What to Expect
What happens once you contact me?
I will call or email you back, depending on your preference! The easiest way to get in touch with me initially is to text or email me, because odds are if you call me, I’m in a session (and unfortunately, I have not trained Luke or Cruella to answer phone calls for me yet, and it would be very awkward to pause a counseling session to answer the phone!). If you reach out during the week, most of the time I will contact you within 24 hours and if it is over the weekend, I’ll get to you at some point in between dogs and clients on Monday!
After some initial information, I’ll schedule an intake session with you to ensure that we are a good fit, and if you are bringing your child, to make sure that they feel comfortable with me. When working with younger kids, I find that it works best if we schedule an initial parent consult so that you can feel free to talk about anything and everything that is happening at home without your child feeling like we are talking about them without their input. With adolescents, it is easiest to build rapport if they attend their intake session by themselves and then will schedule a parent consult phone call to review my concerns and plans for treatment.
Before that intake session, I will send you a link to my electronic records provider, SimplePractice, which will get you all of the necessary paperwork and other information that I may need from you before seeing you or your child (for example, I have specific rules regarding custody situations that will be addressed in that paperwork and practice documentation, however, if you have any questions at any point, just reach out!)
My Office
My practice is located at 505 N 2nd Street in Longview.
It is a big white house, with black trim, and a huge Dalmatian Place sign out front. Just come on in the front door, turn to your right and make yourself at home in the living room that serves as my waiting room!
I’ll be out to get you just as soon as I am ready for you, as I am either finishing up with a client or giving a treat or break to one of my spotted friends.
(Please don’t knock or bang on the door; I promise I know you are here; I’m either finishing up with a client, wrapping up a telehealth session, or arranging for the dog taxi to bring or to make a delivery. )
We are a very busy, family-friendly practice in an old home, so we request that you limit yourself to 2 individuals per family/client in the waiting room.
Also, this is a healing, therapeutic space, so we ask that any disruptive children be taken outside to wait or that if there are bored, tired or loud siblings that you do make other arrangements. Please be mindful of your child hitting or kicking walls or screaming and crying, as those sounds carry into the office next door and can make for a very disruptive EMDR session! I know it is tempting to wander, explore, or even take toys from the playrooms, but please be mindful that others are using those spaces, and you are welcome to play with the items in the living room area.
You may hear dogs barking, laughter, or crying intermingled through the sounds of the many sound machines in the building. Don’t worry- that’s just the process!
Therapy can be loud (sometimes we play music or make music!), messy (fingerpaints or clay may be involved), or even playful (that’s why I have an entire room dedicated to being a Play Room!). No matter what it is, I want you to be comfortable! In this space, you are free to show up as you are today, and comfort is supreme.