Where do we go for the appointment?
My office is located in St. Louis Park, near Hwy 100 and 7. There is free parking.
I am also doing phone or Zoom sessions.
3387 Brownlow Avenue#110St. Louis Park, MN 55426
What hours can we schedule an appointment?
My current client hours are between 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. I do not have any evening slots available.
How much does this cost?
Please contact me for my current rates and available time slots. Please note that I do not accept insurance. Some of my clients choose to utilize their out-of-network benefits, if they have those, and submit a receipt to their insurance provider for possible reimbursement. Please contact your insurance provider to completely understand how this option may work for you if you are interested.
How do we pay you?
You can pay by bringing cash to the session or by putting a card on file.
Can we use insurance?
I do not accept insurance. Insurance very rarely covers couples counseling, so I am not credentialed with any insurance panels. Some clients submit a receipt to their insurance for reimbursement under their out-of-network plan. If you’re interested in doing that, check with your insurance to find out about your out-of-network coverage options.
Here are some questions to ask your insurance provider:
Do I have out-of-network benefits?
What services are covered?
Do I need a specific diagnosis (if so, which ones)?
How much will you reimburse me?
How do I submit my receipts and receive payment?
How do we set up an appointment?
Please contact me to schedule an appointment.
What do we need to know about canceling appointments?
Canceling appointments is the kryptonite of successful couples counseling. It might not seem like a big deal, but you will be surprised at how it can impact the work that you have already done. It can create disappointment, hard feelings, and assign meanings like, “They aren’t as committed to this as they say.”
You will want to place couples counseling as one of your highest priorities while you’re in it to help it be the most successful it can be.
My cancellation policy is: all booked appointments need to be cancelled at least 48 hours in advance. If you cancel with less than 48 hours notice, you will be charged the full session fee.
My partner isn’t ready to do couples counseling; will you work with just me?
Of course! I have many clients participating in therapy individually. Give me a call to discuss your goals, and we will see if I’m the right fit for you.
How long of a session should we book?
Couples Counseling sessions are 90 minutes long, every other week.
For Discernment Counseling, the first session is 2 hours long.
For some couples, I offer couples counseling intensives of two 4 hour counseling days. Contact me if you are interested in this.
Should we do discernment counseling or couples counseling?
Great question! Discernment counseling is for couples trying to decide if they should stay together or break-up. If either one of you questions your commitment to the relationship, discernment counseling is a great option. It gives couples clarity on their relationship and helps them make a decision.
How discernment counseling and couples counseling differ is in what we do during the session. In couples counseling, we assume both people are committed to the relationship and making the changes necessary to improve the relationship. So, we make changes and ask the couple to follow through on those changes.
In discernment counseling, we take a birds-eye-view of the relationship in terms of where it started, where it is now, and what happened along the way. I ask both people to take accountability for their part in the relationship. And we answer the question, which path do you want to take for your relationship: 1) keep doing what you’re currently doing; 2) separate (and what that might look like); or 3) stay together, take separation off the table, and work on repairing the relationship.
If you are unsure which option is best for you, reach out! I’ll help you figure it out.
What will happen during our session?
Basically, this is how it goes: you’ll do some talking about what’s happening in your relationship, and I will ask questions. I help lead the conversations to keep things on track. A lot of times, I’m clarifying for you guys what you’re trying to say. That’s my superpower, understanding what you’re trying to communicate and helping you get the right words so your partner understands you.
I’ll show you guys all my “relationship hacks” to tackle each issue. We’ll get very concrete about what each of you will be doing differently, so you feel prepared to make the changes. Also, we usually laugh a lot. Just because it’s a serious topic, that doesn’t mean that we can’t make some light of different moments.
How long will we be in therapy?
What should we do to make this successful?
If you clicked on this question, I sincerely applaud you. You mean business. To make couples counseling successful, you will want to prioritize it, resist the urge to be defensive, show up to each appointment open to both receiving new information and sharing, and make the changes we talk about in between sessions.
The most successful couples take turns being the relationship champion. That’s the person who cheers on the relationship, leads by making the changes, and genuinely shows empathy for the other person. Read my blog on relationship champions.
Will we receive homework?
Yes and no. Usually, these are no official assignments but more like how you will each be doing things differently in the relationship.
We try to tackle one issue at a time, but sometimes, I do nerd out and get excited. Then, we make several adjustments in one session.
At the end of each session, we get very concrete and specific by reviewing exactly what you will be doing from then on and try to troubleshoot any potential issues before they crop up.
Every once in a while, I will have you complete an “official” homework assignment, such as completing a worksheet or watching a video, to prepare for the next session.
We’ve been in counseling before; how’s this different?
This type of therapy is solution-focused and action-plan based. Many of my clients comment that the biggest difference they notice is that we don’t just discuss problems – we solve them.
We get to the root of what’s going on, create understanding, and make changes to how you do the relationship to make it sustainable.
We’ve never been in counseling. Will this be weird?
Honestly, you might feel a little awkward at first. But I’m a master at making people feel comfortable. And working with counseling newbies is my favorite. Because I get to bust all their fears about how weird this will be – and that’s so fun!
One of the best compliments I ever received was at the end of a first session, someone said, “Well, that wasn’t so bad; it was like sitting at a bar talking with a friend.” And we made a plan to repair the relationship!
Why do you say couples counseling and not marriage therapy?
How do we pronounce your name?
What else do we need to know?
When you decide to reach out for the first time or book your first appointment, it is normal for things in your relationship to suddenly get better.
The act of acknowledging you need help and taking action gives people a momentary “glow,” where they start being a little better with each other. This is normal! But it is temporary. Sometimes people will experience this and then not schedule their first appointment or cancel it. Then, they come back a month or two later expressing regret for not starting services sooner.
Don’t make the same mistake!