THROUGH THE PAVEMENT THERAPY

Phone consultations are a great opportunity to get to know one another prior to an intake appointment and to determine if we are a good therapeutic match for your goals. Phone consultations are free and typically take about 20-30 minutes. In the consultation, I am interested in what brings you to therapy and what are your therapy goals. Prior to our consultation, I typically recommend reflecting on those questions by identifying the problems or issues you are experiencing on a day to day basis or by identifying what you are hoping to accomplish, whether that’s improving your emotion regulation, healing from past traumas, or strengthening your social supports or skills. While some people have more clear and defined goals, others might not and that’s okay! A general sense of what you are hoping to work on is enough at this stage, as we will have plenty of time to identify and further define your goals as we move through the process. From there, I discuss how I approach therapy and identify how the different modalities I utilize (whether that’s EMDR, ACT, Mindfulness, etc) can support you in achieving those goals. If we both agree that your goals are in alignment with how I practice, we can discuss logistics around next-steps, including scheduling and payment options. If you are unsure or are waiting to hear from other therapists, I am happy to provide you with more time or information to support you while you make this decision.

We will meet either virtually or at my in-person office in Pittsburgh, PA, depending on your location and your preferences. The first session will be a continuation of our conversation from the phone consultation. First, I will review the consent documents I sent to you prior to our session and other pertinent logistical information (payment options, communication preferences, etc). Following that, we will continue to explore what brings you to therapy, including how present day issues manifest, any relevant history related to those issues, and identifying what is already working or helpful for you (hobbies, your community, etc). We will also continue to explore your therapy goals and how you will know those goals are achieved. If we are doing EMDR Therapy, we may begin exploring unhelpful narratives you carry about yourself that are connected to the presenting issues. We may also begin identifying previous experiences where those narratives are the most believed or hold the most charge. At the end of session, we will review what we’re focusing on in the next session and discuss if there’s any homework you’d like to complete or reflect on between sessions.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987, is a structured therapeutic modality that aims to reduce the emotional charge and disrupt the unhelpful core beliefs associated with traumatic or distressing memories. EMDR Therapy supports reprocessing these memories by asking individuals to briefly focus on aspects of the traumatic memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (in the form of visual, tonal, or tactile bilateral stimulation). EMDR Therapy supports and encourages the hemispheric and vertical integration of our brains, which aids the natural recovery and healing processes our brains possess. EMDR Therapy is different from other trauma-processing therapies, as it does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or memory. This may be a gentler or more approachable way of reprocessing for many individuals. While EMDR Therapy was originally created to address traumatic experiences, EMDR Therapy can be utilized to address a wide range of emotional and mental health needs including: anxiety, panic attack and phobias; chronic illness and medical issues; depression and bipolar disorders; dissociative disorders; eating disorders; grief and loss; performance anxiety; sleep disturbances; and substance abuse and addiction.

Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) is a social justice-oriented approach within social work which recognizes that multiple forms of oppression can occur simultaneously within micro, mezzo, and macro levels, including within therapy. While AOP Practice is primarily focused on mezzo and macro levels of engagement (community organizing, policy advocacy, etc), read to learn more about how AOP informs my clinical approach.

While I am not currently paneled, or in-network, with any insurance companies/plans, I can support individuals interested in pursuing any Out-Of-Network (OON) Coverage through their Health Insurance Plans by providing a monthly Superbill to submit for reimbursement. I also accept Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) as payment to cover session costs.

I currently offer both in-person and virtual options for individual therapy. In-person sessions will be held in my office at 500 S Aiken Ave in the Shadyside neighborhood in Pittsburgh, PA. Virtual sessions are facilitated through a HIPAA compliant videoconferencing service. Virtual sessions are available to anyone in Pennsylvania or Massachusetts. For additional information, please check out my blog post on things to consider when deciding between in-person and virtual options. 

The location of group therapy varies based on the content and purpose of the group. Please be sure to check the “Group Therapy” subsection on the “Services” page to see the schedule of current groups and where they are located.