All sessions are virtual on a HIPAA-compliant Zoom platform. I recommend doing what you can to make yourself comfortable during sessions. Think about what you might what to have with you -- tissues? A cup of tea or coffee? A blanket? And think about where you want to be -- where can you have the most privacy so that you feel the most free to participate?

Therapy is a space for you to explore who you are, heal old wounds, and be seen. It's different than venting to a friend for a few reasons. First, the therapist has no stake in the game when it comes to your life -- they are an outside observer. Second, the therapist is bound ethically and legally to maintain your privacy. Third, the therapist is trained to show up without judgement. I've heard it said that we can't see ourselves, not fully. We are too busy being immersed in the middle of our experiences, after all. It can really help to have a trained professional outside of yourself to help you gently notice some of the patterns that are keeping you stuck, and to help you try on some new sets of lenses to see the world.

Yes, I can't share anything you tell me with anyone. With three exceptions: 1) you are at risk of ending your life, 2) someone else's life is at risk, and 3) a child is being abused. In these cases, I will need to get outside help, and I will notify you being doing so. Also, I meet with a few different colleagues for consultation because, well, more heads are better than one. In those cases, I share general information about what is going on so I can drum up some new ideas for how to support you, but I will not share any personally identifying information in that setting (no name, age, address, job, etc).

My background is in social work. This means I focus less on pathology and more on how the systems around us and our experiences shape who we are and how we look at our worlds. I use narrative therapy to help you consider at the stories you tell about yourself and your life, how those stories shape your reality, and how to revise those stories in order to reduce your pain. I also use a psycho-somatic approach, meaning I focus on building bridges between your mind and your body. I'm in Esther Perel's training community, in which she invites a new clinician every month to answer questions about various treatment models. I draw from her work on vitality/ aliveness frequently. I also draw from Attachment Theory, which focuses on how your early experiences shape your response to stress and rejection, and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), which focuses on using your true self to heal any parts of you that might be wounded or hurting. 

In January 2020, I graduated from Vermont College of Fine Arts with an MFA in Writing. Since I started the program, I have been studying the psychology of creativity and creativity as a spiritual practice. I draw from both fields of study when I work with artists and makers who feel stuck or overwhelmed in their process.

If you have more specific questions on how I work, send them my way!

These are questions for you, based on your needs, wants, and hopes! After we identify your goals, I can make a recommendation for frequency and duration of treatment. Ultimately, though, you get to decide what feels best to you. Typically, I recommend bi-monthly sessions. Some folks feel ready to rock after 8-10 sessions (sometimes more, sometimes less), others like to have monthly or quarterly follow-ups, like car maintenance. Both models work for me. Our question will be what feels right to you?

No, I do not.

If you would like to request a super bill to submit to your insurance company, I can give this to you. Some insurance companies and plans will partially reimburse you and some won't. You can call the member number on the back of your card to find out if you will be reimbursed. Questions to ask: Do I have a deductible? If so, what is it? Does my plan come with out-of-network benefits for mental health treatment?

If you can't pay and would still like to see me, start a conversation with me. I do offer a sliding scale, and we can talk about what feels do-able for you financially.

I believe that the personality match is the most important part of therapy. If you meet me and don't want to continue, that is totally fine. You can even ask me for other names, if you'd like. In general, I do recommend that you meet a few different clinicians for first sessions because it gives you a better idea of what you are looking for and what feels best to you for your treatment. Therapy is 100% voluntary, as is your choice of therapist. 

This very well could happen! I won't say hi to you first, only because it's your private information how you know me, not because I don't care or recognize you. Feel free to greet me if you'd like to, or not if that feels better to you.

If I have space, yes! Shoot me an email (katie@fireflycounselingvt.com) and we can chat. If you completed the New Client Form/ Couples Form within the last year, you don't need to do so again. Just let me know briefly in your email what's bringing you back in and we can go from there. As of January 2022, I won't be able to take your insurance. If you have questions about this or want to talk about finances, review the questions below and send any additional questions to my email!

I work with many different kinds of folks... people exploring their sexuality and/ or gender, trauma survivors, people who have suffered a loss of some kind, people who want to grow or change their relationship(s) in some way, people who are stuck in their creative work, and many other kinds of people... but the common denominator between all my clients is a wish to feel better. Happier, more fulfilled, and definitely more at peace. One note: I don't work with humans under the age of 22. Not because I don't like young humans... It's just not a part of my practice at this time.

Email me! katie@fireflycounselingvt.com

I require 24 hours' notice for cancelled appointments. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, I collect my full rate if an appointment is cancelled within that timeframe.