Counseling FAQs

Choosing the right therapist can feel overwhelming. Counseling with Abby is a good fit if you want to feel truly heard, understood, and supported as you explore your emotions, strengthen your relationships, and work through patterns that may be affecting your connection with yourself or others. Being motivated to engage in the work, having the mental space for reflection, and having support outside of therapy can help you get the most from the process. A free 15-minute phone consultation is offered to connect, talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, and explore whether this feels like the right fit. Building a trusting relationship from the start is one of the most important steps toward creating meaningful growth in your relationships and personal well-being.

Abby works with individuals ages 16 and up, as well as couples from a wide range of backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. Her practice is affirming and inclusive of all races, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, faith backgrounds, and identities. Abby supports diverse relationship structures, including monogamous, non monogamous, and polyamorous relationships, as well as queer relationships, blended families, and chosen families. All parts of who you are and how you love are welcomed and respected here. Abby works primarily with individuals and couples who are seeking to strengthen relationships and navigate relational challenges, whether with partners or within themselves. She supports people at many stages of life, including those experiencing disconnection, life transitions, healing from relational or past trauma, or seeking greater intimacy, understanding, and emotional closeness. Her goal is to offer a counseling space rooted in safety, warmth, and deep respect, where you do not need to explain, justify, or defend your identity or relationship in order to feel understood and supported.

Yes. What you share in counseling is kept private and confidential. Abby understands how important it is to feel safe and holds your trust with care and respect. There are a few situations where she is legally and ethically required to break confidentiality to protect your safety or the safety of others. These include if there is concern about serious harm to yourself or someone else, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, dependent adult, or elder, or if records are required to be released by a court order. Outside of these rare circumstances, what you share stays between you and Abby. If it ever becomes helpful to involve another person, such as a healthcare provider, your written permission will always be requested first. The goal is to create a space where you can speak freely and feel fully supported.

There is no set timeline for counseling, as every person and relationship is unique. Some people come in with a specific concern and find clarity or relief in just a few sessions. Others are navigating deeper or long-standing patterns, often shaped by past experiences or trauma, and benefit from longer-term work. Growth and healing often involve taking emotional risks, such as sitting with difficult feelings, being honest with yourself or your partner, or exploring new ways of relating. Progress is revisited regularly to ensure counseling continues to feel meaningful, supportive, and aligned with your goals, moving at a pace that feels right for you.

What sets Abby’s approach apart is the combination of her warmth, training, and genuine care for the people she works with. She primarily offers in-person counseling, with telehealth available for established clients when needed, because presence, connection, and shared space are central to the work she values. Abby has completed training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy, both evidence-based, attachment-focused approaches that support individuals and couples in understanding relational patterns, deepening emotional connection, and navigating challenges with greater clarity and care. She remains actively engaged in ongoing learning and professional communities, continually growing her skills to support thoughtful, ethical, and relationally grounded work. Abby intentionally keeps her caseload small so she can bring presence, care, and attention to each person or couple she works with. At her core, she is relational, deeply compassionate, and grounded in the belief that growth and healing are possible when people feel safe, understood, and emotionally supported.

You’re welcome to reach out by email, phone, text, or through the website’s contact form. From there, Abby will guide you through the next steps, which may include scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation to explore what’s bringing you to counseling and whether working together feels like the right fit. If another therapist may better meet your needs, she is also happy to help with a thoughtful referral. Each inquiry is welcomed with care, with the goal of helping you feel supported and informed as you take your next step.

Abby primarily offers in-person therapy at her welcoming office in Richland, WA, near Uptown and just off Jadwin Avenue, because she believes the relational connection is strongest face-to-face. However, she understands life can be unpredictable. For established clients, she also offers telehealth sessions when circumstances make it hard to attend in person. This way, clients can stay connected and supported even when life gets busy.

Abby does not bill insurance directly. This choice is made with your care and privacy in mind. When counseling is not guided by insurance requirements, there is greater freedom to move at a pace that feels right for you and to focus on what feels most meaningful. There is no need for a diagnosis to justify care, no labels that follow you, and no limits placed on the number or length of sessions. This allows counseling to unfold in a way that feels supportive and centered on your story and goals. Working outside of insurance also helps protect your privacy. Insurance companies often require a mental health diagnosis and access to session information for reimbursement, which can become part of your permanent health record. Private pay counseling allows your information to remain more contained and confidential. For clients who wish to use their insurance benefits, Abby can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance provider for possible out-of-network reimbursement.