FAQ
Where is your practice located?
Tree of Life Counseling is located at 72 S Old Rand Road Suite 2 in Lake Zurich, IL, for those interested and able to attend in-person sessions.
We also conduct telehealth services. Therefore, our practice is any safe, confidential place where you can join the session! Please ensure you have privacy and stable Internet to make the most of our time together.
What are your hours?
How long are your sessions?
Do you take insurance? Why or why not?
I accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and United Healthcare. I do so begrudgingly and would love to stop contracting with them because American healthcare treats mental health with derision and as a luxury service.
The world we live in today is stressful. When in need, therapeutic care from a professional has to be accessible. Therapists are highly trained, so compensation for their time is necessary. At the same time, therapists, like doctors, should determine when the client recovers, not the insurance provider.
How do I set up an initial appointment?
Please call (847) 701-5536 to schedule your free 15-minute consultation! I would love to discuss your circumstances and provide help to the best of my ability.
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask that you give as much notice as possible before canceling your scheduled appointment. This notification allows us to use this free time to help another patient on their journey. To avoid incurring a late cancellation fee, we ask for no later than 24 hours before the appointment starts.
Late cancellations under 24 hours and appointment no-shows incur a $100 charge for the missed session.
With what age ranges do you work?
Do you work with women? Men? Couples?
What do you do in sessions?
I believe the heart of therapy takes place in the relationship between therapist and patient. Operating from this belief, I take a more conversational approach than many of my professional colleagues.
I employ active, attentive care to each person I work with, providing psychoeducation while making observations and providing commentary with a dash of humor. My rapport is based on kindness, compassion, and being nonjudgmental.
Do your clients receive assignments between sessions?
What therapeutic modalities do you use?
As stated above, a humanistic approach is the foundation of the therapeutic process and permeates everywhere. I take an integrative approach, drawing from a full spectrum of treatment modalities and intentionally and appropriately applying them to each person, depending on their circumstance. Therefore, you will receive individualized care.
My default modalities include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which blends Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Brief Solution-Focused Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and Existential Therapy into a comprehensive package.
I am also extensively trained in trauma therapy, using a blend of Narrative Trauma Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy. If appropriate, trauma-informed care is helpful for application to general therapy practices.
What is your professional training and experience?
I have an undergraduate degree in Intellectual and Development Disability care for children, adults, and their families. I also have a Master of Arts in Counseling.
I have considerable experience with low-income and homeless care and in Restorative Justice from my time working in probation court and in maximum security prison mental health care. I also have experience working with substance abuse treatment, suicide prevention and assessment, psychosis treatment, and catastrophic medical care.
I am experienced and enjoy working with complex symptoms and circumstances. I am proud to support my patients through some of the darkest experiences a person can encounter and help them find peace of mind, stability in life, and ever-growing hope.
What are your favorite movies, shows, pastimes, etc.?
What is your favorite movie or show depiction of a therapist?
As Sean in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams blends the seriousness of trauma care with the loving compassion and humor that grounds solid evidence-based therapy in meaningful relationships.
Are you religious/spiritual?
Existential and spiritual beliefs are a foundational component of the human experience, and therapists are no different. In my mind, mental health care without considering such a core aspect of the human condition is a missed opportunity.
As stated earlier, the particular emphasis varies from person to person, so not all treatments likewise vary. If your spiritual beliefs are worth considering, we would love to take the time and space to discuss and explore their role in your journey.