Trying to do my part

It’s raining this morning. There is no need for rain here in Keene, New Hampshire. There is snow here, and there is ice; there is wet stuff on everything. I’m thinking about Australia, and the uncontainable blazes, and the animals, and the people, and I’m so, so sad that I cannot displace today’s rain from here to there. 

Sometimes there is little that we can do. 

In the therapy room, a topic that comes up frequently is the pain that accompanies being unable to act – even going through the motions as though we are doing something feels more tolerable than sitting with the knowledge of doing nothing. This is especially true when there are literal fires in front of our eyes, and we have no means with which to put them out. 

There was a story about the filming of the documentary Planet Earth that described the anguish felt by the camera operators filming a band of elephants. They had agreed not to intercede with any natural happenings, whether they judged them to be good, bad or otherwise, but still felt compelled to act when a young elephant wandered away from the others and became lost. They watched helplessly while the elephant walked further away from the others, likely to its demise, likely alone and scared. They honored their agreement and did not help the elephant, and it tore their hearts in half. 

I bet that they’re still thinking about that elephant. I am. 

There is something to be said for allowing nature to take its course, and for accepting things as they are. But there is also the mighty force of the human impulse to act, to do something, to alleviate pain and to stand up to the bully, to fix the problem. To put out the fires. 

Today I am sitting with pain of being unable to put out the fires in Australia, and of acknowledging my own smallness in this giant world. I also acknowledge my relentless inner flame that compels me to love and to heal and to fight, when I can, where I am equipped to and able. There is no shortage of pain everywhere; there are many, many pains to attend to, down the street and in the therapy room and on the other side of the world. I will do my share of healing in this place. 

I am sitting with the injustice of this rain. And I am trying to do my part. 

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Useful Information

Some frequently asked questions and useful answers.

Online therapy works in the same way as in-office therapy, but is done online, similar to a Skype or FaceTime conversation. Clients are able to have sessions from home, work, or any other convenient location. We meet with clients using a HIPAA-compliant secure platform.

Online therapy allows you to work with us from the comfort of home, or any private location of your choosing. For some, the screen provides an added layer of comfort that makes the challenging work of being vulnerable in therapy a little easier.

Online therapy also creates the unique opportunity for you to work with us without the constraints of proximity! The practice was born in Keene, New Hampshire, but has since grown to service clients anywhere in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, Florida, and New Hampshire.

Online therapy is a great option for clients that travel for work, for college students that go home during the summertime and do not want a break in their sessions, and for anyone with a challenging or inconsistent day-to-day schedule. It is an excellent choice for clients seeking a therapist with a particular specialty that they are unable to find support for locally. Some of our clients report that online therapy makes the vulnerability element of therapy a bit less intimidating.

No. For some clients with more complex symptoms or safety concerns, having a local therapist that is readily available is important in case of crisis or the need for a higher level of care. Online therapy is also a challenge for clients that do not have access to a private, quiet space to be “in session” for the hour, or for those that do not have adequate internet connectivity.

There are several reasons why we don’t accept insurance. The most important are:

Confidentiality. Insurance companies require that your information be shared with them in order to pay for services. We prefer that clients’ information is kept as confidential as possible.

The pressure to diagnose. Insurance companies require that clients are given a mental health diagnosis in order to pay for therapy. We have found that many clients benefit from therapy, but do not meet criteria for a diagnosis. Not using insurance allows clients to access therapy without being given a mental health diagnosis.

Flexibility and freedom. Insurance companies dictate the length and number of sessions they will authorize, as well as when a client is no longer eligible for the benefits of therapy. Because we do not work with insurance panels, you and we can collaborate to determine your individual needs regarding session length, frequency of sessions, and when to terminate therapy.

While we do not accept insurance, many clients choose to submit receipts to their insurance companies to receive reimbursement via out-of-network benefits. We are happy to provide these receipts for you! Please check with your insurance company for details on your benefits.

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