Honest answers before your first session.

You can expect therapy to be collaborative, individualized, and real.

I won’t sit silently and occasionally ask, “And how does that make you feel?” for 55 minutes.

We'll talk about what is happening, where it may be coming from, what is keeping you stuck, and what I can actually do about it.

Some sessions may be difficult or emotional. Others may involve problem-solving, practicing skills, challenging old beliefs, celebrating progress, or even laughing. There is room for all of it.

I choose practical tools with you instead of forcing everyone into the same treatment model. The tool matters, but so does the relationship.

You don’t have to perform therapy correctly. You just have to show up and be willing to work with me.

Peaceful Healing is a telehealth-only practice, and therapy is provided through secure video sessions to adults located in Missouri.

Standard individual therapy sessions are approximately 55 minutes.

Telehealth allows you to attend therapy from a private location that works for you without adding travel or a waiting room to your day. All you need is a reliable internet connection, a device with video and audio, and a private space where you feel comfortable talking.

And yes — you can bring your coffee. I probably have mine too

No. You don't need to know exactly what is wrong or have a diagnosis before reaching out.

Some people come to therapy knowing they have PTSD, anxiety, depression, or another condition. Others simply know, “Something isn’t right and I don’t want to keep feeling this way.”

Part of my job is helping you understand what you're experiencing. When a diagnosis is clinically appropriate or required for insurance coverage, we can discuss what it means and how it relates to treatment. You are a person first, not a diagnosis.

You don't have to wait until you're in crisis to ask for help.

If something is affecting your sleep, relationships, work, emotions, decisions, or ability to enjoy your life—or you're simply tired of carrying it by yourself—that's enough reason to have a conversation.

Therapy isn't reserved for people who have reached their breaking point. In fact, getting support earlier can sometimes prevent things from reaching that point.

That's okay. You don't have to arrive with an agenda, a perfectly organized story, or a list of things to discuss.

Sometimes we'll pick up where we left off. Sometimes something happened during the week that needs attention. Sometimes I'll ask questions or we'll work on a particular treatment goal. And sometimes you'll show up and say, “I have absolutely no idea what we're talking about today.”

I can work with that too. 😂

Peaceful Healing accepts private pay and may also accept certain insurance plans. Because insurance participation can vary by plan and network, please contact me so we can verify whether I am in-network with your specific plan before beginning services.

I'll discuss insurance and expected costs before beginning therapy, so you know what to expect. If you are uninsured or choose not to use insurance, see the Good Faith Estimate notice below.

Yes. I understand that life happens and sometimes appointments need to be changed. I ask that clients provide as much notice as possible when canceling or rescheduling an appointment. Late cancellations and missed appointments may be subject to a fee, except when circumstances warrant otherwise. Specific cancellation policies and fees are reviewed as part of the intake process so there are no surprises.

Yes. What you share in therapy is confidential and protected by privacy laws and professional ethics. There are specific legal and ethical exceptions to confidentiality, such as certain situations involving immediate safety concerns, abuse or neglect, or when disclosure is otherwise required by law. I will review confidentiality and its limits at the beginning of treatment, and you are always welcome to ask questions about what information is protected.

Simply seeking mental health treatment does not automatically mean that your employer is notified or that you are unable to perform your job. Therapy is confidential within the limits of applicable law, just as it is for other clients.

I understand that concerns about confidentiality, stigma, and career consequences can be significant barriers for first responders seeking help. I can discuss those concerns openly before beginning treatment, including what information is confidential and the circumstances in which information could legally or ethically need to be disclosed.

Because Peaceful Healing is telehealth-only for adults physically located in Missouri, online statewide care may also provide professional distance from shared work circles, emergency scenes, community events, or ordinary errands. That is privacy and access—not anonymity or concealment—and telehealth does not make treatment anonymous.

No. First responders and Veterans are important specialty populations within my practice, but I work with adults from many different backgrounds.

I provide therapy for concerns including trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, anger, substance use and recovery, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and other experiences that may be interfering with someone's ability to live the life they want.

You don’t need a uniform — or a particular diagnosis — to belong here.

You do not have to walk into your first session and immediately tell me every detail of the worst thing that has ever happened to you.

Especially in trauma therapy, trust and connection matter. We'll start with what is happening in your life now, what brought you to therapy, what you want to be different, and what you need from me to feel safe enough to do the work.

There may eventually be experiences that are important for me to process with you, but I will approach them thoughtfully and at a clinically appropriate pace.

Healing doesn't require ripping the bandage off just to prove you're brave enough to look at the wound.

Then I'd want to understand what didn't help.

Sometimes the therapist wasn't the right fit. Sometimes the approach wasn't right for the person. Sometimes therapy moved too quickly—or never seemed to go anywhere at all. And sometimes someone simply wasn't ready for what they were being asked to do at that point in their life.

A previous experience with therapy that wasn't helpful doesn't mean therapy can't help. We can talk about what worked, what didn't, what you need differently this time, and whether I can provide it.

There isn't one answer that applies to everyone. The length of therapy depends on what brings you in, your goals, the complexity of what we're addressing, how frequently we meet, and how you respond to treatment.

I don't believe therapy should continue indefinitely simply because we've always met every week. I will regularly look at your progress and whether therapy is still helping you move toward your goals.

One of my favorite questions is: “When this problem isn’t a problem anymore, what will your life look and feel like?”

When we're getting there, we'll know.

No. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I do not prescribe medication.

Therapy can be used independently or alongside medication when appropriate. If medication evaluation may be helpful, I can encourage you to discuss it with an appropriate medical or psychiatric provider and, with your permission, collaborate with other members of your treatment team.

Sometimes a person's needs change or a higher level of care becomes appropriate. If I believe outpatient telehealth therapy is no longer enough to safely or effectively meet your needs, we'll talk about it.

When appropriate, I can help identify additional resources such as psychiatric care, substance-use treatment, intensive outpatient or residential services, crisis resources, or other specialized providers.

Needing a different level of support isn't a failure of therapy. The goal is to get you the right help for what you need at that time.