Download our free guide: 5 Signs you and your new therapist might be a good fit!

Our relationship is the foundation

for our work together

Maybe it feels like…

  • You wonder whether relationships are supposed to be this hard. It seems like you feel most distant from the person who should be closest to you, and no matter how hard you try, there is a wall between you and them you can’t cross. It may be a romantic partner, or perhaps you’re estranged from a family member and need support in working through the emotional complexities of this relationship.

    You don’t know how to express your boundaries- or don’t even know what they should be. You’re afraid to emotionally open up altogether, and you worry about being rejected for asking for “too much.” But you also know that closing yourself off only leads to feeling more disconnected and alone.You’re curious about how your history may be impacting the way that you relate to others, and you wonder whether it’s possible to unlearn the behaviors or thought patterns that are making it harder to form authentic, meaningful relationship.

    Maybe the relationship that troubles you most is the one you have with yourself. Perfectionism may hold you back from taking exciting steps in your career, your relationships, or your other life goals. A fear of failure compels you to procrastinate, even as you dream about moving forward. You struggle with self-blame, guilt, or shame that prevents you from recognizing and loving the person that you truly are. You wonder whether you’ll ever feel “good enough,” and what that even means. Most of all, you’re ready to start working on healing your relationships with yourself and with those around you.

    Our aim in individual and relationship therapy is to empower you to form sustainable and vibrant connections with yourself and with each other.

  • We often have trouble articulating what we need or what we lack in our lives. You may feel lonely or isolated even while surrounded by loved ones. You may feel like a failure or an impostor, even as others admire and celebrate your accomplishments. Your anxiety keeps you from doing the things you truly want to do in your career or in your social life, filling you with regret and a sense of loss. You worry that you’re not living the life that you’re meant to live, and you wonder why everything seems to come so easily to the people around you. You’re tired of struggling and just want to understand why you feel the way that you do — and how to start feeling better.

    If you are afraid that your problems aren’t “big” enough to warrant asking for help or embarrassed that you’ve been unable to resolve them on your own, you’re not alone! Many people believe that they “should” be able to solve their own problems, but this can be difficult when you don’t have the tools and insights that you need.

    Therapy can help you discover these missing pieces that need to be addressed, experience powerful “a-ha!” moments, and renew and restore your connection to yourself.

  • You’ve lived through difficult, confusing, even life-altering experiences that have shifted the way that you think and react, even if you’re not always sure what to call them or how to feel about them. You have been told, and believe, that “sometimes bad things happen to good people,” but a small voice in your head may still try to put the blame on you.Whether these events occurred in childhood or more recently, you’re struggling to come to terms with what happened to you, and want to move forward in a way that leaves you feeling healthy, safe, and whole. You grieve for the person you used to be, or for the person that you feel you could or should have been. Maybe you worry that your inability to trust other people will prevent you from forming a healthy intimate relationship ever again.

    I am experienced in working with trauma and PTSD, including relational trauma, sexual trauma, and complex trauma stemming from childhood abuse and neglect. I also support clients who have experienced painful experiences that they may not know how to categorize or put a label to, but that have been deeply impactful. We’ll help you nurture your ability to be self-compassionate, strengthen your skill in managing difficult or overwhelming emotions, and regain a feeling of safety in your body and in your relationships.

  • Sometimes it can feel as though life is moving too quickly and you’re fighting to keep up with the changes it brings — whether they’re positive or negative. Even minor life transitions can sometimes feel like loss, as you cope with the shift from the familiar to the unknown… and major changes or losses can feel completely overwhelming. You may be someone used to “having it all together," but find that your usual coping tools still leave you treading water.

    Your life may not look the way you envisioned, and it may feel impossible to make peace with this version of things. You feel anxious, angry, scared, and helpless. I am experienced in working with anxiety that is situational, as well as overwhelm related to major life transitions and loss. I honor your unique experience of chaos, change and grief, and offer an empathic presence to help you work through pain to rediscover your vibrant self. I respect the strengths that have brought you this far, while inviting you to explore new tools that will help you adapt and flourish.

  • You’ve tried therapy in the past, but found yourself spending much of your time educating your therapist, rather than working with them. You’re tired of having to start from scratch with each topic you want to address, and you wonder how much more effective therapy would be if your therapist truly understood where you were coming from. When your therapist is unable to understand your lived experience, it can be challenging to develop a productive partnership. The stories and issues that you bring to therapy are contextual, and it is important that your therapist be aware of and attuned to that.

    I understand that it is important to find the right therapist, not just any therapist. Our intake process includes a free initial consult that helps you get oriented to the practice, and to your clinician, before you have your first session. I also provide therapy that is rooted in a deep understanding of the ways in which societal structures can reinforce harm, and I am committed to engaging in mindful anti-oppressive practice that is anti-racist, LGBTQ+ affirming, and welcoming of your whole personhood.

  • But now is your chance to try something different, something vulnerable, something that involves reaching out to another person and allowing someone else to meet you. Whether you are looking for practical strategies to reach specific goals, an empathetic guide to help you explore deeper issues, or a safe environment in which to resolve relationship conflicts, I am here to help you create the positive change and personal growth that will allow you live your life on your own terms — with more confidence, clarity, and self-compassion. I recognize the physiological nature of emotional experiences and offer an embodied approach that strengthens and engages the mind-body connection, helping you experience deeper and more lasting healing.

BOOK AN INITIAL CALL HERE!

I am experienced with a number of areas of concern including but not limited to:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder • Social Anxiety • Panic Attacks • Major Depression • Situational Depression • Stress Management

Anxiety and Depression

Childhood Trauma, Neglect, and Abuse • Sexual Trauma • Adult Children of Alcoholics • Racial Trauma and Systemic Marginalization • Traumatic Loss and Grief • Complex Trauma • Narcissistic Abuse • PTSD

Relational Trauma

Self-esteem • Self-compassion • Identity • Cultural or Racial Identity Negotiation • Navigating Adulthood • Exploring Gender and Sexuality

Identity Negotiation

Communication Skills • Boundary Setting • Concerns Related to Family of Origin • Estrangement • Couples Therapy • Relationship Therapy • Group Therapy

Relationship Concerns

Life Transitions and Grief

Loss and Grief • Changes in Significant Relationships • Ambiguous Loss • Emerging Adulthood • Stage of Life Concerns • Other Major Life Changes 

I am committed to an anti-oppressive, antiracist stance. I am LGBTQIA+ affirming. I employ a whole-person approach and see my clients and their concerns in the context of their lived experiences as well as the cultures and societal systems around them. I approach psychotherapy as a healing and liberatory practice.

Until further notice, all services are being conducted virtually.

BOOK AN INITIAL CALL!

  • If you find that your usual coping methods no longer work or that you are consistently struggling with relationships, work, school, or other major life domains, therapy may be helpful. Additionally, if you are struggling with feelings of guilt, shame, sadness, isolation, or anxiety, but cannot pinpoint why, therapy may be helpful. Therapy is not the only way to heal, but it is one way that is intentional, purposeful, guided, and evidence-based. It also provides you with a partner invested in helping you work toward your goals.

  • During your initial discovery call, we will discuss your goals and expectations for therapy, answer any questions that you have, and explain what to expect as a client of Bela Luz Health. Once you have been matched with your therapist, you will have an initial consultation, during which you can ask any questions you may have for them and schedule your first session. These steps can all happen in just a couple of days’ time. This is an intentional process with the goal of acquainting you with your therapist and preparing you for your first session, so that you can feel empowered, informed, and ready to invest in the process by the time you come into your first session.

  • Feeling as though you have a good rapport or “mesh well” with your therapist is important, as you need to feel comfortable being open and vulnerable with them in order to benefit from your time together. There are a few ways to identify whether you have a good fit:

    • You feel that there is room to ask difficult questions and have hard conversations without fear of judgment.

    • You feel able to talk about the pace of therapy and discuss when things feel too fast or too slow.

    • Your therapist is able to summarize issues discussed in a way that lets you know that they understand.

    • You feel comfortable talking about things that are working or not working, and your therapist is open to engaging in those conversations with you.

    • Your therapist demonstrates confidence and skill in the area(s) you are working through.

    • You feel seen and heard by your therapist, and they ask for clarification when things are unclear, rather than making assumptions.

  • Therapy with a skilled clinician is an empowering investment in your emotional health and in your relationships. Our out of pocket rates range from $300 to $350 per session, depending on the type of treatment (for example, individual vs relationship therapy).

    I am out of network with most insurance plans. Additionally, please be aware that Couples Therapy and Relationship Therapy may not be a covered service under insurance.

  • Private Pay means therapy on your own terms. Paying privately for treatment allows you and your therapist to work together without third party involvement or limitations.In order to pay for your services, insurance companies require access to your private health information — including your diagnosis. They may request additional information about your treatment and even your progress notes. These personal details become a part of your official medical record, potentially impacting your future health care coverage.

    Additionally, insurance companies impose limitations on the type, duration, or frequency of sessions they will cover, and may restrict access to services not focused on a diagnosable mental health condition, including couples counseling.

    Paying privately for therapy offers you the freedom to choose the treatment that is right for you, the provider that is right for you, the flexibility to decide the terms of your own healing process, and full control over who gets to access your health information.

  • We do not guarantee that you will receive any insurance coverage or reimbursement for Couples Therapy or Relationship Therapy. Should treatment not be covered by your insurance, you are responsible for the full cost of services.

    Insurance companies operate from a medical model that determines the individual as the unit of treatment. They provide coverage or out of network reimbursement for services based on the idea of medical necessity for the individual. However, in Couples or Relationship Therapy, the focus of treatment is on the relationship, and not the individual. The relationship is the “client.”

    Your clinician will utilize diagnoses that are relevant to Relationship Therapy, and will not typically assess or treat individual diagnoses in the course of Relationship Therapy. Typically, the diagnosis on file will reflect the nature of the Relationship Therapy assessment and goals, and not individual diagnoses or concerns. Often, Couples and Relationship Therapy treatment may not be covered by your insurance company.

  • If you receive in-network services, an in-network claim will be filed with your insurance. For out-of-network services, you are responsible for the full cost of treatment at the time of services. If you have HSA or FSA benefits, those can also be used to pay for services. If you have out-of-network benefits, you may be eligible for a partial reimbursement of treatment costs.

    I am happy to provide you with an insurance reimbursement document (a Superbill) if you would like to explore your eligibility for out-of-network benefits and reimbursement. However, I cannot guarantee what, if any, reimbursement you would receive for services. This will be negotiated between you and your insurance and will depend on your specific insurance benefits.

  • I am committed to providing accessible and equitable care and reserve a limited number of reduced fee spots for clients experiencing financial hardship. If you are interested in our services and may qualify for a reduced fee, this is something that can be discussed during your initial call with us.

  • Online therapy is very similar to in-person therapy, while being even more convenient and accessible. You may engage in therapy from any location in the state of Massachusetts, avoiding the need to cancel or reschedule appointments due to transportation concerns, as well as the need to drive to and from your appointments. Rather than meeting in an office, you will meet with your therapist on a secure, HIPAA compliant video conferencing platform. Detailed instructions regarding how to access the platform will be provided during your initial consultation.

  • Sessions are typically 45-50 minutes long. Sessions are usually between 1 and three times per week, at a regular time each week.. As treatment progresses, we may mutually decide to increase or decrease the number of weekly sessions.

    Therapy is most beneficial when treated as a relationship building process as well as a learning process. It takes consistency and intention to build a strong relationship with your provider, which will be the foundation of the treatment. Additionally, any kind of learning requires a commitment to consistency in order to achieve your fullest potential — imagine the challenge of learning a new language or artistic skill without regular practice! Through committing to consistent sessions with your therapist, you will see your best results when it comes to discovering, learning, and practicing healthy new ways of relating to your own emotions as well as to the people and circumstances in your life.

  • Everyone’s experience with therapy is different. The path of your unique journey is dependent on where you are starting from and where you would like to go. Your therapist will work with you to determine the frequency and length of treatment that will best serve your goals.

  • Therapy of any type is most effective when you arrive for your sessions prepared to engage in the process. Think of your experience with your therapist as a partnership where both you and your therapist have an important role to play in working together toward your goals. No matter how skilled or experienced your therapist may be, your participation is essential to achieving your best results.

  • Your session will be unique to you and your relationship with your therapist — there is no single template for how a session will progress. This therapy relationship is vital to your healing process, and together you will co-create the structure and flow of your sessions. Depending on your needs and goals, your session may include conversation, somatic work, mindfulness oriented work, and other strategies. Based on their training and your goals, your therapist may suggest various strategies or tools, but ultimately therapy is an engaged process and not a set of "tips and tricks." Healing is nonlinear, and the structure of your sessions may differ from week to week.

    Therapy is about improving things outside of your sessions, so part of the work happens between sessions and involves putting into practice what is discussed while in therapy. You may receive “homework” or recommendations for therapeutic lifestyle changes, allowing you to continue and build upon your progress outside of your sessions.

  • If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, you must provide 48 hours notice in order to avoid being charged a cancellation fee. All appointments begin and end on schedule and you are encouraged to arrive on time in order to get the most out of your session. The session fee will not be reduced if you arrive late.

Therapy FAQs