1) I'll answer any questions you may have. 2) We'll briefly discuss what has led you to seek out therapy at this time so I can get an idea of what you're looking for & will share how I may be able to help. 3) We schedule an intake appointment, I add you to my waitlist, or I can provide referrals to other therapists in the community. If the idea of talking on the phone makes you nervous, I get it. Talking to a stranger can be uncomfortable. It can help to have your questions already written down & in front of you. I'm pretty good at putting people at ease fairly quickly. Now, if the mere idea of calling me is just a no go and you'll do anything to avoid it (including giving up on the idea of going to therapy), then I am absolutely fine connecting via text or email (both methods are secure and private on my end). Text - 907.865.8452 Email - jen@therapyinalaska.com On the 'Scheduling' page, I encourage you to fill out my screening form before we talk as it can save time.

Most people could benefit from therapy at one time or another. It's nice to have a safe, supportive and judgement-free space that exists to benefit you. It's a place for you to share the parts of yourself that maybe you've never been able to share with others or don't understand. Change is hard. It has to be intentional and takes effort / practice. But, you don't have to go it alone and you're absolutely capable.

Here's a very basic outline: People start therapy for a wide variety of reasons -- a major life change, a disturbing event/trauma, crisis, relationship trouble, times of transition, wanting to better theirself, etc. All you need to get started is a desire for things to be different. Motivation can be hard to come by and it looks different for each person but we approach it one step at a time. Intake session - I gather background & history while giving you a sense of what it's like to work with me. At the end we should both be on the same page regarding your overall goals (we revisit these goals periodically to assess progress/change). On rare occasion, one or both of us may decide that perhaps it's not a good fit after-all and in this case, I will provide you with referrals. Sessions 2 - 3 - I get to know you more, our therapeutic relationship continues to develop and we may start delving into the nitty gritty. Sessions 4+ - We're probably going deeper -- some sessions will be easier than others but this work is so worth it. At any point, you may be seeing me weekly, biweekly or monthly. I do not dictate frequency for clients (though sometimes my availability impacts frequency) and trust that they know what will fit into their life/schedule/finances. After we've worked our way through your original goals/immediate concerns -- we discuss decreasing frequency and make that decision together with you taking the lead. When you're ready to end therapy, we discuss that shift & what it looks like for you. Please note that it may take some folks many, many months in therapy to develop enough trust to get into the truly deep work, that is okay. There are many variables that may contribute to therapeutic progress seeming "slower," including past trauma, attachment disruptions, previous experience with other therapists, and more.

Length of treatment is different for each client. I could talk about "averages" but that info isn't super helpful. My goal isn't to keep you on my couch forever nor is it to make you feel rushed. I want to help you reach your goals as efficiently in the way that works best for you. I strongly encourage clients to have weekly sessions for the first 3-4 months. Research has shown that attending therapy less frequently may not be as effective. When sessions are spread out, they tend to be more of a "catch-up", rather than working steadily on the core issues. However, I absolutely understand that schedule and finances heavily impact this and have many biweekly (even monthly) clients who still see significant progress and growth.

About a week before your scheduled intake session, I will get you setup with a client portal and within that portal you will have access to all of the necessary intake paperwork (all of it can be filled out, signed and submitted right within the portal). I prefer for all of the paperwork to be completed and submitted at least 24-hours prior to our first session so that I can be best prepared. However, if you are struggling with any of it -- please let me know. Some of the information requested can be triggering or you may not feel comfortable sharing it yet, that's okay. I'll get the information over time. I also realize that there are folks who may have difficulty with reading/comprehension and can struggle to get through paperwork; I do not want that to be a barrier for care, so just let me know and we'll figure it out. Additionally, not everyone likes to or can do this type of paperwork online, if that is the case, I am fine printing it out and having you complete it during our first session.

Yup! I see clients in-person and via Telehealth. If you have any concerns regarding COVID-19 and in-person sessions; please ask! I, myself, am fully vaccinated and I do space out in-person sessions. I also have an air purifier in my waiting room and in my office that I keep on throughout the day. If I become ill or symptomatic, I will always inform you prior to your session and we can either switch to Telehealth or reschedule. I request this same courtesy from my clients.

I do not currently have evening/weekend appointments and am unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future. While I do recognize that many people have a 9-5 job that can make scheduling appointments during the week difficult, most are able to rearrange work/other committments to prioritize getting the support they need. If you absolutely need evening/weekend appointments, I'm happy to refer you to a therapist that has those slots available!

You don't have to be a resident of Alaska but I can only provide services for people who are physically located in Alaska. If you don't live in Anchorage and don't want to drive in for in-person sessions, we can do Telehealth. For current clients that may go out of state and want to have sessions while gone, a lot of states may allow therapists to practice across state lines as long as the client's time in that state is brief (30 days or less) and the therapists reaches out to that state's licensing board.

I am an Out-of-Network provider; please visit my rates & insurance page for additional details; there is a mini FAQ at the bottom of that page. Please take the time to verify your benefits as the contract is between you and your insurance provider and you're ultimately responsible for any unpaid services. I cannot make any guarantees about the level of reimbursement that you may be eligible for. I do have a wonderful biller who is able to verify benefits prior to our intake session and is happy to help resolve any issues that may come up with your insurance.

At this time, I do not have any sliding scale slots available. However, I'm happy to provide you with specific referrals or you can try out these resources that connect clients w/therapists who have low-fee slots available: Open Path Collective Therapy Aid Coalition

While, I do have baseline knowledge of play therapy techniques - it's not my jam. However, for ages 0-12, I am happy to work with parents directly (challenging dynamics between family members, social concerns, academic issues, etc.). If you are looking for a registered play therapist or someone who works with 12 and under, I am happy to provide referrals to colleagues who provide these services.

Yup! I see ages 13+. Explore my teens page, my individual therapy page and my family therapy page for more information.

I do work with couples on a limited bases. This includes parents, co-parents, kid-free couples, non-traditional partnerships, etc. I am pretty selective because this kind of work does take more time/energy but you're welcome to reach out to see if we'd be a good fit! Explore my parents page and my family therapy page. Note: I do not see high conflict / divorcing couples but am happy to provide referrals for therapists that do.

If you're able to co-parent relatively well for the most part but have some communication issues, struggle to problem solve logistics or just want help regarding how to transition from parenting as partners to co-parenting and/or blending families - I'm you're person. Please view my family therapy page and my parents page. Note: I do not see high-conflict divorce/co-parents or court mandated co-parents but can refer you to therapists that do.

Nope. I am not a prescriber. However, if you decide that you want to try medication -- I'm happy to refer you to a Psychiatrist or Psychiatric ANP to work with. I can discuss medications in a general sense but I leave the nitty gritty to the prescribers.

Absolutely. Unfortunately, most of us grew up being socialized in systems that uphold: Racism Sexism Ableism Classism Ageism Heterosexism Size-ism Anti-LGQBTIA2+ beliefs/ideas Anti-Trans beliefs/ideas Bigotry While I do not claim to be an expert, I recognize that being white and appearing as cisgender/heteronormative has provided me with a lot of privilege. It is my responsibility to be engaged in social justice advocacy. Learning to be anti-[insert ism here] is a lifelong journey towards understanding, unpacking and dismantling the systems of oppression that have been in place for centuries. Disclaimer: I recognize that these are sensitive topics and that it is not my role to force clients to discuss or work on these areas but they fully inform my perspective, how I exist in the world and the approaches that I use with clients.

HRT/Surgery Letters for those in the LGBQTIA+ community: I provide this letter after one assessment (at the end) and do not require multiple sessions/on-going therapy. I do not charge for the letter itself, I simply charge for the assessment (if this is cost prohibitive, please let me know). I do not wish to participate in being a "gatekeeper" for those who are seeking HRT and/or surgery in order for their physical bodies to align with their gender / identity. I have received specialized training regarding these types of letters, seek on-going consultation and have a template that I use but am happy to use templates that have been provided to you by your Medical Provider and/or insurance company. Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters: Rarely do I provide these types of letters, if I do, there will be a small fee and I do not provide this service for new clients. Diagnostic Confirmation/Accommodation Letters These are the types of letters that clients most often request. These letters include factual information regarding mental health diagnoses that I have given and provide justification for certain accommodations in different environments (e.g., school, work, etc.). I cannot provide letters for diagnoses received by other medical/mental health providers unless I have gathered the necessary information and am in agreement with the diagnosis. *Other types of letters can be requested and discussed on a case by case basis.

To avoid fees, please cancel with at least 24-hours notice; this is most easily accomplished by just shooting me a quick text. It can also be done via secure messaging on the client portal, via email or by leaving me a voicemail. Opting-in for appointment reminders via the client portal is a helpful way to avoid late cancel/missed sessions. Specifics around my policies are included in my intake paperwork and are pretty standard for those who provide professional services. Your session time is reserved for you only and I follow best practices so that I can maintain good boundaries for the business side of my practice. Late Cancel Fee - 50% of session rate charged to card on file. No Show Fee - 100% of session rate charged to card on file. Before charging these fees, I will reach out to you first in the event that there was an emergency and/or illness (as I do not charge in those instances). **Please note that insurance cannot be billed for late cancel/no show fees**

Easy - go to my Get Started page or my Scheduling page. Once we've scheduled a phone consult: 1. I'll call you at the day/time we've agreed upon. Before ending the call, we decide whether to book the intake session, add you to my waitlist or if I am providing you with referrals. 2. If you scheduled an intake session, I will reach out to you the week before to get you setup in the client portal. The portal is where you will have access to the intake paperwork that you'll need to review, fill out and submit prior to us meeting. The day of appointment - In Person Arrive at my office (read more about my location by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the page), park, walk up to the front door and come on in -- you'll find yourself in a private waiting room where you can hang up your coat, take off your shoes (or leave them on), get yourself a drink of water, and take a seat. I will come out to get you at the appointment time. The day of appointment - Telehealth (please review my Telehealth page) Log into your client portal at the start of our appointment time and on the Dashboard click on the blue 'Launch' button. You'll be put in a virtual "waiting room," until I let you in. If you have any issues with technology, reach out by texting or calling me and I'll try and get it fixed.

No problem. Text me at 907-865-8452 (the fastest way to get a hold of me). You can also call the number above (leave a voicemail). Or email me at: jen@therapyinalaska.com Or visit my contact page. Note: I can only guarantee security/privacy via text/email on my end of things, not yours so please be cautious with the information you send to me.