​Therapy can help you better understand yourself and others. In addition to treatment of specfic needs (such as anxiety, depression, or ADHD, etc.), therapy can help you with the following:

Teach you new stress response skills to lower anxiety
Teach communication skills to help you in your romantic relationships
Create boundaries with family and friends
Navigate life transitions such as moving to college, getting married, parenthood, or a new promotion
Improve your sense of self and self compassion and relationship to your body
Process past trauma in a safe, and supportive space

Please visit my portal to schedule. 

The first session, called an intake,  is designed to review the paperwork you filled out and warmly introduce you to the therapy space. It is a safe and supportive environment where we will explore the goals you have and identify the strengths we can build upon together. This initial meeting sets the foundation for our collaborative work, ensuring you feel comfortable and understood as we begin our therapeutic journey. The intake session usually takes 45-55 minutes. 

After the first session, we begin the process of making a treatment plan together. A treatment plan focuses on the goals you have for yourself as well as how frequently we should meet. It is typical to meet weekly or every other week in the beginning so that we can establish a trusting relationship that is the basis for our work together. 
 

Our first few sessions will be focused on getting to know each other and learning more about what brought you to therapy. 
 

We will schedule follow up sessions and I like to find times that will work best for you and do my best to accommodate that. 

We will determine frequency of sessions at the intake. Typically I recommend weekly sessions to begin with. Sessions after our intake are 45-53 minutes long. However, we also have to be mindful of your insurance coverage and medical necessity. 

Medical necessity refers to the requirement for treatments or interventions to be deemed essential and appropriate for addressing your specific health condition. In the context of therapy, this means that the services provided are considered necessary to improve or manage your mental health and overall well-being.

Insurance companies often require documentation of medical necessity to approve and cover the cost of therapy sessions. This ensures that the therapy you receive is relevant and beneficial for your diagnosed condition or symptoms. We establish medical necessity by regularly discussing symptoms and how the symptoms are affecting your ability to function normally. By establishing medical necessity, we can ensure that you receive the appropriate care and support tailored to your unique needs, helping you achieve your therapeutic goals and improve your quality of life.

The timeline for noticing progress from therapy varies for each individual, as it depends on several factors including the nature and severity of your concerns, your personal goals, and the frequency of sessions. Some clients may start to feel a sense of relief and progress within a few sessions, while for others, it may take a bit longer to experience significant changes.

Therapy is a collaborative process, and active participation and commitment can enhance the effectiveness and speed of progress. It's important to remember that progress can be gradual and may come in different forms, such as increased self-awareness, improved coping strategies, and better emotional regulation. Throughout our work together, we will regularly review your goals and track your progress, ensuring that you feel supported and encouraged every step of the way.

It can also be helpful to work on things in between sessions. 

It is important to have an open mind and expectations that are adaptive for your circumstances. For example, it can be challenging to feel better when we are experiencing active trauma in our life and therefore we may adjust goals for safety first. 

If you have concerns about your speed of progress the therapy space is a safe one to ask questions! 

It's completely normal to have concerns or feel uncertain at times during the therapy process. Our therapy space is a safe and supportive environment where you are encouraged to share any feelings of dissatisfaction. Your comfort and well-being are our top priorities, and open communication is key to ensuring your treatment needs are met.

If you ever feel that our sessions are not meeting your expectations, we can discuss your concerns and work together to find a solution. This might involve adjusting our approach, setting new goals, or exploring different techniques. If we cannot come up with a satisfactory solution, I am committed to helping you find another therapist who might be a better fit for you. The most important thing is that you receive the care and support you need to achieve your therapeutic goals.

No. I do not prescribe medication. I do, however, collaborate with your psychiatric provider with your permission or can refer you to a number of qualified providers. 

No. Your privacy is one of my top priorities. I am in a private space in my home and measures have been taken so that no one can see or hear us. 

Yes! Your baby is completely welcome and it is important that you feel comfortable to tend to your baby. Once children get older it can be more challenging to meet while they are present but we will work together to find a day and time that is based on you and your kids' schedule so that you can get the most out of our sessions. 

I am licensed in the state of Iowa to provide therapy. Therefore, if you are going on vacation please let me know with plenty of notice so that I can find out your visiting state's laws. While there are expansions in coverage; it is widely dependent on what state you are visiting. If I do not have enough time to look into this then sadly the appointment will have to be cancelled. 

As a solo practitioner I do my best to be available should an emergency arise. However, if you are unable to reach me please consider the following suggestions: 
Contact your prescribing provider
Crisis number: 1-888-581-8111 or chat at www.yourlifeiowa.org
Visit your local Emergency Department

Other emergency resources can be located here: 

Aetna HMO and PPO

Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO

Aetna First Health PPO

Health Alliance Commercial

Health Alliance Medicare

HealthPartners, Inc. PPO

HealthPartners, Inc. 

Humana Choice Care Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO

Humana Commercial

Iowa Total Care AmBetter 

Iowa Total Care Medicaid

Iowa Total Care Wellcare 

Midlands Choice PPO

Molina Medicare Advantage/DSNP -

Molina Medicaid

O'Hara Workers Compensation Network PPO

Tricare West

Wellmark PPO

Wellmark HMO

Wellmark Medicare Advantage     

Wellpoint Medicare DSNP (Formerly Amerigroup Iowa, Inc.)

Wellpoint Medicaid

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Cash rates available upon request: 

sarah@grow-aligned.com

I collect any out of pocket cost at the end of my business day using the card entered before our first appointment.  

Please notify me right away of any financial concerns. We can come up with a plan that works for you ranging from shorter sessions or withholding payment until a later date. 

I understand life happens. If you are unable to keep our appointment please let me know as soon as you are able. You can use email, messaging or the portal to inform me of the cancellation.

A fee of $125 may be collected for missed or canceled appointments with less than 24 hours notice. 

If you miss or cancel three sessions in a row, or frequently cancel appointments, we will discuss whether we are a good fit, and I reserve the right to end therapy and refer you to another therapist.