Frequently Asked Questions

Good question! You probably heard of Willow’s Edge, which used to be in our space. When they left, we were called BetterDays Center for Well-Being. As times and lives change, we changed our name to the Inner Practice to better reflect who we are and what we help with!

Therapy is like a container, a space in which you can take a deep breath (or two), be comfortable physically and emotionally, and tell your story (the good, the bad, the ugly!). People absolutely need a safe space in which to share the details of their lives that are often too personal to share ‘out there in the real world.’

Then, once the story is spoken, something happens. First, people usually experience clarity in a new way just by hearing their own thoughts and feelings spoken aloud as opposed to recycled in their mind. (This only happens if we aren’t interrupted, judged, or shamed in some way. Too often, this is what happens in the real world. Or even worse, people will tell you what you SHOULD be doing!)

Then the brain does something once you have told or shared a story; it releases you to feel relief and experience feeling understood. (Again, this only happens with a safe listener.) Once understood and validated that you are, in fact, NOT crazy, you begin to experience shifting, opening new perspectives, choices, feelings, options, etc.

Sounds simple, right? Well, it is… and it isn’t. Just telling the story of our lives or our problems or our issues can be a challenge! So many factors are involved, which is why our job is to guide and support this process and make it not only comfortable, but even enjoyable. Yes, you read that right. Therapy can be enjoyable (at least that is the end goal – JOY). We use many techniques to facilitate the process of healing and growth, such as experiential therapy and psychodrama.

Psychodrama (yeah, I wish it was called something different) is a method that basically helps us work out the drama and unfinished business in our minds. Basically, you can work through issues and come out on the other side, even without bringing in your mother, or father, or even worse, your in-laws. Psychodrama is a form of experiential therapy, so keep reading.

Some of you live in your head and experience life from the neck up – a walking head, so to speak. This helps to keep those pesky ‘feelings’ out of the picture.

Being emotionless can be helpful at times and in some settings, like when you need to do accounting or assemble your new bookshelf from IKEA, but being emotionless doesn’t help in the department of relationships or experiencing passion for life.

Who needs relationships? I have often wondered about that. But since we weren’t hatched from eggs, left to fend for ourselves, instead we are born dependent on bonding at attaching to survive. Fact is: we are wired for relationships. And relationship, deep or intimate relationship, doesn’t happen in the head, it happens in the emotional center, or the heart. Oh yeah, back to the question.

Experiential therapy works by bypassing the over-thinking part of your brain, sneaking into the secret entrance of your emotion. This is exactly what happens when you are in a terrible mood, your favorite song comes on, or an oldie from a great time in your life, and next thing you know, you are chair-dancing or singing along. Music, art, breathing, movement, metaphors, toys… all forms of experiential techniques we use.

“Tell me, and I’ll forget. Show me, and I’ll remember. Involve me, I’ll be changed.” This version of a popular saying sums up the goal of experiential therapy. We change from experience, not reading self-help books. (Don’t get me wrong, I own a million of them.) But if that alone helped, everyone old enough to read would be perfectly happy with their lives.

Your life will move along one way or another. In five years, you’ll be five years older, regardless of the circumstances. Therapy offers you a MOVING SIDEWALK in the ‘right’ direction for YOU. You know the sidewalks in the airport – you can walk along beside or step on and be carried.

Do you ever try to see how far ahead you get of the regular walkers? Or you power walk and try to beat the riders? (I’m sure the competitive folks can relate!) Therapy allows you to lighten the baggage (luggage) and move forward more efficiently. It’s not about being in a hurry, but more about experiencing the support in moving you toward the life you really want.

The number one factor in effective therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client. So, we take this very seriously and try to provide the safety that a therapeutic relationship needs. However, if for some reason you are not comfortable in the therapy setting, we will either seek to adjust or help you find a therapist to better fit your needs. Only you decide what is safe and comfortable for you, and we value that greatly. This really is all about YOU.

A lot of money! Ok, this is my opinion, coming from the child of Depression parents. It is expensive, but it is also valuable. Changing your life is priceless, plus you are changing the future generations when you get healthier.

You were probably looking for more specific information, so here it is. The cost varies amongst therapists, but generally falls between $125 – $150 per one-hour session. While we don’t bill insurance ourselves (because that takes half our energy from you, the client, into the paperwork and requirements from insurance companies), we will assist you in filing your own claims. Many insurance plans reimburse for out-of-network providers.

Talk to us. We offer sliding-scale based on circumstances and availability, particularly if there seems to be a good therapeutic fit and schedules align. Other times, people will request lots of therapeutic home-work, so they don’t need to attend as many sessions, which we are happy to provide. (We can’t do the homework for you, but you don’t get graded, so don’t worry.) Also, we offer workshops and groups occasionally, as well as therapeutic yoga, which offer more affordable ways to engage therapeutically.

Cash, check, credit card, and health-spending cards.

Wish we could answer that! Therapy is anywhere from one session to many sessions, depending on what needs attention in your life. In most circumstances, you oversee how often and how long you’d like to use therapy to move forward. We will talk to you about this process and how you will know when you no longer need therapy, although many people continue to periodically do therapeutic tune-ups once they feel better about their initial reason for seeking help.

The average therapy session with us is one hour (which includes rescheduling time). Other clinics billing insurance offer 45- or 50-minute sessions. Again, since we don’t bill insurance, this offers us more flexibility. We also offer intensive sessions, 1-1/2 or 2-hour sessions. This is helpful for those who drive a distance to see us, or those who are super busy and want to come less often, or those who take a while to warm up and prefer the extra cushion of time.

Intensives begin with anything longer than a one-hour session but go all the way into… multiple days. We’ve done 4-hour intensives, 8-hour intensives, two-day intensives, and destination intensives. Depending on the circumstances, we offer off-site intensives and have even traveled to other states to do so. So, YES, we will consider going with your family to Hawaii to facilitate family therapy! In all honesty, these experiences tend to be deeply rewarding and life-changing.

If you are asking about chronological age, I work mostly with young adults and up. But considering the “inner children,” I work with all ages! My awesome colleague works with children, teens and adults. Often, we collaborate by having a child/teen work with Amanda, and I will work with the parent(s), then occasionally team up and do some family work (which is powerful!).

We are Christians, and we are counselors, but our training was in a secular setting. We do, however, work with all different faith backgrounds. We believe that having a vibrant spiritual life is everyone’s right, and many clients want to strengthen this area of life. Having a higher power of our own understanding is a recovery principle we take seriously.

No, we don’t prescribe. I always say I’m not a med pusher or a med opposer. I think having a balanced body chemistry is a WONDERFUL thing, and some people are lucky enough to get that naturally. We can work with you in homeopathic ways; but if and when more is needed, I work with a holistic psychiatrist who has done amazing things for my clients.

I own stock in Kleenex.