SETTING UP A FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
If you would like to arrange a free 30-minute consultation, you may call 850.866.2483 to set up a convenient time. When you call, I will personally speak with you to make an appointment. If I am not immediately available by telephone, I will make every effort to return your call on the same day you make it, with the exception of weekends and holidays. If you are difficult to reach, please include in your message some times when you will be available. If you are unable to reach me and feel that you cannot wait for a return call, contact your family physician, 911, or the nearest emergency room and ask for the mental health specialist on call.
The initial consultation serves several purposes. Choosing a therapist can be a daunting task and is a very personal decision. I offer the free consultation to provide you the opportunity to visit the office and gauge your comfort level with me. The therapist-client relationship is a very important part of the counseling process. You should trust your instincts. It is normal to feel hesitant about sharing your private life with someone you don't know, but you should be able to get a sense whether I might be someone with whom you could work. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about my approach, the therapy process, policies and fees, etc. Feel free to express any uncertainties or concerns.
This consultation is not a therapy session, but is time used to get a general sense of the reasons you are seeking therapy and determine if I am able to offer counseling in the area of your needs. I wouldn't want to delay you in the process of finding help if I do not specialize in that area. There is such a diversity of needs that it is very difficult, if not impossible, for therapists to keep current on the most recent findings regarding effective treatment in every area. You will want a therapist who focuses on and is committed to continuous training in your area of need. I hope I am able to help. However, if not, I will likely be able to provide an appropriate referral.
REFERRALS
The following are some examples of situations in which I refer. For individuals who are currently battling an addiction, I refer to a specialist in that area. If they are seeking help for reasons other than the addiction, I will work with them while they are concurrently undergoing addiction treatment elsewhere. While I see men in the context of couples counseling and family therapy, I currently do not work with men individually. I also do not provide marital counseling to couples when there is an active, ongoing affair. It is impossible to work on a marriage in this situation. I refer the person engaged in the affair to individual counseling and suspend marriage counseling until the affair has been terminated. Finally, I am not a child psychologist. I treat children and adolescents with eating disorders within a family context. However, I do not offer individual treatment to children younger than age 13.