IN-PERSON IN TACOMA, WA | WA & FL ONLINE

Frequently Asked Questions

Start with a Consult

  • I’m a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Washington and Florida.

    • Master’s in Counseling Psychology – Bastyr University, 2014

    • Bachelor’s in Health Psychology & Human Biology – 2012

    Bastyr’s humanistic and integrative model still informs how I work. It emphasizes treating the whole person—mind, body, and story. I honor each client’s complexity, trust their inner wisdom, and create space for healing that isn’t just about symptom relief.

    I have additional training in: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), IFS-informed parts work, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

    I’m also deeply influenced by depth psychology, narrative therapy, somatic awareness, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and Relational Frame Theory.

  • $250 per 50-minute individual therapy session.

    I accept credit/debit cards, HSA/FSA, and electronic payments.
    Payment is processed automatically on the day of your appointment.

  • I’m an out-of-network provider and don’t bill insurance directly.
    However, I’m happy to provide a superbill (a document you can submit for possible reimbursement).

    If you’re planning to use insurance, here are questions to ask your provider:

    • Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits for outpatient therapy?

    • What’s your reimbursement rate for CPT code 90837?

    • What percentage of the session fee will be reimbursed?

    • Is there a deductible I need to meet first?

    • How do I submit a superbill?

    • Are there session limits or frequency restrictions?

    Most clients with out-of-network benefits are reimbursed 30–60%, depending on your plan.
    Insurance companies usually base this on their own internal rate, not mine.

  • I start most clients with weekly sessions.

    Real change takes more than talking things through. It requires enough consistency to stay with what’s coming up, to understand the pattern, sit with what’s underneath it, and begin to shift how you respond.

    When sessions are spaced too far apart, it’s hard to build that kind of traction. We might touch on things, but not stay with them long enough for anything to really change. Over time, that can end up costing more. More time, more energy, and often more money, without the progress people are actually looking for.

    How long therapy lasts depends on what you want to work through, but most people begin to feel meaningful shifts within a few months of consistent work.

    That kind of consistency is what allows this work to really take hold.

  • • 24-hour notice is required for cancellations or reschedules
    • Late cancellations or no-shows are charged the full session fee
    • Your card on file will be charged automatically on the day of your appointment

    If you need to make a change, just reach out as soon as possible.
    Life happens. I appreciate the heads-up.

  • Ally is my care coordinator.

    She handles all the behind-the-scenes logistics—scheduling, billing, and helping things run smoothly so I can stay focused on the therapy itself.

    You might hear from her (or someone on her trusted team) if you’re rescheduling or sorting out paperwork.

    Need help? Email Ally at ally@talksoverteatherapy.com
    She’s responsive, kind, and here to make things easier.

    When Ally is away, someone from her team (usually Amy) may step in to help.
    They are professionals I trust and have worked with personally. Each holds a signed BAA.

    Anything therapy-related always comes from me directly. But for logistics? You’re in good hands.

  • Yes—I’m fluent in Russian and understand everything, but I primarily do therapy in English. That’s where I’m most comfortable, especially for deeper emotional work.

    You’re welcome to speak in Russian if that feels more natural. Many clients speak in Russian while I respond in English, or we shift back and forth.

    Главное — чтобы вам было комфортно.

  • Most of my clients look like they have it together.
    But inside, they’re carrying more than anyone knows.

    I love tracking that nuance—what’s just beneath the surface, what hasn’t had space yet, what still needs tending.
    Even the parts that say, “You’re being dramatic,” or “Other people have it worse.”
    Even the part that’s afraid of being too much or not enough.

    You're not broken.
    You're just ready for something deeper.

We can’t talk about healing without talking about the systems that caused harm and still do.

The work I do includes tracking how systems like culture, race, gender, religion, and queerness shape how we move through the world, and how our internal systems adapted in response.

I welcome LGBTQ+ clients, and anyone whose way of being has had to shift just to stay connected.

Self-leadership doesn’t always look calm.
It can come through boundaries, directness, grief, rage, clarity, or refusing to go quiet.