Questions? We’ve gathered answers to the ones we hear most often.
frequently asked questions
DBT is helpful for people who experience under-control of emotions. This might look like intense feelings, difficulty managing impulses, acting quickly without thinking, or frequent conflicts in relationships. It teaches practical skills to calm and regulate high emotional intensity.
RO-DBT is designed for people who experience over-control of emotions. These might display as perfectionism, emotional restraint, difficulty opening up, sensitivity to threat or criticism, and rigid coping styles that create disconnection. RO-DBT teaches skills to open up, increase flexibility, and improve connection.
Both patterns can involve significant emotional pain, which is why the two approaches are sometimes confused. The key difference is how emotions are experienced and managed:
If emotions feel too big, fast, and hard to control, DBT may be the best fit.
If emotions feel muted, hidden, or tightly managed, RO-DBT may be more effective.
We can help you determine which approach is right for you using brief, evidence-based questionnaires and a collaborative conversation. You don’t need to decide before reaching out.
- Overcontrol
- Hyperfectionism
- Chronic Depression
- Treatment Resistant (Refractory) Depression
- Treatment Resistant Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
- Paranoid Personality Disorder
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Autism
- Aspergers
- How I’m Feeling
- How I’m Acting
- Relationship Challenges
- Parenting Challenges
- Family Challenges
- Aging Challenges
- Marital Challenges
- Mediation
Most of our clients make initial contact with us at the peak of crisis for them – when “it” becomes intolerable. That intensity may actually carry you through the initial contact and making of the appointment. We would think and hope that this provides some relief in the short term. However, along with the relief, there is often anxiety about what will happen in the first session. Here is a breakdown of what to expect:
- Schedule a consultation
- You will receive a basic intake form via email that you are invited to complete and return through our online system prior to your appointment. (Our office is paperless. Any paper documents that are received are scanned and then shredded).
- At the consultation, a therapist will greet you and ask you to fill out certain assessments based on the information in your intake form. Each assessment will be explained to you as well as what to do after you complete them. This process typically takes between 10 and 20 minutes. These assessments will help us begin figuring out whether we are the right “fit” for you and able to provide the services you need.
- Your therapist will return to collect you and your paperwork and take you to his or her office for the completion of the intake. The total time for an intake meeting is 60-90 minutes. Plan on 90 minutes.
- Once in session, we will go over our role as mandated reporters and what that means for confidentiality. The therapist will quickly review your paperwork, and also, in what may feel like excruciating detail, the info you sent in the intake via email. This is because we have an ethical duty to ensure that we understand your situation to the best of our ability and that we are providing services in a timely manner based on your needs. If suicidality is a part of your history, then expect us to discuss this with you. We will also be looking for potential diagnoses and/or to understand why you have been diagnosed with what you have.
By this point, you may be feeling frustrated that you have not been able to get to the “it” that brought you in, even though you’ve been in the office for quite a while at this point, and the therapist keeps asking questions. Please know we will absolutely get to “it”.
To help us get to “it” faster, please come prepared to provide us with contact info for other service providers, from internists to pediatricians to psychiatrists and/or other therapists. We take a team approach to your healing and will contact other providers as we feel necessary, but not without your consent unless it is a matter of safety.
We truly believe that therapy is not a lifetime commitment; it is about healing and living your life on your terms without us as soon as possible. To that end, we will ask you your goals for therapy and how we will know you have achieved them. What would that look like? It is ok if you cannot answer that right away – just know we will ask.
We hope this helps manage some of the “unknowns” of our first meeting. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you soon!
We believe in empowering clients to manage the degree of confidentiality they are most comfortable securing. To that end, we made the decision to be an out-of-network provider. This allows you to decide how best to manage charges. Insurance companies may request access to certain information about you and your treatment. By providing you with a bill containing the minimal required information, we feel you are then in charge of making decisions about how you wish to proceed. Please know that we cannot guarantee you reimbursement by your insurance company should you choose to seek out-of-network reimbursement.
We offer a free initial twenty-minute phone assessment. If we feel we can be of service to you, then our rate is $180.00/hour for individual sessions, $200/hour for couples sessions, and $75/class session, regardless of class time or number attending.
We expect and appreciate payment in full at time of service and accept cash, checks and credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Debit).
We’re so glad you’re here.
get in touch
Take the first step toward the support you deserve. Call us or schedule your appointment online to get started.
