Frequently Asked Questions

I work with dating, engaged, and married couples; adult siblings; parents and adult children; and parents raising young families in North Carolina.

Some come to strengthen an already meaningful relationship. Others are navigating recurring conflict, infidelity, divorce, blended-family transitions, parenting challenges, or the loss of a partner or parent. Together, we work toward healthier patterns, clearer boundaries, and more connected relationships.

Therapy includes clinical assessment and treatment to address emotional distress, mental health concerns, and relationship patterns affecting your well-being.

Mentorship is nonclinical guidance focused on personal growth, relationship education, values, and practical goals. It does not include mental health diagnosis or treatment and is not a substitute for therapy. During your consultation, we can discuss which service fits your needs.

When it comes to choosing a therapist, one size doesn’t fit all. Start with a free, 15-minute consultation to share what brings you here, ask questions, and learn how I work.

If we decide to move forward, you’ll complete your intake paperwork and schedule your first appointment. You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

Your privacy matters. Before we begin, we’ll review who is participating as a client, how records and communication are handled, and the limits of confidentiality.

We’ll also discuss how information shared individually—through messages or separate conversations—is handled within our work together. Confidentiality has legal and ethical exceptions, which I’ll explain during the informed-consent process. You’re welcome to ask questions before sharing sensitive information.

No. Clients of all faiths and no faith are welcome.

As a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, I understand that faith can be an important part of relationships, family life, and identity. Therapy and faith aren’t mutually exclusive. If you’re looking for a Bible-centered therapeutic experience for yourself, your relationship, or your family, it would be my pleasure to discuss that with you. Faith integration is always optional and guided by your preferences.

Accrescent is a self-pay practice, and I do not bill insurance.

Self-pay allows us to plan our work without insurance authorization requirements or needing a diagnosis solely to qualify for coverage. Fees are clear upfront, and we can choose session lengths and participants based on your needs. Because I don’t bill insurance, I don’t submit claims or clinical information to an insurer for payment.

Insurance can make therapy more affordable for some families and I am sensitive to the financial investment therapy is in a self-pay arrangement. We can discuss costs during your consultation so you can make an informed decision.

Couples and family therapy options are:

• Single session: $125 for one 50-minute appointment.

• Monthly plan: $200 for two 50-minute appointments per month.

• Extended monthly plan: $300 for two 90-minute appointments per month.

Prices are per couple or family, not per person. Monthly plans offer a predictable cost for ongoing support. Before you enroll, we’ll review billing, scheduling, cancellations, and how unused or additional appointments are handled.

Sessions are available in 50- and 90-minute formats. We’ll discuss the frequency and length that fit your concerns, goals, and circumstances, then revisit those decisions as our work progresses.

Longer appointments can provide more room for multiple perspectives, guided conversations, and practicing new skills. Some situations benefit from more frequent contact. Monthly plans include two appointments per calendar month.

We begin by getting to know you and the relationships that bring you here. I’ll ask about your concerns, relevant history, strengths, and what you hope will change.

For couples and families, I want to understand each person’s perspective and how you respond to one another when things become difficult. We’ll also review practice policies, discuss initial goals, and identify next steps. You won’t be expected to resolve everything in one appointment.

I provide virtual therapy for clients located in North Carolina, with in-person appointments available by request.

Virtual appointments let you attend from a private space without traveling to an office. If participants need to join from separate locations, let’s discuss those arrangements in advance, including where each person will be located. In-person location and availability can be discussed during your consultation.

Yes. Parents can attend on their own for support with parenting and family dynamics.

We can explore discipline, connection, differences in parenting approaches, and how to respond to children’s individual needs and temperaments, including neurodivergent children. We can also work on staying connected as partners while building the home you want for your children.

Children may participate when appropriate to help us understand family interactions and practice changes together.

Not necessarily. Who participates depends on the concerns we’re addressing and the goals of therapy.

We’ll discuss whether it makes sense to begin with parents, adult siblings, a parent and adult child, or another combination of family members. If someone is unwilling to attend, you can still reach out to explore available options. Your own boundaries and responses can change, even when you cannot control someone else’s participation.

You don’t need to arrive with a shared decision about your future. You can begin by being honest about where each of you stands.

We’ll explore your concerns, hopes, and willingness to work on the relationship, then discuss an appropriate next step. That may involve relationship repair, further clarification, or a referral for a different type of support. The purpose is to support thoughtful decisions, not pressure you toward a particular outcome.

No. Therapy can help you strengthen a relationship before concerns become a crisis.

For premarital couples, I offer a structured approach using three focus areas: conflict resolution, marriage expectations, and one additional module you choose. Options include finances, spirituality, parenting, household responsibilities, extended family, and shared dreams. The planned course spans 12 sessions, with exercises between appointments.

Couples and families can also use therapy to prepare for parenthood, navigate a transition, or build healthier habits together.

I’d want to understand what helped previously, what didn’t, and what you felt was missing.

My approach combines understanding your relationship patterns with practicing different ways of responding. I have completed Level 1 and Level 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. In couples work, we may explore friendship, love and respect, criticism, contempt, defensiveness, withdrawal, and what happens when emotions become overwhelming.

When infidelity is part of your story, our work may include acknowledging its impact, clarifying values and boundaries, and rebuilding trust through consistent actions. With families, we may focus on grief, co-parenting, blended-family adjustments, or longstanding wounds. We’ll shape the work around your goals and check whether it is helping.