Kaerensa Craft, LCSW, PSYCHOTHERAPY

An integration of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (“CBT”), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (“DBT”), Motivational Enhancement Therapy, and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for adults is the core of my practice. Additionally, I practice from a Contemporary Psychoanalytic Relational perspective, which entails both a “here and now” focus and an exploration of the interactions that occur between the client and therapist, as this may provide valuable information about important ways in which the client relates to others in his or her life. (For information about therapy for drinking, click here.)

I offer both short and long-term treatment, depending on your interests and needs. Shorter-term work usually focuses on a particular issue of concern (for example, reducing drinking). It is typically more structured to include discussion of new concepts, completion of exercises to identify maladaptive thought patterns, practicing new skills in sessions, and thinking about how to apply these in your life. Longer-term work is much less structured, and time is usually spent exploring all aspects of your life and the things that are most on your mind. Longer-term work may include some of the same types of exercises utilized in short-term treatment, but is more focused on the “bigger picture.” Though primarily focusing on the here-and-now, longer term work also usually includes discussion about the past to explore its influence on the present.

The duration of treatment is individually tailored to the needs of each client. Typically, though, shorter-term work entails 10-20 sessions. Longer-term work tends to be more open-ended, as it is oriented toward broader concerns in life, though clients often commit to at least a year.

Frequency of sessions is based on the needs of each client, and this is something we would decide upon together, based on my recommendations and your interests and needs. For shorter-term work, once a week is standard, and provides the chance to practice new strategies and skills in between sessions. Longer-term treatment can also include once weekly sessions, though many people find it to be a richer experience with meeting two to three times per week.

Length of sessions tends to be 45 minutes, though longer sessions can be arranged.

My general focus is working with individuals, however, in some cases, clients may elect to have significant others join some sessions or meet with me individually. This is something we would plan and discuss in advance.

Coaching sessions are usually scheduled for 60 minutes.

Coaching sessions are $275/60 minutes. Packages of four 60-minute sessions can be purchased in advance for $950.

The first two sessions are usually scheduled a week apart from each other. Subsequent sessions may be scheduled weekly thereafter, or may be scheduled with 2-4 weeks in between sessions to allow time to practice strategies discussed.

Insurance companies do not cover coaching sessions.

No. Coaching sessions do not create a mental health record, in that they do not include a mental health assessment or diagnosis. However, I do keep notes from our discussions for the sake of continuity and reviewing progress toward your goals. These notes include the dates of our meetings and general themes discussed, including recommendations, stratgies, and skills in the service of helping you achieve your goals.

Privacy for coaching sessions is held to the highest standards possible, though there are some limitations: (1) I use practice management software (SimplePractice), including digital storage of your demographic information, the appointments we convene, and the notes I take. SimplePractice follows the highest cyber security standards currently available for digital storage of personal information. (2) If you give me reason to believe that you present a risk of harm to yourself or others, I will conduct a risk assessment, and assist you in obtaining additional services for further assessment and support. (3) If I am subpoenaed by a court of law, your records are not privileged in the same way as mental health records, such that I would be obliged to provide the records described in the section above.