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FAQs

Therapy can help.

If your coping skills (substances, eating, addictions) aren't helping you have a healthy positive life 

If someone in your friend or family circle is a trauma survivor

If talking about your feelings makes you feel angry or rageful

If you feel on high alert or shut down during your day or when reminded of a past event

If depression or anxiety has wreaked havoc on your life

If you've suffered emotional abuse

If your family of origin had toxic shame or attachment issues

If you've been isolated

If you love someone or have been loved by someone addicted to behaviors or substances

If the path to becoming a parent was hard 

If the path to not becoming a parent was hard

If you've had illness or accidents

If you've engaged in self harm

If you've had an eating disorder

If you've suffered any violence, assault or abuse

If you've suffered loss, if you grieve

Anyone involved in adoption and foster care including birth parents, adoptees and adoptive parents

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If you've ever felt unsafe in any way

If you've seen or been involved in a disaster

If you are an emergency responder

If you are a helping professional

If you've ever experienced hatred 

If you've ever been in combat or you love someone that has

If you've ever felt misunderstood

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If you've felt something - even if I or others can't see or categorize it - that causes you to feel emotionally overwhelmed, you would benefit from therapy.

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I'm scared to start therapy.

I will provide a safe place and time for you to learn about yourself.

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Before my clients started therapy they: 

  • worried about being diagnosed, judged or disrespected

  • they assumed that therapy would make them feel worse

  • they thought therapy would feel like an interrogation 

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After starting therapy they noticed:

  • making even small changes in their self care brings back hope

  • when they make a change all their relationships benefit 

  • it takes time to understand the impact of trauma/stressful experiences on their life

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Fear can keep us stuck in relationships and in our lives.  Step out even while you are afraid and I think you will find therapy deeply healing.

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Why don't you bill insurance? 

It is important to me to provide high-quality, specialized, and uniquely individualized care. Unfortunately, this has proven impossible to do within the confines of managed care. In addition to the low reimbursement rates, the amount of paperwork and high denial rate makes insurance reimbursement cost prohibitive for many psychologists. I support policy efforts by the American Psychological Association and the California Psychological Association to make mental health services more accessible for everyone.
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When insurance pays for your therapy your care must be deemed a "medical necessity" and you must be diagnosed with a psychiatric illness.  When you pay out of pocket I do not have to diagnose you or share any personal information with your insurance company.
When you pay for your therapy you get to choose the length of treatment and number of sessions. You can consult a therapist for self exploration or stressful life situations, as well as psychological symptoms.  ​
I have chosen to offer only a small number of session slots to keep my business small and exclusive.  I'm not stressed out from trying to keep track of all my clients.  I will know your story.


Because I have a limited amount of slots for clients I focus my other hours on tending to my own self care.  That way when we meet I can be totally focused on you and your healing.

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What is your cancellation policy?

Since the scheduling of an appointment involves the reservation of time set aside especially for you, a minimum of 24 hours notice is required for rescheduling or cancellation of an appointment. If a session is canceled less than 24 hours prior, the full fee will be charged. ​

What form of payment do you accept?

I accept Venmo, PayPal, or I can send you an email invoice using Square and you can pay with a credit card or your HSA or FSA account.  

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Payment is expected after our session.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no definitive answer to this question.  Some individuals find a few sessions sufficient while others like to work long term with someone they trust and will meet for a year or more. As a client centered therapist I believe you need to take the lead in your healing. Putting a lot of honesty and energy into your therapy means you will get a lot out of it.  We can collaborate to find goals and a course of therapy that feels right to you.  ​

What should I expect from therapy?

Most people want to work on:

  • Changing a behavior that might have helped them survive then but hurts them now

  • Learning new skills to enhance their relationships

  • Increasing coping and regulation skills when experiencing anxiety, depression or other big feelings

  • Help with decision making

  • Self knowledge, acceptance and development (learning that trauma is not WHO they are - it's what happened to them.) 

  • Exploring the past in a safe manner (and the client defines "safe")

  • Moving from self criticism and judgement to acceptance and self knowledge

 
You can expect our sessions to feel like a really good, in depth conversation.  There might be tears, laughter or anger. I will provide a nonjudgmental space with support, safety and empathy.
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For our online meetings we will meet on Doxy, a secure online therapy platform.
This is my personal waiting room:  https://doxy.me/schildbach
Before our first session please set up your online account, it only takes a few minutes.

What towns and states do you serve?

I am licensed in the state of Massachusetts as a Mental Health Counselor (license number 6755.) In Massachusetts I offer online individual, couple therapy and clinical case consultation for therapists. That means if you live in Boston, Worcester, Framingham or any other cities or towns in MA we can meet.  You may be eligible to meet with me in all 50 states if your presenting concern is best served by coaching. 

How can I prepare for my therapy session?

  • ​Take a moment before sessions to center yourself - connect with what is bothering you most at this point in time. 

  • Take risks to be open and honest in therapy.  Sometimes we hide our "bad parts" because we've been judged in the past.   Therapy is the time to share your "bad parts" - all the parts you keep hidden - so you can have the greatest reward and peace.  

  • Try asking yourself questions to "frame" your work in therapy.  What do I want most in life?  How do I want my life to change?  Knowing where you are going will help you take small steps to get there.

  • Remember that therapy is just 1 hour of your week - the other 167 hours are when you make the changes that will lead to the life you want to live.  Try to put into practice the insights you have during your sessions.  Make sure to celebrate even small gains!

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Good Faith Estimate

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. 

  • Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.  

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. 

  • You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. 

  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises. 

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