Frequently Asked Questions

Intake sessions generally last up to an hour. Standard sessions last 50-55 minutes. If you would like longer sessions or to participate in intensives (longer sessions several times a week) please ask and we'll discuss what options might be a good fit for you and your goals. ​ Determining how many sessions you will need is difficult before meeting with you to hear what your goals are and how I may help you achieve those goals. We will create a treatment plan together at the start of your therapeutic journey to guide us and we can estimate how many sessions you will need from that guide. It's important to remember that no two therapeutic journeys are the same. Some folks come in for a few sessions for help with a certain concern while others come in for long-term treatment for chronic mental health concerns. Whatever path you choose is valid and we will work together to help you achieve your goals.

LAMFT stands for Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. That's a mouthful, right? Try saying that ten times fast! What this means is that I am not yet an independently licensed practitioner and that I must have a supervisor in order to practice. I have completed my master's degree, passed my licensing exam, and am finishing up the required supervision hours to be fully licensed. Kara Gasperone, LMFT is my supervisor and I am fortunate to have her on board to help me thrive as your counselor so that I can provide you the best care I possibly can.

An SPP is an option created by the state of Arizona for associate level licensees to open their own private mental health practices. This program is closely monitored by the state licensing board and you must apply and be approved by the board in order to operate legally within this program. Being an SPP means that I am required to have additional supervision and oversight beyond the requirements for associates in other realms of mental health practice. The supervisor for my practice is Kara Gasperone, LMFT. Phone: 602-292-0973 Email: kara@newsuncounseling.com

You can visit the Request Appointment or Request Consult buttons on this website to schedule an appointment or free 15-minute consultation at your convenience. You can also email me at windingtrailspsychotherapy@gmail.com or call me at 623-335-7597.

Yes! I am always welcoming of new clients. For my current availability you can access my schedule through the Request Appointment or Free Consultation Button located throughout the website. If you don't see any availability, please reach out to me at windingtrailspsychotherapy@gmail.com or 623-335-7597.

A Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT) is a trained professional with at least a Master's degree in marriage and family therapy or a related counseling field. We are highly trained and are one of the six core professions that make up the mental healthcare field. What makes us unique is that we view our clients within the contexts of their relationships. You'll often hear this referred to as a 'systems approach' as we consider all of the systems you are embedded in as we conceptualize who you are and the issues you are wanting to work on. Many MFT's work with a mixture of individual, couple/relational, and family clients. Just because we focus on relationships doesn't mean that's all we do! I personally work with individuals, couples, relationships, and families on everything from trauma to relationship struggles to identity exploration and beyond.

I work with individuals, couples, families, and a diverse range of relationship configurations. As long as you are 13 years old or older I am happy to work with you.

No. I currently only provide services through a secure, HIPAA-compliant, video platform. This allows me to serve more folks in rural communities and expands access to therapy across the state. Some group and intensive therapy options have an in-person option. *If you really feel that I would be a good fit for you and being seen virtually is a barrier, please reach out. I may be able to provide in-person services on an extremely limited basis for folks who can commit to seeing me regularly in the Phoenix area.

Mondays: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Wednesdays: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ​ D&D Groups Tuesday and Wednesday Adult Groups 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday Teen Groups 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

I currently offer services in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, and Florida. This means you need to be present in one of these states when you engage with my services. I will confirm your location with you at the start of each session. I cannot see you if you are outside one of these states.

When you book a session with me I hold that spot for you. If you need to cancel, I ask that you either access your client portal or that you reach out to me at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled session time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment time or you do not attend your appointment, you will be billed the appropriate fee.

I work with young people who are at least 13 years old. Teens are a wonderful group to work with and I enjoy helping them work through those developmental years so that they can grow and thrive as their authentic selves while pursuing their dreams. I generally require at least some participation from parents/guardians/caretakers as research shows that family therapy in addition to individual therapy is what is most helpful for adolescents. ​ Please note that if parents are divorced or there is some other custody arrangement, I require a copy of the legal paperwork that states your decision-making rights to be on file before therapy services can begin. I am also obligated to notify all parties who have legal custody of the child of the child's enrollment in treatment and they will be invited to participate as well.

I provide a range of services to my clients that include: -Individual Therapy -Couples/Relationship Therapy -Group Therapy -Family Therapy The types of therapy I provide include: -Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) -Gottman Method (Level 1) -Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) -Systems/Attachment Based Therapies The kinds of issues I can help you with: -Relationship issues and communication skills -Identity exploration and self-discovery -Trauma recovery and PTSD management -Anxiety, depression, and stress management -Poly/CNM relationship navigation -Kinky relationship dynamics and consent I am a strengths-based and collaborative therapist who believes that you know yourself and your needs best. I am here to support you on your journey towards healing and thriving and can offer you new tools, perspectives, and resources to embrace as you move forward.

Yes! I am able to offer HRT letters as a standalone service as part of my Gender-Affirming Care Eval service. You do not need to be a long-term therapy client to access this service. This service is available to folks who are at least 18 years old at the time of their evaluation. Evaluations can take from 1-3 sessions and adhere to the WPATH standards for gender-affirming care evaluations. You will receive your letter within one week of your final evaluation session. In these evaluation sessions we will spend time getting to know each other, gathering mental health history, and discussing what your gender-affirming journey looks like for you. Your journey is unique and valid. You do not need to fit a certain narrative to pursue your authentic self. My goal is to provide a space for you to come as you are, share your story and your journey with me, and walk away with the documentation you need to access the next part of your journey. Eval sessions: $75 per session Letter fee: $15

No. According to the regulations passed by the AZBBHE counselors cannot provide these letters without specific training. Please reach out to your primary care provider or psychiatrist to obtain one of these letters.

No. Unfortunately, disability paperwork is outside of my scope of practice. I am more than happy to provide you with a treatment summary letter that you can submit alongside your disability application though. I am also always happy to collaborate with your primary care provider or psychiatrist so they can make that determination for you.

As a private pay practice, I don't accept insurance. This allows me to maintain complete confidentiality and focus on providing high-quality, personalized care without the constraints of insurance companies. My rates are competitive, and I'm committed to making therapy accessible to those who value the investment in their well-being.

I do offer sliding scale options through The Open Path Collective on a limited basis. Please check out the Open Path Collective website to see if I am currently accepting sliding scale clients. You can fill out their application and then touch base with me through their website so that I can get you set up with a reduced fee. I do not currently offer pro bono appointments.

Individual session: $120 Couples/Relational/Family session: $140 30-minute Parent-only session: $60 Late cancellation/No-show fee: $75 Gender-Affirming Care Evaluation: $75 Letter fee: $15 ​ Group Therapy ​Online Intake: $60 In-Person Group (All supplies and snacks provided): $75 Online Group: $60