Portland Sex Therapy will be closed from April 1st to May 13th. All inquiries will be responded to upon Alana's return.

Frequently Asked Questions

If, after meeting for our initial consultation, you decide I am the right person for you we would set up an intake appointment. In my intake appointment with you, I’m going to ask you a lot of (tremendously annoying) questions about you, your history, your relationship(s) and the problems or concerns you feel you are facing.

This information gathering stage often takes 1-2 sessions and leads us into talking about your goals for our time together. Setting our treatment goals is important because it: helps me to understand what it is we are working towards, keeps us accountable to one another so that you get the most out of our sessions, and it determines the course of therapy.

Depending on your goals, I may facilitate certain discussions, challenge your perspectives and beliefs about what is going on and provide you with tools and resources to get out of your current situation.

Our goals also help us to determine when you no longer need to see me. Most of my clients are looking to accomplish a goal and to achieve something concrete, not to be in therapy with me forever.

I want you to feel empowered to take what we’ve talked about and what you’ve learned and apply it to your life in new ways. If you ever need a tune-up or feel like there is another concern you need help with, I am here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach back out.

Or, if I am not available, I have resources and referrals that I know and trust that I would be happy to provide you with. It is my job to ensure you continue to get the help you need, even if it’s not with me!

The short answer is, no it’s not. Sex therapy is a type of talk therapy; the purpose being to help partners and individuals address physical, psychological, and interpersonal factors impacting their sexual satisfaction. The only difference is that, as a certified sex therapist, I have all the right training and the tools to help you and your partner(s) work through your sexual issues. If you want more information on sex therapy, check out my What is Sex Therapy page.

I utilize a variety of models and evidence-based practices to assist clients including, but not limited to, emotion-focused, narrative, and intergenerational therapies. As a systemic therapist, I believe that people are connected to each other through a system of intertwining relationships.

My role is to support you in building positive, secure relationships that will improve your well-being and interpersonal experiences. My work is focused on creating a safe space for individuals, partners and families to explore fears and personal strengths.

No one person is the same, so no one time frame for therapy is the same. When I start seeing new clients I ask that you commit to being seen weekly or biweekly for 1-2 months while we are getting to know one another and building the necessary momentum for change.

Typically, clients would like to be seen weekly or biweekly for as long as they feel it takes them to achieve their goals. Clients that feel they are doing well enough may choose to reduce the frequency of their visits and eventually may only come in when they feel they need a "check-up" session.

It may also be necessary for us to space our appointments out at some point; for example, if I ask you to complete a homework assignment and I want you to have plenty of time to engage in it, I might recommend that we schedule further out. I would be happy to discuss your needs and desired time frame in the initial consultation.

Please consult my Fees page for further information and be advised that I do not accept any insurance plans directly at this time. I also have a limited number of low fee slots available based on financial need, please reach out to see if I have any spots open.

Cash and credit cards are acceptable methods of payment. Payment is due when services are rendered. A free initial meeting is available- please head to the contact page to set up your 20-minute consultation.

Both! Right now I am taking a hybrid approach to services so I can see folks in-person and via telehealth through my client portal. You are welcome to pick the option that works best for you and your schedule.

Some clients prefer to have a recurring appointment slot with me, but often folks will schedule with me as necessary or at the end of session. If you need our times to be more flexible for any reason, Sarah and I are happy to find a time that works for all of us in my clinical schedule.

My clinical hours are Monday through Thursday. My earliest appointment is 11am and my latest appointment is 4:30pm.

I completely understand that clients have to cancel their appointments for one reason or another. If you need to cancel an appointment, please notify me 24 hours prior to your therapy session in order to avoid being charged for the missed appointment.

This can be done by logging into your client portal and cancelling or rescheduling your appointment yourself, up to 24 hours before your session time. If you are a new client and do not yet have access to the client portal, look for the email sent to you advising your on how to login to complete your consultation paperwork, this will give you access to change the appointment yourself.

You are also welcome to email or give us a call, but please be advised that we may not be able to confirm the cancellation with you in a timely manner. If the session is canceled less than 24 hours before your appointment you will be responsible for the full amount for the missed session.

Unless the circumstances for canceling are covered in my latest policy regarding the current COVID-19 health crisis. Please also know that if you are more than 15 minutes late for our scheduled appointment I will not be able to guarantee my ability to see you.

The best way to get in touch with me is through the Contact page
You are also welcome to:

Please let Sarah know your name, preferably your email address, and a short description about what services you are interested in and she will return your inquiry within 24-48 business hours.

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