COMMON

QUESTIONS

  • I am a trauma-informed therapist, and I incorporate elements of Internal Family Systems (IFS) – also commonly referred to as “inner child work” –  Narrative therapy, Collaborative Language Systems (CLS), and somatic therapies. In my practice, I focus on developing a shared meaning-making system with my clients that is based on common language, aligned with your personal values, and weaves a common thread between your emotions, bodily physical sensations, and your cognitive thoughts. I believe that our lived experiences inform the internal and external stories that influence our entire way of being in the world, so I prioritize connecting with you and your unique experiences and personal story in order to ensure that your therapy experience with me is personalized, affirming, and helpful.

  • At this time, I do not accept insurance. This is in order to prioritize your privacy and autonomy - without pressure from insurance companies to assign a mental health diagnosis. I currently offer BIPOC reparation rates, sliding scale rates, and student rates as availability allows. I also accept payment via HSA. It is deeply important to me that affirming mental health therapy be accessible to those who are seeking it, so please reach out to me with any questions regarding ways to make therapy affordable within your financial capacity. I welcome conversations regarding finances and payment, and will not be offended if you want to learn more about how to receive high quality therapy at a more affordable rate.

  • I offer in-person, virtual, and hybrid session types. If we are planning to regularly meet via virtual or hybrid sessions, I typically ask to meet you in person at least for the first session so that we can get to know one another’s mannerisms, body language, and sense of humor prior to interacting through a screen.

    RATES

    • Individual Session Length/Price: 50 mins/$150 

    • Relational (Relationship, Couple or Family) Session Length/Price: 90 mins/$175

    • Student Rate: 50 mins/$80

    • BIPOC Reparation Rate: 50-90 mins/$60

    • Reduced-Fee Rate: 50 mins/$60

  • I offer reduced-fee sessions for BIPOC reparations, students, and general sliding scale. Those prices are listed in the above FAQ. I also considered a limited number of pro bono spots each year. Please note that student, reduced-fee, and BIPOC reparation session rates are intended to be used by clients with utmost trust and respect in order to protect the availability of those rates for the populations they are intended for, as I am only able to offer a limited number of those session spots.

  • I request that cancellations and rescheduling requests be made with 24 hours advance notice. This allows me the opportunity to offer last-minute/crisis sessions for clients when I am notified that a client is not able to make it to their regularly scheduled appointment. Grace is extended for situations such as inclement weather, illness or injury, or emergency situations. 

    For cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice OR a no-show appointment, your full session fee will be charged. If this happens accidentally or due to an unforeseen circumstance, I offer you the opportunity to reschedule within the same calendar week so that your session fee can be applied to a same-week appointment. 

    Because I respect our relationship and strive to dismantle the power differential between the client and therapist, I acknowledge that there is always the possibility that Icould also be impacted by inclement weather, illness or injury, or an emergency situation. If I ever have to cancel or reschedule your appointment with less than 24 hours notice, I will credit your next session fee to you.

  • True Grit Co. is located inside of Simple Empathy, a holistic mental health and wellness collective. Our office is inside of the Board of Trade Lofts building in the heart of the Downtown KC Library District – directly across from the famous library “Community Bookshelf” wall on 10th Street. Our entrance is ADA accessible on the ground level with ADA compliant doors and door-opening activation devices. Prior to your appointment, you will receive a text message from me with the keypad code to enter our secure building.

    Street parking is available nearby for a small fee for 1-2 hour parking access. Covered parking is also available across the street in the KC Public Library parking garage, and your parking ticket can either be paid with a small fee or validated (up to 1 hour of free validated parking!) by the KC Public Library at their main customer service desk.

  • I believe that cozy, comfortable, and aesthetic spaces are extraordinarily helpful in supporting our nervous systems when we are in a place of seeking growth and healing. My office is furnished with a plush and comfy couch with plenty of room for you to take up space or curl up – whichever one feels most right to your body at any point in time. A variety of textiles and artwork create a space that is intriguing to your senses and invites you into connection with both the environment and yourself.

  • Part of acknowledging the power dynamic that exists within the role of the therapist involves naming the fact that relational trust with anyone is built over time, not in one short meeting. Therapy can often be invasive and feel unsafe when you are expected to be vulnerable before we’ve built a secure relationship with one another, so I approach first sessions in a more open-ended and collaborative way. As a trauma-informed therapist, I incorporate a consent-based approach to the questions I ask and the topics I introduce.

    In our first session together, I invite you into building a connection with me at your own pace and your own time, rather than feeling like I dug into your deep darks all within 50 minutes of meeting. I value the opportunity to get to know who you are and what you value so that I can better understand the dynamics involved in your life. Your first session with me (nor your second or third) won’t involve a bevy of forms, assessment documents, checklists, or invasive questionnaires that pry into things you might not feel comfortable sharing quite yet. I’ll likely ask you about what brought you bravely into my office, what changes you are hoping to find, who the main characters or important people are in your life, and offer you the same opportunity to voice any curiosities about me and the ways I approach therapy. At the end of our session, I’ll provide space for you to determine the next steps without pressure to book a follow-up appointment unless it feels right to you. If you notice your body expressing needs before or after your session, I have a variety of snacks and beverages available for you to choose from.

“Knowledge rooted in experience shapes what we value  – and as a consequence, how we know what we know as well as how we use what we know.”

BELL HOOKS