Frequently Asked Questions

Are sessions in person or virtual?

I am fully virtual. With couples and families, I frequently offer guidance around how to position yourselves to best benefit from therapy. For example, being far away enough from each other that you can comfortably have a conversation - it’s not just about being able to talk to me. Make sure that wherever you attend your session is appropriate. A few helpful considerations: Could I break down in tears here? Will I feel the need to filter myself because someone’s home and might overhear? Some people really prefer in person sessions, and some people prefer virtual ones. It can be very nice to attend therapy from the comfort of your own home. It can also make integrating therapy into a busy life much easier.

Do you accept insurance?

I work with most major insurers in the Buffalo area, including Highmark/Blue Cross Blue Shield, Univera, United, Aetna, and Independent Health. I am not able to accept Medicaid, Medicare, or Essential Plans. When I work with couples, I am treating the relationship or system, which is not covered by insurance. My couples fee is $200. My private pay rate for individuals is $150.

How long are sessions

My sessions are 55 minutes long. My morning sessions typically begin at 8:35, 9:35, 10:35 etc. My afternoon sessions begin at 5 after, e.g., 1:05, 2:05, 3:05, etc. This five minute break enables me to stretch, get water, do my notes, etc.

Who do you work with?

I work with adults 18+. My specialties include perinatal mental health, couples therapy, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, anger issues, health anxiety, and trauma/PTSD.

How often do we meet?

When we first start, I recommend meeting every 1-2 weeks so we can lay a solid foundation. Over time, we may decide to decrease the frequency of our sessions. Some patients I’ve worked with long-term who’ve made significant progress will check in every 3-6 months. I am flexible, so if you are very busy or have financial constraints, we can usually work something out.

What can I expect in the first session?

The first therapy session (or two or three) is an assessment. I will ask you to provide an explanation of what’s bringing you to therapy and will inquire about your life, more broadly - what you do for work, key relationships in your life today and in the past, etc. I generally try to provide my initial impressions in the first session about how I understand the issues you’re facing and what directions we might take. In classic psychoanalysis therapists could be very mysterious and withheld their “interpretation” until they believed the moment to be right, which sometimes took months. I tend to be very up-front, so you can better understand yourself and get a sense of whether we might be a good fit.

What if I’ve never done therapy before?

Welcome! Part of my job is to teach you how best to benefit from therapy - you are not expected to know this. Feel free to ask lots of questions.

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. There are a few rare exceptions. Therapists are mandated reporters in New York State, so if you tell me about an instance of child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of an adult with a disability, I am legally obligated to break our confidentiality in order to keep that person safe, and failure to do so could result in the loss of my license to practice. In addition, if you tell me that you immanently plan to kill yourself or someone else, I am legally obligated to take steps to keep you or others safe (Tarasoff’s Law). Finally, your records can be subpoenaed by a court. These are all rare exceptions which we can discuss further should you have questions.

How do I get started?

You can complete the contact form or email me at emma@montaguecounseling.com. Email is generally the best way to reach me as I tend to be in sessions during business hours. I am happy to provide a 15 minute consultation so we can assess if we’re a good fit.