Frequently Asked Questions

There are many assumptions about therapy.

 

Boes Therapy Services is always available to answer your questions about therapy and the mental health field in general. Obviously, therapy is going to look very different with different therapists and clients, but I have included some of my most frequently asked questions for our convenience. If you have additional questions, please give me a call at 720-507-4234 or email me at

​

Are your sessions confidential?

Yes. What we discuss in session is considered confidential and I would be breaking Federal, State, and Ethical codes if I were to break confidentiality. That being said, there are are some situations when I am legally required to break confidentiality, such as suspected child abuse or neglect, elder abuse, intent to harm yourself, intent to harm another person, if you reveal a threat to national security, or if I am subpoenaed or court-ordered to reveal my notes or to testify in a court of law. Beyond these six situations, your sessions are protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which you can find here. 

​

What is your typical process for working with a new client?

After we set up the initial session I will ask if you have access to a printer. If you do I will email you some forms to fill out and bring to the session. If you don't have access to a printer I can provide the forms and ask that you arrive 15 minutes early. We first review a final form that covers phone policy, confidentiality, fees, cancellation policy, and time for questions. The rest of the session is spent talking about your family and we begin to discuss your experience of the problem that brought you to my office. I offer plenty of time for questions and concerns in the first session. Goals are typically presented for your approval in the 2nd to 3rd session.

 

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) which requires the completion of a Master's degree in the field, the completion of 2,000 hours of post-degree therapy hours, 100 hours of supervision and passing the Colorado Jurisprudence exam as well as the National exam for Marriage and Family Therapists. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA from the COAMFTE accredited Master's program at North Dakota State University and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor's in Psychology. I have been seeing clients since 2012 and have worked in a family therapy agency, a residential psychiatric treatment facility for adolescents, and now in private practice. 

 

What advice would you give to someone looking to hire a therapist?

Make sure you find a therapist or counselor that you feel comfortable with. The most important part of this process is the relationship between the provider and the client. Ask about a potential therapist's philosophy of change, how they view clients and problems, and what tells them a client is ready to end sessions. I always provide time for my clients to ask these questions and encourage everyone to ask these questions regardless of where they go for mental health services. As a provider, if a potential client asked these questions during a consultation, I would know they had done their research and were serious about working to meet their goals.

 

Describe a recent experience with a client. How long did it take and what was the outcome?

Individual: I was working with an individual female on reducing the influence of "The Voice" which tells her she isn't good enough in many areas of her life (work, family, relationships). After about 9 months we both felt she had met her goals and we closed her file. About a year later she contacted me saying she wanted to come back for a refresh. We have met once a month for a few months and she has made great progress and is about to close her file. 

​

Couple: I was working with a couple for about 2 years after there was infidelity by one of the partners. We worked on how to take accountability for the effects their choices had on each other and on rebuilding trust after their "trust bucket" was knocked over. They worked really hard and made huge strides in their connection and ability to stay partners through difficulty. They still keep in touch and let me know how they are doing. 

​

Family: I am currently working with a family who has a child who identifies as transgender. We have been working on navigating the school system, extended family dynamics, and awareness of privilege. The family comes in about once a month to discuss struggles and celebrations and maintain a "united front" against discrimination. 

 

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about treatment?

Look at a provider's website or read reviews to make sure you know how they operate and structure sessions. Make sure to ask your therapist about their personal biases that might influence how they may work with you, how your therapist prefers to get feedback about sessions, and what process they use to close a file. Also, be sure to ask about your therapist's Code of Ethics.

​

What is your Code of Ethics?

Excellent question! As a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), I adhere to the AAMFT Code of Ethics. You can read it here. As a feminist-informed therapist, I also adhere to the Feminist Therapy Code of Ethics, which you can access here.

 

Do you have a standard pricing system for your service? 

My standard rate is $125 per hour. If that is not possible for my clients I offer reduced fee options starting at $65 per hour-long session. Fees are discussed in the first session and you are not charged until we agree on a fee. If this does not work for you, feel free to send me an email and I can try to provide some referral sources that are more affordable. 

 

How did you get started doing this type of work?

I have been interested in working one-on-one with people since I was young. I studied psychology at Purdue University and particularly enjoyed social psychology. After graduating I volunteered and eventually became employed at a domestic violence shelter where I realized I wanted to work with people as they reached their goals of a better life. I attended North Dakota State University for my Master's program and after graduating I returned to Colorado to pursue licensure. Check out The Therapist page for more information about me.