the next step.
801-421-6670