Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to know about Counseling?

First and foremost, counseling should serve you, as the client. It is a very brave and vulnerable thing, especially in our current society, to be willing to talk about your feelings, fears, pain, and desires. As a counselor, I bring my skills of observation, reflection, and practice in assessing patterns of thought and behavior to help you analyze where you are currently, and I bring my education and skills practice to help you find what will help you get to where you want to go. I am always happy to share and teach skills that will help you make the progress you desire. I will regularly ask for feedback about the counseling process because I think it’s important that you are a partner in directing your own counseling treatment.

Where are you located?

My garden “office” is located in Peary’s Garden, a community garden at 18 Sadie Ln, Bowdoinham, ME, 04008.
Directions: From 295, take exit 37 (138/Main St) and turn east toward Bowdoinham. Not quite a quarter mile to the left you will see the East of Eden Farmstand. Take a left a the farmstand and continue on Sadie Ln for another 100-200 feet. To park, pull off to either side of the driveway where there is space, but please leave the turnaround area at the end of the driveway free. The Ground Well hoophouse is set back away from the driveway outside the fenced area of the garden.

How do you maintain privacy and Confidentiality outdoors?

This is a very good question, as being outdoors comes with some privacy and confidentiality risks being indoors does not. Please see this page for the steps I take to protect privacy and confidentiality in outdoor settings.

How Should I prepare for a session?

Please see this list for recommendations for physical preparations for outdoor counseling sessions. I plan to have extra drinking water, a first aid kit, etc., but it is your responsibility to provide what you need for your comfort and safety. That includes providing me with any information that may impact your health and safety as well as if that information changes (e.g., an allergy or medical condition).

How Long does Counseling last?

The short answer is that it depends on what you are coming to counseling for. The long answer is that we will work together to determine your needs, goals, and a plan for treatment. If, throughout the process, you find you have new needs and goals to add, it may make sense to extend the counseling treatment. If, on the other hand, you and I are quickly able to resolve your salient issues, it may make sense to end (or “terminate” in the professional jargon) the course of treatment before originally planned. It is usually helpful to plan on at least 10-12 weeks to start.

Why Gardening?

Gardening provides a number of literal and metaphorical challenges, if you are up for delving into them. In experiential counseling, and particularly adventure-based counseling, the idea of challenge-by-choice is a valued tenet. Whether it is the decision to pick up a potato beetle or the decision to explore compost as a metaphor for your current circumstances, owning the choice to take on the challenge - or not - can be a transformative experience.

What if We are not a good fit?

It happens! Sometimes my skills and expertise will not match up well with your needs or goals. If we can’t figure out a way to work together, I will provide referrals and try to follow up to ensure that you are able to find a helping professional who is a good match.

Can we just meet via Telehealth?

While telehealth is always an option, and while it is still possible to do effective counseling via telehealth, it is important to me to have regular in-person meetings with all my clients even if we also have telehealth sessions. In my experiences, a great deal more non-verbal communication occurs in person, which can be extremely helpful in practicing nervous system regulation. If you are seeking telehealth-only counseling, we would not be a good fit.

How can I Schedule a Session?

If we have not met before, please schedule a free 15-minute consultation so we can determine whether we might be a good fit. If we have already met, please use TherapyNotes to schedule your next session if we did not do so at the end of the last session.

When are you going to take Health Insurance?

Unfortunately, I do not a have time frame for that, but at this time, it will be at least a year or more before I would begin to think about taking health insurance. The process of signing up, getting approved, and billing can be an additional full time job, plus it is complicated by the fact that I am still conditionally licensed.
In addition to the logistics, there are some issues related to individual and systemic marginalization and oppression that mean the insurance industry is sometimes inflicting harm when it is supposed to be helping heal. I talk about this some more on my Rates and Sliding Scale page.

What do you mean, Homework?

Let’s call it take home practice, then. Weekly therapy sessions alone can be very helpful, but reading, practices, or activities throughout the rest of the week that help you cement what you have been learning or processing in session can be transformative.

What does conditionally licensed mean? How is it different from fully licensed?

After completing a master’s degree and other license requirements, clinical professional counselors in Maine are required to complete a certain number of hours of practice under the supervision of an experienced and trained clinical supervisor, which typically takes between two to six years to complete. After completing the supervised hours and a few other requirements (like a standardized test and continuing education), counselors may apply for fully licensure.