What does therapy look like?
Well, first of all, congratulations on making it this far! It oftentimes takes us a lot to get to the point we reach out for help. We hear a lot of messages about what therapy is from media or friends or family, which sometimes has a mixture of truth interspersed with misconception. You might have even been discouraged to make it this far. So suffice to say, it takes a lot of internal strength to power through and make the decision to look into this. So thank you!
First and foremost, therapy is not just for “crazy” people. That’s a gross word, anyway, and not really applicable in the way we’ve been taught about it. Therapy is for anybody that wants it or needs it.
What does it actually look like though? Well, first and foremost, your therapist should be nonjudgmental and should listen to you. They should not judge where you are coming from. They should help mediate difficult situations for couples and families, as well as help you grow as individuals and more. They should be able to provide unbiased feedback. They should set appropriate professional boundaries with you. They should help you weigh decisions, although never tell you what you should or shouldn’t do past a certain point (sorry, we can’t tell you to break up with somebody or not!).
However, therapy isn’t just a space to vent. A good therapist guides you in your growth journey but doesn’t do it based on their agenda. They do it based on your own laid out goals and values and help guide you on that journey. A therapist should be able to help you even figure out what those are, if needed. They can help guide you through healing trauma and overcoming fears. But the single biggest factor for success here is what you put into it, because as much credit as we might want to take for any of it, the real work comes from our clients.

Can I talk about XYZ or cuss in session?
This is your space. Talk about whatever. Cuss all you want. Make every other word an F-bomb. I’m Nicaraguan. I could handle it even before completing my education and training. Now? No problem. Seriously, though, there’s no topic off-limits. Everything you say is confidential and HIPAA-protected, except for special circumstances I’ll outline in the next Q.
As far as another biggie goes: dual relationships are no-no. That means I can’t be a therapist for my friends, family, partners, or people I interact with in ways that are not therapeutic. However, we can discuss what this looks like in practice as there are nuanced ways this can be broken down.

What are you obligated to break confidentiality for?
Child abuse; elder/vulnerable adult abuse; neglect of either; intent to hurt another (in other words, you stating or very undeniably communicating/appearing as though you will); intent to kill yourself; court order; if your insurance requests documentation, you and I both have signed agreements to provide it so I will; anything with your signed and documented consent. This is state law, federal law, and insurance agreements all rolled up into one big thing here. Speaking of insurance…

Why don’t you take my insurance?
I might be working on it. I might not. I’m working on expanding this as much as humanly possible, but I also have to consider that it’s a complex web and I can’t hit every single one. I also can’t take insurance for all concerns and for all issues; insurance is notoriously touchy about sex therapy.

How long is each session? How much does it cost?
I offer the standard therapeutic hour, meaning 50 minutes (with the expectation that the remaining period in the hour is to complete documentation). I charge $135 for a therapeutic hour. I only accept payment through the HIPAA-compliant payment portal.

How long do I have to be in therapy to get better?
Short answer? I don’t know. It varies from person to person, situation to situation, topic to topic. Some people only go to help with acute situations, others are lifelong clients. I won’t shy away from admitting I’m in the latter – I love having a sacred space for myself, but fully understand others have a lot going on in their lives and can’t spare the time for something that isn’t a necessity. And that’s okay!

I am a professional/organization that needs consultation, what can you do?
I can lead trainings, educational workshops, one-on-one client/patient consultation, etc. I do not have a standard rate and appropriately price this to reflect my labor and time on a case-by-case basis.

I know you from XYZ! Can you be my therapist?
No harm in asking, just contact me! It honestly depends. I have ethics and a licensure board to follow, and while the protocol is messy for smaller communities such as LGBTQIA2S+ communities and communities of color, there is still a plan to follow. It essentially boils down to the level of connection and interaction; a friend is an obvious no, but it gets nuanced outside of that.

Do you offer telehealth in my state?
If it’s Nebraska, yes. If it’s anywhere else, I’m working on it! Reciprocity is touchy. My list of upcoming states I will likely begin applying for reciprocity in by 2024: Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Iowa.

I have an idea for policies or principles to bring to Omaha’s city level policies, can I reach out to you with that?
Yes, and please do. Oftentimes, we do also open up for board positions so please apply when we do! Diverse voices at the table are always welcome.

I would like to speak one-on-one about how I can be a better parent/friend/family member/ally to marginalized people(s). I’m not sure therapy is what I need, but I just need somebody to break things down for me because all this LGBT+ stuff is hard for me to understand.
No judgment here. I get it. The hard part isn’t even the learning, it’s the unlearning, and we ALL struggle at some point. Whoever says they don’t is lying to you, or just really blessed with a talent that very few have. I am happy to provide one-on-one consultation services. I have several curricula drafted for both individual and business consultation regarding several topics, and have utilized these to great effect for various Omaha nonprofits, conferences, university classes, and even broadcast nationally for individuals at international consulate offices. I have also had these discussions individually following these events or independently with various individuals. I also offer these services, much like everything else, bilingually.