FAQs
What does therapy with you look like?
For our sessions, we log on at our appointment time on the SimplePractice platform, which is a secure platform used for teletherapy. You will want to find a private and comfortable spot in your home (or parked car, or office) where you can speak candidly. Headphones may help increase your privacy. Sometimes my clients need to have their babies or toddlers with them, and that is fine as long as you feel you are benefitting. As a mom of three, it takes a lot to distract me.
Our sessions will at first focus on your “why now?” for therapy – such as if you are having troublesome symptoms like overwhelming anxiety or sadness that impacts your functioning. Once you feel like you are at a place where you can, we can work on other goals. This may include a deeper dive into thought patterns, relationships, or trauma.
I work with a person-centered approach, meaning that “you are the expert on you.” I am there to support you and discover your resilience. I may use a technique called Brainspotting if you are comfortable exploring it. We may also incorporate creativity into sessions – 10 years of being a music therapist has definitely left an impact on me! I also like to use humor in sessions once I know a client, but I won’t be cracking any unwanted dad jokes. Mom jokes are better anyway.
What are your fees?
I charge $150 for a 50 minute session. The payment is done through the SimplePractice platform where you will have a card on file (it can be an HSA card if you wish).
Can I use my insurance?
While I do not work directly with insurance companies, I can provide you with a superbill that you can send to your insurance to be reimbursed at the rate they offer. All insurance companies are different, so giving them a call about their policy for out of network providers will give you a better answer. Please note that you will need to have an official “diagnosis” on file for reimbursement through your insurance.
Will I get diagnosed with a mental health condition if I go to therapy?
Not necessarily. If you don’t use insurance, we can approach therapy through a “wellness” lens. However, sometimes diagnoses provide help, guidance, and validation. We will discuss if a diagnosis would be helpful to you. Interesting fact: perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are not in the DSM-V, which is the diagnostic manual that mental health practitioners use in the United States. This does not mean they do not exist.
How long will I need to go to therapy?
Although I can not answer this question definitively, I will say that progress can sometimes be felt after just a few sessions. Everyone progresses at different rates and has different goals, so whether it will be weeks, months, or over a year is difficult to say! If you have concerns about the length of therapy, it is something to discuss in session.
What if I need a higher level of care?
Most of my clients see me weekly. However, sometimes perinatal mood and anxiety disorder reach a severity where more care is needed. We are so lucky in North Carolina to have specialists in perinatal mental health here in our backyard. There is an intensive outpatient program (IOP) here in Raleigh geared toward perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and there is the UNC perinatal psychiatric inpatient unit. While most of my clients don’t need this level of care, it is comforting to know these resources are available.
Medication, when used in conjunction with therapy and appropriate social support, can be a key component in recovery from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. I know trusted prescribers who specialize in perinatal mental health to refer to if medication may be indicated for any of my clients.
Why the name?
Fermata Counseling is a nod to my musical background and to a core technique I use in therapy. The fermata symbol is written above a note in music to show that the musician should hold the note for a longer duration. Not only was my first career as a music therapist, I also studied cello and am passionate about classical music. Music nerdiness endures for a long time.
But what is the therapeutic reference? In therapy, and particularly with perinatal work, “holding space” for a client and their feelings, stories, and thoughts is a powerful process. It can be as simple as being fully present, supportive, and non-judgmental as a client shares what is on their heart and mind. One of my favorite books about perinatal health counseling is The Art of Holding in Therapy by Karen Kleiman. (Although this book was written for mental health professionals, she has authored many other books written directly to those currently in the perinatal experience.)