An MFT Resident is a therapist who has completed graduate training in Marriage and Family Therapy and is in the post-graduate supervised experience phase required before full licensure in Virginia. I am fully trained, credentialed, and providing real clinical services. The word "resident" is about where I am in the licensure process, not a gap in my preparation.

Here’s exactly where I stand: my client hours are complete, I passed the national licensing exam on the first attempt, and I’m currently about 95% through my required supervision hours.

My supervisor, Lisa Xantus, LPC, reviews my caseload, consults on treatment planning, and is available when I need additional support navigating a clinical situation. She is not in our sessions. She is never in our sessions. She is there to make sure I am doing right by every client I carry.

No. Lisa is never in our sessions. Your sessions are between you and me, and they are private. My supervisor provides guidance on my clinical work as a whole. She is support for me as a clinician, not a presence in your space.

A fully licensed LMFT has completed post-graduate supervised hours and passed their licensure exam. A Resident has finished graduate training and is currently accumulating those hours under active supervision. The clinical education is the same. The difference is where we are in the licensure timeline. Residents often offer lower rates, and because supervision is required, your care comes with a built-in second opinion.

Yes. All clients must be registered residents of Virginia and must be physically located in Virginia at the time of each session. My license is valid only in Virginia. If you are outside Virginia, please find a licensed provider in your state.

It’s for your convenience. Life already has enough hurdles for you to jump over — therapy should not be another one. You can attend from your car, your bedroom, your lunch break. No traffic, no parking, no waiting room.

Sessions are 53 to 60 minutes — the standard clinical hour. You’ll get the full benefit of the time.

It depends on what you’re working through and how you engage with the process. My approach is goal-oriented, not open-ended. Some clients graduate in a few months. Others have deeper layers that take longer. The commitment is to progress, not to keeping you in therapy indefinitely.

That’s exactly what the free 15-minute consultation is for. Bring all your questions. You should feel clear about who you’re working with before you commit to anything. Schedule the consultation and come ready to ask.

I currently accept Aetna, Anthem HealthKeepers (commercial plans only), and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Individual self-pay is $150 per session, and couples self-pay is $160 per session. About Anthem: it’s accepted as a commercial insurance plan under the HealthKeepers name. If your Anthem plan is Medicaid-based (such as HealthKeepers Plus or any Medicaid-managed care plan), it can’t be accepted, as I’m not able to accept Medicaid at this time. If you’re unsure, call member services on the back of your card and ask whether your plan is commercial or Medicaid before booking.

Honestly, I don’t know — your copay is whatever your insurance company says it is. Call them and verify you’re covered for outpatient therapy sessions; they’ll also tell you your copay amount. Keep in mind your copay may vary from session to session depending on your plan and whether you’ve met your deductible. For all specifics, please contact your insurance company directly.

If you’re unsure whether your plan covers therapy services, please contact your insurance company directly. They’re the only ones who can give you a definitive answer.

Of course — that’s what my master’s is in: marriage and family therapy with a concentration in couples therapy. Couples therapy with me covers communication, conflict, disconnection, relational repair, and recovering from betrayal. At minimum, the partner whose insurance will be billed needs to be a Virginia resident, and both partners are required to attend sessions virtually. Couples sessions are $160 per session.

Couples therapy is $160 per session for self-pay clients. If you’re using insurance, your copay will depend on your plan — contact your insurance company to verify your couples therapy coverage and copay before booking.