Frequently Asked Questions

Sunshine Integrated Therapy is 100% virtual. I provide individual teletherapy to people located in Michigan and Florida through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform.

That means you skip the traffic, bypass the stressful waiting room, and log in from the comfort of your own couch, bed, or office.

Because teletherapy is bound by state laws, I'm licensed to work with individuals residing in Michigan and Florida.

As long as your feet are physically located in either of those states during our call, we're good to go.

Reaching out is the part that takes the most nerve, and you've already done the hard thinking just by reading this far.

Your next step is to book a free 15-minute video consultation through the online booking link right here on the site. It's a relaxed, zero-pressure chance for us to meet face-to-face and feel out whether we're a good fit before you commit to anything.

Think of it as our first chance to see if we're a genuine match. Not every therapist is the right therapist for you, and that's completely okay.

You've probably read my website and gotten a feel for my approach. But actually talking, and hearing another person's voice, adds a whole different layer of clarity.

These fifteen minutes help you decide whether my style feels right and whether you feel that authentic, comfortable connection before we dive into the work. You'll also get to hear my "world renowned laughter," and quite possibly a curse word or two.

Standard individual therapy sessions are 53 minutes long.

That's enough time to settle in, get into the real material, and still land somewhere steady before we say goodbye for the week.

I love working with teens, young adults, and women of any age. And honestly, if you're a person, I'll work with you!

My work leans on structured, evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which give you practical mindset tools and real skills for managing big emotions.

Because lasting change involves the whole person, I also weave in restorative breathwork and energy cleansing techniques. That way we're tending to your mind and your nervous system together.

Above all of it, the relationship between us matters most. I could care less about your diagnosis. What I care about is you.

It feels like sitting with someone who's fully in your corner. Our regular sessions build a steady rhythm you can count on.

I hold a focused, respectful space for the hardest things you carry, and I balance it with a lighthearted warmth so it never feels sterile.

Together we roll up our sleeves and practice evidence-based tools in real time, so you can take back control from the emotions that have been running the show.

No rigid worksheets or dry assignments just to check a box. The work grows out of your own life instead.

Rather than "homework," we focus on practical, real-time adjustments you can fold into an ordinary day. Catching a thought spiral mid-air. Reaching for a quick grounding tool when a hard wave rolls in. Small, usable, and yours.

Protect your therapy hour fiercely. Show up on time, minimize distractions, and guard that space on your calendar like your peace depends on it, because it does.

When you treat that time as non-negotiable, you create the consistency that makes real change possible.

Please do. In this space, tears are never something to apologize for, and all emotions are welcome here.

Crying is simply your nervous system letting go. Those tears might come from deep, heavy sadness, from a moment of pure joy, or from a wave of gut-busting, soul-cleansing laughter.

Bring the tissues, and bring your whole self too.

Yes, you are. I believe strongly in the power of beneficial self-disclosure.

Our sessions always stay focused on you and your growth, but now and then you'll hear me share a relevant story, mistake, or insight from my own life when it serves you. I don't believe in being a cold, robotic blank slate.

Those real human moments only strengthen our bond. They show you that I'm right there in the trenches of life's transitions with you.

As long as you're dressed from the waist up, I'm completely fine with your favorite pajama pants, cozy sweatpants, or fuzzy slippers off-screen.

Comfort is a big part of healing, so show up in whatever lets you drop your shoulders and settle in. Just know I'll be comfy right along with you, though I never skip a cute pair of earrings to finish the look.

You can absolutely bring your bulleted lists, your mental notes, or a completely chaotic brain-dump. I love organization, and you also don't have to perform flawlessly or have your struggles neatly sorted for me.

We're here to unpack that heavy backpack together, completely unfiltered.

My screen doesn't come with a crystal ball or mind-reading software. I'm a licensed clinical professional, not a magician.

Our work is fully collaborative. You're the expert on your own life, and I'm your backup, helping you read the weather and find your way through it.

We embrace the chaos. Life happens, and virtual sessions come with bloopers.

If your pet makes a surprise guest appearance, I'll absolutely celebrate them (all the cuteness, none of the cleanup). And if the video freezes while one of us is mid-ridiculous-face, we simply laugh, log back in, and pick up right where we left off.

No perfection required here.

I earned my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Michigan State University and completed my Master of Social Work (MSW) at The Ohio State University.

For more than 25 years, I've been a practicing licensed clinical social worker, walking alongside individuals through complex life transitions and emotional storms.

Absolutely. I'm not perfect in any way, and yes, therapists need therapy too.

When I was moving through my own divorce, sitting in the client's chair was essential for my own grounding. And when you're a clinical professional, a lot of your closest friends are therapists too, so even our casual, deep, and hilarious coffee chats tend to turn into soul-cleansing therapy sessions.

I practice exactly what I preach, and I know firsthand the courage it takes to reach out.

Any season where the sun is shining brightly, which is exactly why I moved to Florida. Clear sky, warm weather, and I'm in my element.

To keep my own inner sunshine bright, I'm a firm believer in the restorative power of being near water. When I'm off the clinical clock, you'll almost always find me soaking up the sun by a pool or a beach, hunting down vibrant new food spots, or losing all track of time laughing with my very best friends.

Honestly, I have a deep love for all the fur babies. I'll happily gush over your pets on screen during our sessions.

Just don't ask me to be responsible for them full-time. I prefer to enjoy the cuteness and the cuddles, then hand parenting duties right back over to you.