FAQ

I see people virtually who reside in Minnesota and Wisconsin, though I recommend meeting in-person when possible!

Monday – Wednesday, 7:00 am – 2:00 pm

Occasional Thursday appointments available as needed.

Thank you so much for asking this important question. Unfortunately, many therapists, including myself, cannot afford to accept the reimbursements that insurance companies offer while still providing the quality of care I believe my clients deserve.

Since I do not accept insurance, I am considered Out-of-Network (OON), and you may be able to receive some reimbursement for session fees from your insurance company by submitting a fancy receipt called a “Superbill” which I am happy to provide. Give them a quick call to find out about your OON benefits with your plan. You might ask:

What are my OON benefits in seeing an outpatient mental health therapist?
Do I have an OON deductible and how much remains for this calendar year?
How do I submit receipts for reimbursement?

I also accept HSA cards if you’d like to use your pre-taxed dollars towards session fees.

Somatic therapy also involves talking, but it focuses on what is happening in the body and uses that information as a catalyst for change. Traumas are stored in the body even more than in the mind, so it is a particularly useful approach.

Yeah, I know. If you had told me several years ago that this is what I would be doing, I would not have
believed you.

Here’s another way to think about it: We’ll create connections between the thinking and emotional brains, making it easier to manage unpleasant emotions and, in turn, improve relationships.

We will meet for 50 minutes. We’ll get to know each other, and you’ll share what has brought you to therapy and your goal for the therapeutic experience. You are free to ask me questions about my approach and experience.

I like to use the first few sessions to hear what brought you to me, identify how you want things to be different, and go over the forms I sent you before the intake session, as well as orient you to my style of therapy.

The susbequent sessions will also be 50 minutes. Occasionally I am open to 90 minute sessions if there is a greater need or if we discuss that it could be beneficial.

We will create a plan for action (treatment plan) that addresses your goals and how we’ll track your progress toward them.

I am glad you asked! I have a waiting room, but it’s difficult to tell from the hallway.

Please, come in and make yourself at home. Help yourself to coffee, tea, or water. I will be with you at our scheduled time.

Okay… so you probably didn’t ask this question (but I will for you). You are welcome to sit in whichever seat is most comfortable for you.

I have had clients rearrange chairs in session to help put them at ease. I have also had clients sit in different spots each time. When I tell you to do what feels best for you, I mean it! When you are at ease, you will be able to get the most out of our time together.

I received my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Bethel University and my undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota.

I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) through the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy.

I am also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) through Somatic Experiencing International.

I have been providing mental health treatment in various capacities since 2006. Before founding Illuminate Counseling, I worked in private group practices for five years. I have about a decade of experience working in drug and alcohol treatment centers, intensive case management, and group home settings.

Yes, I am a professed Christian and am comfortable working with individuals of different or no faith traditions.

I seek to show up as present (rather than distracted), loving (rather than judging), and open (rather than closed) to being changed by or growing from the person in front of me.

It is important that you get the therapy support that makes sense for the stressors and issues you are experiencing.

I am most competent to work with individuals struggling with trauma, addiction, anxiety, and depression. If you want to focus on spirituality/religion I am most competent with Christian clients.

Outside of these areas, I’d be happy to provide referrals. If you are looking for any of the following as main reasons you are coming to therapy, you may need more specialized therapy support: personality disorders, eating disorders, domestic violence, ADHD and OCD. You deserve to get competent therapy support.

Depending on what issue(s) you’re bringing to therapy, I may recommend you read a book or two from my “bookshelf” so we can have a similar language and understanding of my approach to most effectively meet your needs.

If you would find it beneficial, I can send you an email of key points from our sessions and agreed-upon homework (if you choose) so that you can reflect between sessions.