Frequently Asked Questions
I do not accept health insurance. I am private pay only.
I do not work with clients under 18 years of age. I am happy to work with the parents or guardians of a pediatric transplant recipient/candidate.
I do not meet with clients in person. I want to reach as many clients as possible, and this means not having a brick-and-mortar office and instead only working with clients virtually.
I work with adult lung, liver, heart, kidney and pancreas transplant patients. I also work with living donors (kidney and liver).
I utilize the video system within Practice Better, which is a fully HIPAA compliant Electronic Health Records system. Once you become an official client, you will be provided a sign-up link to create your client profile on Practice Better where we house all of our forms, submit forms, relay/discuss any confidential info, and where we will meet virtually.
I accept credit or debit card and PayPal payments. I require payment within at least 24 hours before your scheduled session.
I do not provide refunds. However, I will credit your paid session that can be used towards a future session if you provide me with at least 24-hour cancellation notice. If an unexpected crisis happens and you need to cancel under the 24-hour window, I will consider on a case-by-case basis crediting you for the next session.
I completely understand wanting a family member or loved one involved and I welcome them for transplant case management sessions. We can include them in your client agreement. However, for health coaching sessions, I recommend keeping it just between us. This time is really for you, and having someone else in the coaching session might make you hold back or filter what you share. We can always discuss any special circumstances and figure out how to handle them as they come up.
I understand that crises can happen, especially with chronic illness and transplant. Our sessions are most effective when you’re not in the hospital or in a major crisis, but in a calm environment where you can process and receive support. If you’re in a crisis, I respect your need to focus on that and we can reschedule your session with at least 24-hour notice.
Whether our work together counts towards a transplant requirement depends on the transplant program, so it’s best to check with them directly. Transplant coaching is designed to support your personal growth and wellbeing, which can help improve your success with transplant or living donation. Health & Wellness coaching is becoming more recognized in healthcare, including transplant. However, your transplant or living donor team may still need you to work with a psychotherapist or participate in other programs covered by insurance (like relapse prevention for substance use treatment or weight loss clinics). Your transplant team will inform you of their specific requirements to pass their transplant evaluation, stay on their waitlist and succeed post-transplant. I’m here to help you navigate and complete some of those requirements, empower you to advocate for yourself, and supplement the care you’re already receiving!
Both health coaching and psychotherapy help people feel better, but do it in different ways.
Psychotherapy: Deep Healing & Mental Health Support
Therapists are licensed professionals trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. They provide structured, evidence-based treatment while adhering to strict regulations and ethical guidelines. Therapists treat a medical necessity and oftentimes why their services can be billed and covered by healthcare insurance. Therapy often explores past experiences, present struggles, and future goals to facilitate emotional healing and personal growth.
When to Choose a Therapist:
✔️ Coping with depression, anxiety, or unresolved trauma
✔️ Navigating a major life crisis (e.g., death of a loved one, going through a divorce or job loss)
✔️ Seeking professional diagnosis and treatment for mental health conditions
Health Coaching: Motivation & Lifestyle Transformation
Health and wellness coaches help people build better habits and live healthier lives. They don’t treat mental health issues, but they do support people in making positive changes. They help keep you motivated and become your accountability partner so you can successfully reach your health and wellness goals. Unlike therapy, coaching is not a licensed profession, so it’s more flexible in its approach.
When to Choose a Health & Wellness Coach:
✔️ Want to improve your lifestyle—examples: exercise, stress management, or sleep habits
✔️ Need help staying motivated
✔️ Looking for guidance and accountability to achieve personal wellness goals
Both therapy and coaching play essential roles in personal development. If you’re unsure which path is right for you, consider your needs—whether it’s deep emotional healing or proactive lifestyle support.
For more info, please check out:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/health-coach-wellness-coach
The short answer is EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION!
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I bring over 15 years of experience in medical social work, including 11 years specializing in solid organ transplant. I’ve helped many clients and families during their toughest times, offering support when hope seemed lost.
Through my journey, I discovered I was naturally using coaching techniques long before earning my certification. Now, I combine clinical expertise with coaching strategies to help you move forward with confidence. With ongoing education required to maintain my LCSW and ACM-SW, I stay at the forefront of the best methods to support you every step of the way. I deeply value learning by reading journals, attending conferences and webinars so that I can stay up to date with what’s happening in the world of transplant and healthcare. Keeping that growth mindset is so important!
You would not be able to unsee me as your therapist and in order to effectively motivate behavior change, it’s critical to draw the line between those two roles. I also am very diligent to not enter dual relationships with clients, as this really can oftentimes blur the lines within our working relationship. Being both your health coach and therapist would be considered a dual relationship.