I see clients Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm, with my final session starting at 6:30 pm. To accommodate for after school hours, all of my appointments beginning after 3:00 pm start on the half hour. Note: All times listed are Central Time.

I can accept most plans from the following providers:

Aetna
All Savers (UHS)
Allied Benefit Systems
Bind
GEHA: United Healthcare Shared Services (UHSS)
Harvard Pilgrim
Health Plans Inc
Meritain
Nippon
Optum
Oscar Health
Oxford
UHC Student Resources
UMR
United Healthcare (UHC)
United Healthcare Shared Services (UHSS)

I want you to feel confident that I am the right counselor for you or your child. That’s why I offer potential clients an initial consultation at no charge. This appointment allows us to get to know each other, discuss your concerns, and answer any questions you may have.

Teletherapy works a lot like traditional therapy, except we meet online instead of in person. Once you have your first session scheduled, I will provide you with a link to my online waiting room that you will sign into when it’s time to meet. There’s no need for you to even download an app! All you need is a computer, phone, or tablet with a working internet connection, camera, and microphone.

To ensure your privacy, I only meet with clients from my office with headphones on and the door closed. Every now and then, my dog might be in the room, but he’s a good boy when it comes to keeping secrets.

Steps you can take to make sure your sessions are as secure as possible include being in a private space (e.g., bedroom, office, car, etc.), wearing headphones, and scheduling your sessions for a time where you are most able to be alone.

Your child likely already plays Minecraft, which would mean they should own a copy of the game. Additionally, a Microsoft account and gamertag, which are needed to play online with each other, are free to obtain. The only time you would need to make an additional purchase is if your child does not already play on Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.

I use Minecraft: Bedrock Edition for play sessions with your child. It is a cross-platform version that allows me to play with children whether they are on a phone, computer, or gaming console.

If your child plays Minecraft on a gaming console, tablet, or mobile device, this is the version they own. If your child plays on a PC, you can check to make sure it’s the right version by opening the Microsoft Store and searching for “Minecraft for Windows” in your library. Unfortunately, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is not available on Mac devices.

Just like in traditional play therapy, your child’s counseling session is a time when there are no restrictions on what they think, feel, and say, and they are allowed to make the choices they want to make. In this environment, children can authentically express themselves in a way that is more developmentally appropriate than pure conversation.

To make sure that this method is therapeutic, I collaborate with colleagues to discuss experiences, share feedback, and recognize its limitations. In my experience, I’ve found that many of the themes and play styles that contribute to the effectiveness of play therapy can be expressed in Minecraft.

Because of the nature of virtual play therapy, I primarily work with children ages seven and up. In my experience, it has been beneficial in helping children with concerns surrounding self-esteem, emotional awareness, peer relationship issues, child-parent relationship issues, and feelings of worry and sadness.

The best way to determine if virtual play therapy is the best fit is to contact me directly. I will be happy to discuss this further with you.

Of course! Play is essential for people of all ages and is a great tool for connecting with others, relieving stress, and making sense of the world across the lifespan. You and I can use video games to explore how you interact with challenges, examine your beliefs about yourself and others, or simply create a space that feels like it’s yours. At this time, I have only played Minecraft with adults.

I don’t typically assign homework. For the most part, I trust that you will find ways to naturally apply the insight you gain during your sessions to your daily life. However, there may be times I offer you suggestions on things you can do outside of sessions that could help you make progress in your own time.

When working with parents, I will often discuss concepts, skills, and strategies for you to use at home with your child. While I may not assign it as homework, applying these skills is likely to benefit your child’s progress.

Yes, I have! I’ve worked with a few different therapists at different points in my adult life to process life experiences, cope with stress, and understand myself better. These days, I choose to see a therapist for these same reasons, and as a bonus, it helps me remain in touch with what it’s like to be a client.

It’s hard to say how with certainty how long it will take for you to achieve the goals you set for yourself. Some people need weeks; some need months; and some need years. It’s also likely that you will choose to add new goals as new things come up in life. You and I will have plenty of opportunities to discuss you or your child’s progress in therapy and the next steps.

On average, though, it can take up to eight sessions for many to notice a difference.