Beneath The Pattern Therapy Maryland Trauma ADHD Attachment Patterns CPTSD

Frequently Asked Questions

Starting therapy often comes with questions, and it’s completely normal to want a clearer sense of what the process might look like. Below are answers to a few things people commonly wonder about before getting started. If you do not see your question here, you are always welcome to reach out!

  • I work with teens (13+), young adults, and adults across Maryland. I specialize in supporting people navigating anxiety, trauma, ADHD, relationship patterns, and major life transitions.

    Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and self-aware, but still feel stuck. You might understand your patterns, yet they keep showing up in ways that are hard to change on your own.

    Your mind may not slow down. You replay conversations, question yourself, or feel responsible for how others feel. You hold yourself to high standards, but it’s exhausting trying to keep up. Anxiety can feel constant, burnout may be creeping in, or pushing through just isn’t working anymore.

    In relationships, things can feel confusing or intense. It might be hard to set boundaries, trust your reactions, or stay grounded in close connections. At times, your responses don’t fully make sense, even to you.

    You may also be starting to connect the dots between your past and how you show up now, and wondering how to actually shift those patterns, not just understand them.

    Therapy is a space to slow things down, make sense of what’s underneath, and start moving through life with more clarity, steadiness, and self-trust.

  • My approach to therapy focuses on slowing down and getting curious about what might be happening beneath the patterns shaping your emotions, relationships, and daily experiences.

    Together, we explore how past experiences, attachment dynamics, and nervous system responses shape the way you move through the world today. This might include understanding trauma responses such as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, noticing moments when anxiety takes over, or making sense of relationship dynamics that keep repeating.

    Therapy with me is also very human and conversational. Rather than sitting in silence while someone analyzes you, it’s two people showing up to think through things together. There is space for honesty, reflection, and sometimes even humor, because healing does not have to happen in a rigid or overly clinical environment.

    I draw from approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), attachment-based therapy, somatic practices, and person-centered therapy, tailoring these approaches to fit your unique experiences and goals.

    My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable showing up authentically while working toward deeper self-understanding and meaningful change.

  • The first session is a space to begin getting to know each other and to talk about what has been bringing you to therapy. You do not need to have everything figured out beforehand. Many people come in with a mix of questions, uncertainty, or simply a sense that something in their life feels difficult or overwhelming.

    We will spend time discussing what has been happening recently, as well as some background information that helps provide context for your experiences. This may include talking about relationships, past experiences, or patterns you have noticed in your emotions or reactions.

    The first session is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of what it feels like to work together. Therapy is a collaborative process, and finding the right fit is important. You are always welcome to ask questions about the process, my approach, or anything else that would help you feel more comfortable.

    Rather than feeling like an interrogation or checklist of questions, the first session is meant to feel like a conversation where we begin to understand what has been weighing on you and what you might hope will feel different moving forward.

    The first session is an intake appointment where we will talk about what brings you to therapy, review relevant history, and begin identifying goals for our work together. This session also gives us the opportunity to see if the therapeutic fit feels right for you.

    Sessions are held via secure telehealth using the doxy.me platform. You will receive a private link before your appointment that allows you to join from your phone, tablet, or computer.

    Before your first appointment, you will complete intake paperwork and consent forms through a secure client portal. This includes information about policies, billing, and appointment procedures.

  • Initial Intake Session + Diagnostic Evaluation:

    • $200 (60 min.)

    Follow-up sessions/Individual Psychotherapy:

    • $180 (53-55 min.)

    • $160 (45 min.)

    • $130 (30 min.)

    Therapy is an investment in your well-being, and many clients choose private-pay therapy because it allows for greater privacy, flexibility in treatment, and the ability to focus on the work that feels most meaningful to them.

    Payment is collected at the time of each session, and I accept credit, debit, and HSA/FSA cards.

  • I have limited availability for those in-network with CareFirst and Cigna.

    Coverage and benefits can vary depending on your specific insurance plan, so I encourage clients to confirm their mental health benefits with their insurance provider before beginning therapy. This can help clarify what your expected session costs may be. Depending on your plan, you may be responsible for the full session fee until your deductible has been met.

    You may consider asking your insurance provider the following questions:

    • Do I have outpatient mental health benefits?
    • What is my deductible, and has it been met?
    • What is my copay or coinsurance for therapy sessions?
    • How many therapy sessions are covered per year?
    • Do I need a referral or prior authorization for therapy?
    • Are telehealth therapy sessions covered?
    • Are there any limitations on CPT codes 90791, 90837, or 90834?

    Private-pay therapy is also available for those who prefer not to use insurance or whose plans may not cover therapy services.

  • I believe meaningful change happens through greater self-understanding, compassion, and supportive relationships. Many of the struggles people face, such as anxiety, trauma responses, or repeating relationship patterns, developed as ways of coping with difficult experiences.

    In therapy, we take time to understand those patterns with curiosity rather than judgment. As insight grows and the nervous system begins to feel safer, new ways of responding to emotions, relationships, and life challenges can naturally emerge.

    Healing is not about “fixing” who you are. It’s about understanding yourself more deeply and creating space for more choice, flexibility, and connection in your life.

  • Under U.S. law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance, or who are not using insurance, an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. 

    Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure you also save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. 

    For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.

“Compassion springs from the heart, as pure, refreshing water, healing the wounds of life.”

- Thich Nhat Hanh