Your Questions, Answered
I know that starting therapy, or even just considering it, can bring up a lot of questions. I want you to feel informed and at ease before we ever talk. If something isn't answered here, you're always welcome to ask during your free consultation or reach out directly.
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I offer individual therapy for adults via telehealth throughout Michigan, specializing in complex trauma, anxiety, people-pleasing patterns, and nervous system dysregulation. My primary modality is Brainspotting, which I blend with parts work and somatic approaches depending on what your system needs.
I also offer therapy intensives, which are extended 2 or 3 hour sessions for existing clients who want to go deeper or accelerate the work.
For fellow therapists and mental health practitioners, I offer Brainspotting consultation, in both individual and group formats. You can learn more about that [here]
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Getting started is simple. Reach out through the contact form [here] and I'll be in touch within 1-2 business days (Monday through Thursday) to schedule your free consultation. That's it. No intake paperwork, no commitment, just a short conversation.
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The honest answer is that you'll get a sense of it pretty quickly once we talk. The free consultation exists exactly for this reason; It's a chance to feel into whether something clicks, not just check boxes.
That said, I've put together a page that gives you a real picture of who I work well with and who might be better served by someone else. I'd rather you have that information upfront than invest your time and money into something that isn't the right fit. You can read it [here].
Trust your gut. It knows things.
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We'll spend about 20 minutes getting to know each other. I'll ask about what's bringing you in, what you've already tried, and what you're hoping is possible. You'll have a chance to ask me anything about my training, my approach, what it's actually like to work with me.
We'll also cover the practical stuff: fees, out-of-network benefits, scheduling, and next steps if we decide it feels like a good fit. We don't always know by the end of the call, and that's okay. There's no pressure to decide anything in the moment.
Getting Started
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I don't take insurance. I'm a private pay practice, which means you pay me directly for our work together at the time of service. I want to be transparent about why, because I think you deserve to understand the decision, not just accept it.
Insurance companies require a formal psychiatric diagnosis to authorize and reimburse therapy. That diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical record and can affect future insurance coverage, life insurance, and employment in certain fields. It also doesn't always reflect the full picture of who you are or why you're seeking support. Many of the people I work with aren't necessarily"diagnosable" in a traditional sense — they're highly sensitive, self-aware humans navigating real and hard things.
Insurance also controls how many sessions you can have, sometimes what kind of therapy is approved, and sets reimbursement rates that make it difficult for therapists to sustain a practice without seeing far more clients than allows for truly present, attentive care.
Not taking insurance means I can keep my caseload small, show up fully for each person I work with, and offer the kind of deep, unhurried, relational work that actually creates change, without burning out in the process.Accessibility matters deeply to me, and as one way of supporting that, I provide superbills upon request so you can seek reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits. See below for more on how that works. If private pay feels out of reach right now, I'm always happy to offer referrals to therapists who do work with insurance.
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A superbill is essentially a special kind of detailed receipt for therapy services that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits. Not everyone has these benefits, and reimbursement is never guaranteed, but many people are surprised to find they have more coverage than they realized. I'm happy to provide superbills upon request and to talk through how this works during your free consultation.
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Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask: "Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?" If yes, ask about your deductible, your reimbursement percentage, and whether you need a referral. It's a five-minute call that could save you significant money. I have a form I can email you to have ready when you call.
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I accept all major credit cards, and HSA/FSA cards. If using an HSA/FSA card, it is required to have another credit card on file for cancellation fees, as these are not covered by those kinds of accounts. Payment is due at the time of session and will be processed through my EHR.
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Occasionally and situationally. My sliding scale spots are currently taken, but if cost is a significant barrier I encourage you to reach out anyway. If I can't make it work, I'll do my best to connect you with someone who can.
Payment and Insurance
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Brainspotting is a brain-body therapy that uses specific eye positions to access and process trauma, stuck patterns, and emotional pain stored in the subcortical brain — the part beneath conscious thought and language. It was discovered in 2003 by Dr. David Grand, and it works on the principle that where you look affects how you feel.
In a session, we identify what you want to work on and where you feel it in your body. From there, we find a brainspot, which is a specific eye position that activates a stronger felt sense of whatever we're working on. You hold your gaze there while I hold space alongside you. Your brain and body do the rest.
It's quieter and simpler than most people expect. There's no script, no protocol to follow, no wrong way to do it. Your system leads, and I follow.
You can learn more about how Brainspotting works on my [What is Brainspotting page].
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Brainspotting tends to be a good fit for people who have done talk therapy and feel like something still isn't shifting. If you can explain your patterns completely and still feel unable to change them, that gap between knowing and changing is exactly what Brainspotting is designed to address.
It's also well-suited for people who are curious about working somatically, who want to go deeper than words alone can take them, and who are open to a process that may feel unfamiliar at first.
It's not the only tool I use. I blend Brainspotting with parts work and nervous system regulation, so our work together will be shaped by what your system actually needs.
If you're not sure whether it's right for you, that's a great question for our free consultation.
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Honestly, it depends. Some people notice meaningful shifts within a handful of sessions. For deeper or more complex material, especially complex trauma or long-standing patterns, the work tends to unfold over months to years.
I don't believe in keeping people in therapy longer than they need to be. I also don't believe in rushing something that takes the time it takes. What I can tell you is that we'll check in regularly about where you are, what's shifting, and what you need.
Most of my clients work with me weekly, at least in the beginning. Consistency matters and it's part of how the nervous system learns that something new is possible.
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Yes, and I have a particular soft spot for it. Therapists, healers, and helpers often spend so much time holding space for others that their own needs become almost invisible. You deserve the same depth of care you give to the people you work with.
Working with a fellow clinician has its own texture. There's a shared language, a different kind of transparency, and sometimes a particular vulnerability in being the one on the receiving end. I hold that with care.
If you're a therapist looking for your own depth work, you're welcome here.
The Work
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I'm available Monday through Thursday, generally between 2pm and 8pm ET. There may be some additional flexibility on weekends for intensives. I don't offer early morning appointments.
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I ask for at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Each calendar year, you will have two cancellations you can use however you choose — no questions asked, no fee. You decide when they're most useful to you.
After those have been used, missed or late-canceled sessions are charged the full fee. However, if you know you'll need to miss a session, you're welcome to reschedule within the week before, during, or after your originally scheduled time. That way the work stays consistent and you don't lose the session entirely.
I try to hold this policy with both clarity and humanity; your time matters, and so does mine.
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Yes. Intensives are extended sessions — typically 2 or 3 hours —that allow us to go deeper in a single sitting than a standard session permits. They're available to existing clients and can be especially useful when you're in a period of active processing, working through something specific, or want to accelerate the work.
Pricing for intensives is listed on my [services/investment page].
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The best way to reach me is through the contact form on my [contact page]. I'm also reachable by phone (please leave a voicemail) or text at (248) 617-2569, or by email at Emily@thecaringspot.com.
I'm in session most afternoons and evenings Monday through Thursday, so I may not respond immediately, but I will get back to you within 1-2 business days.
Please note that phone, text, and email are not HIPAA-compliant, so keep any initial messages general. No need to share anything sensitive before we've had a chance to connect.
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I use TherapyNotes as my electronic health record (EHR) system. Once we decide to move forward, you'll receive an invitation to the client portal (TherapyPortal) where you can complete intake paperwork, send messages, and manage billing, all in one secure, HIPAA-compliant place.