You need information to make an educated choice.
In 2024 I was excited to visit Stonehenge, the spiritually charged site in England. This is a picture I took. Do you see what I saw? All of the stones are covered in concrete – confirmed by a site archeologist. Had I known the beautiful dark stones would be covered so I cannot see them, I would not have gone.
At Status Therapy, I want you to know what to expect.
Alisia has worked for nearly 20 years in counseling. She specializes in helping people who find themselves at moments in their lives where they are experiencing a painful time. People who feel unable to successfully manage in a timely way whatever it is that is disrupting their lives. When you meet with Alisia for counseling or consulting, your status in that time is: therapy (or consulting). That’s where the name Status Therapy originated. So unless you are using your phone to meet with me, you want to put it aside and give attentive focus to our sessions. Most of your work will be done outside of our meetings once you have shared what’s happening, and I’ve gathered some foundational history and your present mindset.
It is important to feel some relief. To have the sense that some heavy dark blob or niggling aggravation has become less bothersome. So that happiness and peace feel more accessible. This does not mean it’s easy. And many times, most of the time, my clients face things that they feel fearful about. If you continue to observe when you are fearful, and face your fears, they will become easier to handle. Here are some of the common catalysts that cause people to reach out for help to improve their lives:
- An unmoving unhappiness at work and the burning desire to find a new job, but feeling stuck or too sad or disconnected to do it. Or maybe a difficult relationship with a coworker that feels unmanageable.
- You may have experienced a recent break up, or your relationship no longer nurtures your soul but seems to be sucking it dry instead. You want help to figure it out and plan next steps. To stay, or go? What to do if I stay? What plans if I decide to go? Is there something I can talk with my partner about in hopes he or she will listen and want to work on things?
- You have been wanting to move for a long time but are afraid to do so. You have a good job/a great family/wonderful friends — you want to leave, or do you? You want help to figure that out and make plans to soothe that frequent nudging in your gut and mind so you can be happier.
- You have had a substance problem in the past, and are solidly in recovery, but you have noticed you are drinking more alcohol, or are thinking about it a lot more. Or you used to obtain other drugs like speed so you could get more done and lately you’re thinking that you could really use it. In graduate school Alisia earned a concentration in substance work and held a separate license for that work. However, it is not the best fit as long term substance issues often require physical monitoring and, people would contact her who are in the criminal justice system and must go to treatment. That forced/mandated therapy does not work well with Alisia’s style which relies on client integrity and self-motivation. That is why only people solidly in recovery dealing with a different mental health issue or pondering use due to stresses but committed to continued recovery are accepted at Status Therapy.
- General stresses that potential clients find are weighing them down to the point of disruptive anxiety and/or sadness. This may manifest as agitation and short-temperedness. This may include multiple stressors that one at a time a client can manage well, but when there are several all at once you want support and help.
- Family of origin issues. This can be communication, or maybe a parent is putting pressure on you for some reason. It could be your parent remarried and that is causing a rift in how you have been treated. Or serious illness or death of a parent.
- Past issues/traumas/ways of being taught throughout childhood you now find are disruptive as an adult and would like to change.
All appointments are online through a HIPAA (Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act) compliant site called Doxy. During COVID19, I worked in Portland, Maine and kept my office open, meeting with clients in-person throughout that time. But as the weeks passed, most of my clients preferred meeting online because they found the meetings secure, convenient and helpful. After COVID19 was managed and less of a worry, most of my clients continued this practice. That is one reason I decided to meet with all of my clients online. Another consideration is that because I live in a smaller Pennsylvania city, being able to work with people many miles away increases privacy for both client and practitioner.
When you reach out to make contact via email hello@statustherapy.com or a phone call (207-650-5681), Alisia will reply within 2 business days of your message, usually within 24 hours. If you have questions, you will be able to directly ask the therapist, me. Then I will send opening paperwork. At this time I am not contracted (not in-network) with any insurance companies. There are benefits to this: your information is more secure – I do not keep electronic client files. When the fee is paid, there is no required information such as a diagnosis code to provide an outside agency; and no insurance company will be asking for specific notes from our sessions. That said, I can provide what is called a ‘Superbill’. A Superbill includes the information your insurance company needs (such as diagnosis) to approve and pay a portion of your bill IF they provide out-of-network benefits for counseling. I will talk more about this on the Payment page.