FAQ

My hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm and Sundays, from 9am-1pm PST.

My office is located at 8880 W. Sunset Rd #200, Las Vegas, NV 89148 at LifeStance Health, across from Ikea.

Chief Counseling also provides services online to Nevada and Washington with a platform called Simple Practice. I chose it because it’s so easy to use and minimizes the familiar frustrations of other online platforms.

Great question! I have found it to be just as good. There is something to be said for skipping the hassle of commuting and doing this challenging work in the comfort of your own space.

The online platform I use makes payment easy by allowing you to add a credit or debit card. If that’s not possible, we can talk about making other arrangements.

I also accept the following insurance plans upon verification: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Cigna, Optum, UMR, United Healthcare, and out-of-network insurance benefits.

Superbills are available for submission to insurance upon request. Health savings accounts (HSA) are also an option, but please make sure all information is up to date with the company. Other payment options can be discussed.

I’m flexible because I know life happens and things come up. That said, 24-hour cancellation of services is required.

Sessions canceled with less than a 24-hour notice will be subject to a fee of no less than 25% of the 50-minute session rate. Sessions missed without a courtesy call to cancel will be subject to a fee of no less than 100% of the 50-minute session rate. If payments are made in cash, or there is no card to charge, then the additional amount will be due at the beginning of the following session and the normal session payment. Payment arrangements are available.

Again, life happens. All I ask for is a call or text.

We’ll first have a brief 20-minute consultation to ensure we’re a good match. Assuming we are, I’ll send a portal invitation via the online platform to your email. This is where everything regarding your treatment, including the link for online sessions, will be located. You’ll also use the portal to complete intake paperwork.

Our first session will be an hour-long intake session, where I’ll learn more about your history and what’s brought you to therapy. From there, we’ll schedule our first official session to begin therapy.

I love this!

We recognize our friends are there, and they want to support us as much as possible. However, without specific training, especially in the area of trauma, they run the risk of unintentionally retraumatizing you and worsening your symptoms. Also, you recognize your friends have their own lives and perspectives, which could lead to you feeling like a burden, judged, or embarrassed.

That said, I usually encourage my clients to develop or deepen the relationships around them because I’m only with you one out of the 168 hours in a week!

Great question! I could answer this by telling you about my years of training (both in life and academia), but I think my perspective on people might be the best answer.

When functioning at 100%, I believe people are capable of more than we can ever imagine. So, just imagine how much more capable we could be if we didn’t have the clouds of past trauma hanging around in our lives!

I attended the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky, where I earned two Master of Arts degrees – one in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and another in Addictions Counseling. It was a wonderful school and experience.

I am fully licensed in Nevada. I’m trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), both of which are widely used to address trauma.

I belong to the American Counseling Association (ACA). The ACA is a hub of counseling information and activity – specifically, for my purposes, on the topic of trauma and its treatment.

Finally, I am member of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). The NBCC is a highly recognized certification, which shows colleagues and the public that I have voluntarily met high national standards for counseling.

I have been practicing professionally since 2018. My experience, however, comes from more than just textbooks and classes. I have life experience which guides and influences my practice.

We live in an ever-changing world, and I do whatever’s called for in the moment.

Our overarching goal will be to work through your trauma. And as life happens, we’ll adapt.

My philosophy is summed in a quote by Cicero: “While there’s life, there’s hope.”

As long as we draw breath, there’s hope for a better tomorrow – a tomorrow in which there are no flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts.

My approach is trauma-informed and keeps you as the person at the center. Whether it’s intense work or a lighter recovery session, your needs are always central.

Absolutely! In fact, that’s what we recommend.

The free consultation is usually 10 to 20 minutes. During that time, we’ll share with each other a few important details to determine if we’re a good fit to work together.

It’s something like a brief interview to make sure I understand your concerns and can help. Also, I make sure your concerns are within my scope of training. For example, I’m not yet trained to work with children or do parental training.

My first answer is you’ll know by my ability to understand your concerns and create a plan to address them.

But more importantly, I think: Have you ever had a gut feeling about something? Trust your gut.

The work is challenging, but the results are fulfilling.

It brings me great joy to see clients walk out of the office with a completely different perspective on the world around them.

That and I rock-climb!