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Frequently Asked Questions

What do the letters after your name mean?

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • RSPS stands for Certified Recovery Support Peer Specialist, which means I am able to leverage and utilize my lived experience in order to serve clients. In this capacity, my goal is to promote recovery by assisting clients to identify and overcome barriers to recovery, develop recovery capital, and serve as a guide and companion for those seeking or sustaining recovery.

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. 

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?

  • Make sure your internet is working well.

  • Exit all other programs before the session.

  • Consider wearing headphones and finding comfortable seating for the session. 

  • Mute your cell phone and other text notifications that may come through on your computer. 

  • Verify that antivirus program and system software updates aren’t scheduled to run during the session. 

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