FAQ

I offer individual therapy, couples counseling, and sex therapy to adults throughout Michigan. Individual therapy may help with trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, or personal relationship patterns. Couples counseling focuses on recurring conflict, emotional distance, broken trust, communication, and major transitions. Sex therapy is specialized talk therapy for concerns involving desire, intimacy, sexual functioning, shame, pain, or differences between partners.

You do not need to determine the perfect category before contacting me. Emotional, relational, and sexual concerns often overlap. We can begin by understanding what is happening, who is affected, and what you hope will change. From there, I can help you determine where to begin and develop an integrated approach shaped around your concerns, relationships, values, and goals.

The 15-minute consultation is a brief conversation before scheduling a full session. You can share what brings you to therapy, what kind of support you are seeking, and any concerns you have about beginning. You do not need to tell your entire story or disclose highly personal details. This is simply an opportunity to ask questions and get a sense of whether working together might feel like a good fit.

I'm happy to explain how I work, answer questions about therapy, and discuss fees, scheduling, availability, and in-person or virtual options. The consultation is not a therapy session, and we will not attempt to resolve the concern within 15 minutes. Its purpose is to help us determine whether my experience and approach align with your needs and whether moving forward together feels like an appropriate fit.

The first few sessions help me understand what life or your relationship has been like, what brought you to therapy now, and what you hope could change. You do not need a perfect explanation, formal diagnosis, or complete list of goals.

In individual therapy, we may explore current concerns, important relationships, family patterns, previous experiences, and protective responses. In couples counseling, I make room for both partners and begin identifying the cycle beneath conflict, defensiveness, distance, or silence. In sex therapy, we may discuss desire, intimacy, sexual functioning, health factors, and messages that shaped your sexuality. Nothing physical or sexual occurs during sessions.

Together, we will establish a direction that reflects your concerns, values, pace, and hopes.

How often we meet depends on your concerns, goals, availability, and the kind of work we are doing. Some individuals and couples benefit from meeting weekly, particularly when beginning or when concerns feel especially active. Others meet every other week or reduce frequency as they make progress.

There is no universal timeline for therapy. A focused concern may require fewer sessions, while long-standing relationship patterns, trauma, broken trust, or complex sexual concerns may benefit from longer-term work. Couples counseling and sex therapy may also change pace as partners move through assessment, repair, and rebuilding connection.

We will regularly discuss your goals and progress. The goal is to provide enough consistency for meaningful change while making decisions about frequency and duration collaboratively.

I offer in-person therapy at North Collective Counseling in Rochester, Michigan, and virtually via Zoom. Availability may vary by format and appointment time.

In-person sessions may fit you if you prefer a separate therapeutic space and/or live near Metro Detroit and the Rochester area. Virtual therapy can be helpful when work, parenting, caregiving, health, transportation, or location makes traveling difficult.

Individual therapy, couples counseling, and sex therapy can all be offered virtually when clinically appropriate. Virtual sex therapy remains confidential and conversational; nothing physical or sexual occurs during sessions. Neither format is automatically better. We can discuss your privacy, preferences, and ability to engage openly during the consultation and determine which option feels most supportive.

My fee is $175 for a 50-minute therapy session. Payment may be made by debit or credit card—including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express—FSA or HSA card, cash, or check. 

Therapy is an emotional and financial investment. I want the cost to be clear before you begin so you can decide whether working together is sustainable. Please raise any payment questions during the consultation.

North Collective Counseling is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly. Payment is due at the time of each session, and FSA or HSA cards may be used when permitted by your plan.

If you have out-of-network mental health benefits, I can provide a superbill for you to submit for possible reimbursement. A superbill does not guarantee payment, and reimbursement is determined and paid directly by your insurer.

Before beginning, ask your insurance company about your deductible, reimbursement percentage, and coverage for virtual, couples, or sex therapy. Some plans require a mental health diagnosis or may not reimburse relationship-focused counseling. I can provide appropriate documentation, but your insurer makes all coverage decisions. Confirming your benefits beforehand can help you make an informed financial decision.

Appointments are reserved specifically for you or your relationship. Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice when canceling or rescheduling. Sessions canceled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours’ notice are charged one-half of the session fee. A missed session without notice is considered a no-show and is charged the full fee.

This policy applies to individual therapy, couples counseling, and sex therapy. For a couples session, the appointment remains reserved for the couple if one partner becomes unavailable. Please contact me promptly so we can discuss rescheduling or another appropriate option.

I know that reaching out for therapy can feel vulnerable, especially when you are unsure how to explain what has been happening or whether I am the right person to help. You can begin by contacting me through my website, email, or phone. A brief description of whether you are seeking individual therapy, couples counseling, or sex therapy—and what you hope might feel different—is enough.

From there, we can schedule a 15-minute consultation. I will listen to what brings you in, answer your questions, and help you get a sense of how I work. There is no pressure to have everything figured out before reaching out. If we decide that working together feels like a good fit, we will choose a first appointment and take the next step together.