• No, A Space to Thrive is an Out of Network, direct pay private practice so clients pay out of pocket for services.
• If your insurance plan has Out of Network benefits, I can provide a superbill to clients so they may submit to their insurance company
  • Please Note: insurance reimbursement generally requires a mental health diagnosis
  • I discuss all diagnoses with clients and obtain their consent on such labels before providing superbills

• 20min initial phone consultation: FREE
• 90min Initial Intake Session: $225
• 50min Standard Therapy Session: $150
• 50min Standard Coaching Session: $150
• 90min EMDR Therapy Session: $225
• 2hour Therapy/Coaching Intensive: $300
• 6-week Group series: $500 (early bird full registration)
• 6-week Group series, charged weekly: $95 per week
• 8-week Group series: $700 (early bird full registration)
• 8-week Group series, charged weekly: $95 per week

Credit (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx), Debit, and HSA cards

• Ideally, trauma work is best processed in weekly sessions
• As intensive trauma work is accomplished, clients often move to every-other-week schedules
• Sometimes during a crisis or intense time, sessions 2x per week can be made available

• Yes!
• Currently we are offering the Healing Support Circle which is a 2-part therapy group offered in 6-week segments providing a total of 25hours of group therapy 
• HSC focuses on healing from psychological, narcissistic, and emotional abuse and centers on the book, "Healing from Hidden Abuse," by Shannon Thomas, LCSW (used with permission of the author)
• This circle is open to and centers the experience of nonbinary people, women, and femme individuals who have been uniquely harmed by the patriarchy, misogyny, and sexism.
• For more information and to register, click here

• All sessions are currently held online via TheraNest's telehealth video platform
• Due to the Covid19 pandemic, all in-person sessions have been moved to telehealth sessions in order to protect the health of clients and your therapist 
• You will need to make sure you have a private space to meet.  I recommend the use of headphones or earpods to increase privacy of telehealth sessions

• The first step is to schedule a FREE 20min phone consult so we can determine if we're a good fit for each other and the work you would like to be doing.
• After the initial phone consult, if you decide to move forward in working with Jennifer, you will schedule your initial 80min Intake Appointment--that can happen at the end of the consult call, via email, or online here. 
• For existing clients, you can log onto your Client Portal account and schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments online.  Additionally, you may send me an email: jennifer@aspacetothrive.com. 
• Once you've made an appointment, I will input your email and phone number into my records and send you an invitation to create a profile on the Client Portal.  There you can add all your information, e-sign consent forms, and complete the intake questionnaire online before your first visit.  This gives me a chance to read your answers and prepare for our first appointment. 

• All clients receive a reminder 48hours in advance of their session
• Clients are asked to confirm or cancel at that time
• If clients cancel within 24hours or less, or do not show for session, the full session fee will be charged

• This is an absolutely essential question you have every right to ask any therapist/counselor you interview.  If they don't offer their credentials, ask!  It is unethical and illegal for a person who is not a licensed professional in the state you reside to provide psychotherapy and counseling services.   This is for your protection.  With a license comes accountability, a legal and ethical code we are required to follow, and requirements for continuing education and professional development.
• I (Jennifer) have a Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy from Fuller School of Psychology in Pasadena, California.  I am licensed in the states of California and Texas and am in good standing with my licensing boards.  I am a Clinical Fellow member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) and the San Antonio Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (SAAMFT).
• If you're unsure about the credentials of a person you are consulting with or considering hiring as a therapist or counselor, you can always verify their license status with their state board.  In Texas you can visit here; in California you can visit here.
• From the Texas MFT Board of Licensing: Marriage and Family Therapists
  • A licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) is a mental health professional who provides professional therapeutic services to individuals and groups that involve the application of family systems theories and techniques. Services may include marriage therapy, sex therapy, family therapy, child therapy, play therapy, individual psychotherapy, divorce therapy, mediation, group therapy, chemical dependency therapy, rehabilitation therapy, diagnostic assessment, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and related services.
  • A licensed marriage and family therapist holds at least a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or its equivalent, and also must complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience in the field of marriage and family therapy services.
  • For more information about marriage and family therapists, visit the website of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists at www.dshs.state.tx.us/mft or call (512) 834-6657.
•  

• If you are aware of trauma in your past or present, it is important to ask if the therapist is trained in trauma-informed therapy approaches.  You can ask if they've worked with people who have experienced what you have.  You can ask for their philosophy, style, or method of addressing trauma recovery.  Therapy is definitely not a one-size-fits-all process.
• I have been providing intersectional, complex trauma-informed therapeutic care to clients ranging from pre-teen through elder years since 2007.  I work with individuals moving through single-event trauma and PTSD as well as people recovering from complex and developmental trauma (continual trauma environment that persists over time and from where there is no perceivable escape). 
• I integrate evidence-based psychotherapy practices such as EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness, along with expressive arts and talk therapy to guide clients in utilizing their own brain and body systems to heal itself and move toward thriving. 
• I incorporate the wisdom of intersectionality in my approach recognizing that we are a vibrant mix of all the parts of our identity and I explore with clients how trauma impacts and interacts with the various intersections of self (gender, sexuality, race, class, belief, ability, age, cultural identity, etc).  We also explore how social-community-global factors influence mental health and often contribute to experiences of trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, and acute stress.
• I am also a person who has her own lived trauma experiences that I have worked through healing  and recovery in my own therapy.  I consider it my ethical responsibility to continue engaging in my own mind/body wellness maintenance practices so that I may show up as my best, healthy, self, being present with my clients. 

• I am a queer, cis, woman who is committed to providing inclusive and intersectional therapy process
• Whether you’re exploring, questioning, or celebrating your gender identity, sexual identity, and romantic practices, it’s important to know if the therapist you want to work with is knowledgeable around the work you need to do.  
  • • A provider being “LGBT Friendly” may not enough to get the thoughtful,  informed, and practical care and support that you need.  
    • “Culturally competent” clinicians describe those who have specific experience, training, and engagement in the LGBTQ+ community, advocacy, and healthcare practices.  
    • It’s absolutely OK to ask these questions of a potential therapist!
• “Gender, sexual, and romantic minorities (GSM or GSRM)” refers to folks who live and thrive outside of the cisgender-heterosexual-monogamous identity including but not limited to: LGBTQ+, trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, queer, polyamorous, open relationships, asexual, pansexual, demisexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian.
  • “Gender and sexuality affirmative care” means that diversity of gender and sexual identities are affirmed and supported.  If you are needing letters of support for gender affirming medical treatment or safety carry letters, ask your therapist if they are trained and knowledgeable about these matters

• Ask a potential therapist for a 20minute phone consultation before making an appointment--this will allow you to ask them about their experience with various people, issues, and communities.
• Ask a potential therapist how informed they are about the socio-political aspects of your experiences (where relevant) and if they aren't currently informed but make a commitment to get informed, they may be worth considering (if all the other flags are green).
• Not every therapist who is a thoughtful, conscientious, compassionate clinician has experience with everything--it is common practice for therapists to educate themselves in specific matters in order to better connect with and guide a client.
• **It is not the client's job to expend emotional & intellectual labor educating their therapist** beyond the normal work of sharing about client's experiences, thoughts, and feelings.  If a client has a useful resource, it is entirely appropriate to direct a therapist to a particular book, website, or other media.
• It is a therapist's ethical duty to recognize and disclose any limits to their scope of competence and refer out those they cannot adequately serve.

• Congratulations!  You've made a courageous step toward your own personal growth, healing, and becoming!  Not everyone can do that, I'm proud of you 🙂   Therapy can look several different ways at A Space to Thrive. 
  • Sometimes we sit on the couch and talk. 
  • Sometimes I might suggest a creative process activity. 
  • Sometimes we might map out what we're discussing on a white board to get a visual of the abstract ideas. 
  • Some clients enjoy doing Walk it Out sessions where we take our session outside which we would do over the phone for telehealth  
  • Sometimes we might get up and take a superhero stance while deep breathing and truth grounding. 
  • Sometimes we cry, sometimes we swear, sometimes we rage, sometimes we laugh, sometimes we breathe deeply, sometimes we feel nothing, sometimes we feel everything, sometimes we write about it, sometimes we draw about it, sometimes we grieve, sometimes we triumph, sometimes we stumble, sometimes we keep practicing new things
• I tend to work organically and go with what the mood, energy, and inspiration is.  As a client, you *always* have the autonomy to not engage in an activity or exercise I suggest.  It will not hurt my feelings and I always rather have someone tell me they are uncomfortable, not ready, not into an activity than suffer quietly through.  I may offer therapeutic nudges out of your comfort zone, but I will always respect that you know yourself best and know what your limits are.

• Full disclosure: many people experience a seeming "backwards" movement or things getting messier and feeling worse before they get & feel better as they begin moving through therapy, healing, and recovery.  While unpleasant, this is normal and actually a positive vital sign of healing. 
  • Think of beginning a new workout routine--the next day you probably have a bunch of sore muscles.  Which doesn't feel good...except it reminds us that we are moving our bodies and working toward getting stronger. 
  • If your entire therapy process was fun and comfortable, I would not be doing you justice to the time and money you are investing in the growth you are truly seeking and ready to do. 
• Hang in there!  The messy part is NOT your new permanent residence.  It is just one of the stops along the journey on the way to thriving.  I encourage you to keep showing up anyway.  Let's talk about it.  Even if you're angry at the process, or even me--tell me all about it.  Journal it.  Cuss about it.  Cry it out.  It's grueling.  And it has the potential to be exhilarating, joyful, liberating, and empowering.

• Your fears and concerns are so valid and normal.  The truth is, healing *does* change us. 
  • When we move through grief, loss, trauma, depression, anxiety, exploring our identity, evaluating our relationship dynamics and patterns, we don't come out the other side the same. 
  • We learn how to navigate a new normal--including relearning ourselves. 
  • It can be disorienting, uncertain, and unsettling.  Change usually is. 
• Sometimes as we heal, we find that we are no longer willing to tolerate toxic environments or behaviors and arriving at that place demands we make changes in our professional, personal, social, religious, community, dwelling places. 
• As you grow and learn about yourself, your relationships, and your experiences, you will also be cultivating the courage, compassion, and resilience to walk in your truth.  And I'll be there cheering you on!