FAQ

Research (and 10 years of personally doing video sessions) has shown that in the vast majority of cases, video sessions are as effective as in-person sessions. Video sessions are also more convenient, as they save time on getting ready, driving, and waiting. You can also relax in your own space. For busy couples, there is the added benefit of not having to be in the same place for every session

I have sessions available most weekdays and evenings. If you need a special time, please let me know, and I can accommodate you.

A standard session is 50 minutes. I also offer 75- and 100-minute sessions.

I see clients with insurance, but do not bill insurance directly. Clients pay out of pocket, and I can provide a superbill for submission to your insurance company.

You can reach me through the “Contact” boxes on this website, through email at fpaphd@gmail.com or at (404) 422-0085. If you would like to speak with me prior to scheduling a session, we can arrange a telephone call or initial Zoom Video consult.

Payment is required at least 48 hours in advance of your session. If you need to reschedule, just let me know at least six hours prior to the session; you will not be charged, and your payment will be applied to the next scheduled appointment. The same policy applies to reasonable emergencies and illnesses, provided at least two hours’ notice is given.

Each client is eligible for one reschedule every three months. With 72 hours’ notice, you receive a full refund.

Anywhere but on your video screen!

I received my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology in 1988 and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1995 from Georgia State University, where, as a graduate student, I taught Abnormal Psychology. I completed my professional internship at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Atlanta.

Since the age of 20, I have worked in various mental health settings with diverse populations. After receiving my Master’s degree, I worked with psychotherapy clients. After receiving my PhD, I worked as  a Forensic Psychologist for 20 years, wherein I was sworn in as an expert witness in court over 300 times, including in Capital Crime cases, often for my expertise in PTSD. My primary focus for the past several years has been psychotherapy, though I continue to consult in Forensics.

I work with adults and teenagers.

I am an active therapist who frequently provides clients with in-depth insights and direction. I draw from decades of experience, as well as feelings, intuition, and wide-ranging knowledge. I utilize those insights to help clients work through their issues and to connect more deeply with themselves and others, allowing them to achieve greater fulfillment in life. While I draw from many techniques, as with most very experienced therapists, I also have my own approach that has developed over many decades,

Yes, for most sessions I provide types of homework such as journaling, emotional exploration and release, various customized experiential exercises, and more. 

Take notes during sessions, follow through with homework, and have faith in yourself and the process.

I use humor sparingly in my sessions and have received very positive feedback over the years. Of course, my humor is gentle and timed to avoid interrupting important moments in therapy.

Appropriately timed, laughing can bring immediate perspective and lightness to an otherwise often heavy process. You can quote me when I say, “Laughter is love playing,” and can be healing.

Yes, I can, and if you decide to bring a dream to a session, dream work can provide valuable insights. Sometimes I will quickly offer an interpretation. More often, we well engage together in “Dream Work”, which is a process of uncovering, revealing and understanding. Most clients enjoy the process. I have been called a master dream interpreter, and yet, some dreams I cannot interpret, and perhaps, some are not meant to be interpreted.

I love both, have one of each.

I had a calling when I was 14, which I cannot rationally explain. My career has provided me not only with excellent direction in my life, but also with a deep sense of purpose and meaning.

Funny you should ask! I performed professionally for six years at an improv theater house group in Atlanta. I have also taught improv on and off over the years. One thing I realized about my love for both improv and therapy is that central to both are “creative moments,” and there is a lot of fulfillment in those moments.

In both improv and therapy, there is a sort of openness of mind and focus on the other person. For improv to go well, the improvisor considers history, context and even personality as the improv scene is created and unfolds. Similarly, each offering that I make, each statement in therapy, includes consideration of the client’s history, current context, their goals for therapy, and more, all for the goals of insight, healing and growth.