Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have an eating disorder to work with you? And if I do, is that all we’ll talk about?

Absolutely not to both. You do not need to have an eating disorder to work with me. While eating disorders and body image are significant areas of specialization in my practice, I also specialize in anxiety and work with concerns including ADHD, perfectionism, mood concerns, life transitions, relationships, stress, and personal growth.

And if an eating disorder is what brings you to therapy, it does not mean every session needs to focus on food, weight, or body image. You are a whole person, and therapy should make room for everything affecting your life — relationships, family, work, stress, grief, major changes, or simply whatever feels most important that day.

Eating disorder recovery does not happen separately from the rest of your life, and our work together shouldn't either.

What ages do you work with?

My ongoing individual therapy practice is limited to adults ages 18 and older.

I also offer one-time comprehensive eating disorder assessments for individuals ages 12 and older. These assessments do not require a commitment to ongoing therapy with me and include individualized recommendations and referrals when appropriate.

Do you offer in-person and telehealth appointments?

Yes. I offer both in-person and telehealth appointments. In-person sessions are available at my office in Leawood, Kansas, and telehealth appointments are available to clients located in participating PSYPACT states.

Many clients use a combination of the two. This can be especially helpful for college students who call the Kansas City area home but attend school in another PSYPACT state, allowing us to meet in person when they are home and continue through telehealth while they are away at school.

You can view the current list of participating states on the official PSYPACT map: https://psypact.gov/page/psypactmap

Do you accept insurance?

I am an out-of-network provider and do not bill insurance directly. Payment is due at the time of service.

Many insurance plans offer out-of-network mental health benefits, and I can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Because benefits vary considerably between plans, I recommend contacting your insurance company directly to ask about your specific out-of-network coverage.

More information about session fees and payment policies can be found on my Fees & Policies page.

What happens during the first appointment?

The first step in beginning individual therapy is a comprehensive initial assessment. The fee for the initial assessment is $325. This gives me an opportunity to learn more about what is bringing you to therapy, your current concerns and symptoms, relevant history, and what you hope to get out of treatment.

It is also a chance for us to begin getting to know one another and determine whether I am a good fit for what you are looking for. At the end of the assessment, we will talk about my initial impressions and recommendations and, if we decide to work together, what treatment might look like moving forward.

This initial assessment is part of beginning individual therapy and is separate from the one-time Eating Disorder Assessment & Treatment Recommendations service described on my Services page.

Do you work with OCD?

Yes, in some circumstances. I have particular experience working with obsessive-compulsive symptoms when they occur alongside eating disorders and body image concerns, where it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a thought or behavior is being driven by the eating disorder, OCD, or both.

When OCD symptoms are mild to moderate and can be appropriately addressed within our work, I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard behavioral treatment for OCD. When OCD is more severe or complex, I will refer to an OCD specialist and am happy to collaborate with that provider when appropriate.

How do I know if you’re the right therapist for me?

Finding the right therapist matters, and one of the most important things to me is making sure there is a good fit between what you need and my areas of expertise. A strong therapeutic relationship is important, but so is working with someone who has the training and experience to effectively address the concerns bringing you to therapy.

I offer a free consultation so we can talk briefly about what is bringing you in, what you’re looking for, and whether my experience and approach are a good match for your needs. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions and get a sense of whether you feel comfortable working with me.

If I don’t believe I’m the right person for what you need, I’ll be honest about that and do my best to help point you toward someone whose expertise may be a better fit.

How do I get started?

You’re welcome to start with a free consultation so we can talk briefly about what is bringing you to therapy, what you’re looking for, and whether my experience and areas of expertise are a good fit for your needs.

If you already feel ready to get started, you do not need to schedule a consultation first. You can contact me directly to schedule a comprehensive initial assessment, which is the first step in beginning individual therapy. The fee for the initial assessment is $325.

From there, we’ll discuss my recommendations and what ongoing treatment might look like.