Frequently Asked Questions

For the most part, we are located wherever you are! That’s the great thing about being an online provider. It’s easy, convenient, and affordable.

We also have an office at the Gestalt Institute in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh, located at 1824 Murray Avenue, Suite #304.

Our counseling hours are typically Monday through Thursday, 11 to 7.

Standard therapy sessions are typically 45–60 minutes long, especially if you are utilizing your insurance benefits.

While this format works well for many clients, there are times when additional space can be beneficial. For clients who desire a deeper level of support, we also offer private-pay immersive sessions that allow for extended time to explore complex concerns, relationship dynamics, personal growth, or life transitions. We can discuss whether a traditional session or a more immersive format is the best fit for your goals.

We currently in network providers for the following Employer-Based or Commercial Marketplace insurances:  Highmark, UPMC (Ben only), Aetna, Optum, United, and Cigna/Evernorth.  We are NOT a provided for Medicare or Medicaid policies.

Please note, you will need to meet a “medical necessity” to utilize your insurance and you will receive a diagnosis. Medical necessity is a key requirement when using insurance to cover mental health therapy. It means that the treatment must be clinically appropriate, evidence-based, and necessary to diagnose or treat a mental health condition.

You will receive a mental health diagnosis. Mental health diagnoses span a wide range, from anxiety and mood disorders to trauma-related, psychotic, and personality disorders, each with unique symptoms and treatment approaches.  Insurance companies generally require documentation showing that therapy is addressing a diagnosable mental health disorder and that the services are essential to reduce symptoms, improve functioning, or prevent deterioration. Without meeting medical necessity criteria, coverage for therapy may be denied.

While we are mindful of the insurance requirement for a documented mental health diagnosis and medical necessity, we remain deeply compassionate in our approach and will always discuss the implications and concerns with you openly.  It is important for us to honor your unique experience and prioritize respectful, holistic care above all.

We also offer Private Pay or Sliding Scale sessions for those who qualify. Choosing private pay sessions allows you to receive therapy without the limitations of insurance, protecting your privacy and giving you greater freedom in the type, length, and focus of your care. A sliding scale option may be available to help make therapy more accessible, with fees adjusted based on individual financial circumstances.

You may cancel your appointment without penalty with 24 hours’ advance notice.

For cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice, we charge a nominal $50 fee.

A no-show fee of $80 will be applied if notice is not given before the missed appointment.

The therapeutic relationship is unique. It’s a highly personal contractual agreement, so it’s important to be clear on how our relationship will work and our respective responsibilities.

For our part, we will create a committed window of time for you to do your work with us. It is held exclusively for you. We will arrive on time for your session and expect the same from you. If you run late, that happens, but it may mean losing session time.

At the end of the day, we are a small business and support our family based on this income. When sessions are missed, that income is potentially lost. Money isn’t the only reason we do what we do, but we must remain mindful of our ability to attend to all our responsibilities.

Yes. Most sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform called SimplePractice. We generally prefer video sessions because they allow for a more connected therapeutic experience and provide access to important nonverbal communication that can support the work we do together.

Phone sessions are also available when clinically appropriate or when circumstances make video difficult. For example, if technology issues arise during a session, we may switch to a phone call rather than spend valuable time troubleshooting. Some clients also prefer to attend sessions by phone while commuting or traveling. In those situations, safety always comes first, and sessions should only take place when you can participate safely and with minimal distraction, using a hands-free device when driving.

We welcome clients from diverse backgrounds, identities, beliefs, and life experiences. Whether we meet by video or phone, our goal is to create a safe, respectful environment where you feel seen, heard, and supported in your growth and healing.

We work with men, women, and couples navigating relationship challenges, life transitions, personal growth, and the complexities of everyday life. We want to help clients better understand themselves, improve communication, manage stress, and create meaningful change.

Our practice specializes in Gestalt therapy, men’s work, and relationship counseling. We believe that lasting change begins with awareness. Rather than simply talking about problems, we help clients develop a deeper understanding of how they relate to themselves, others, and the world around them. Through increased awareness, clients are better able to make intentional choices because the are moving from a more authentic version of themselves.

Clients often describe us as warm, approachable, down-to-earth, and easy to talk to. Leza’s approach is often direct, yet compassionate, while Ben is open and patient in his approach.  Both work on balancing deep personal exploration with practical tools that can be applied in everyday life. Whether we are helping someone navigate a difficult relationship, process a life transition, strengthen communication skills, or reconnect with a sense of purpose, we focus on both the larger patterns shaping their experience and the moment-to-moment skills needed to move forward.

We welcome clients from diverse backgrounds, identities, beliefs, cultures, and life experiences. Our work is informed by an appreciation for multicultural perspectives, spirituality, and the understanding that each person’s experience is shaped by their unique history and context. We approach every client with respect, curiosity, and a commitment to creating a safe and nonjudgmental environment where authentic growth can occur.

First, congratulations. Reaching out for therapy is often the hardest part of the process. You’ve already done something brave, even if you’re still wondering whether or not you are up to the challenge. 

And no, you do not have to tell us everything. We are therapists, not hostage negotiators. You get to decide what you share, when you share it, and how quickly you move. Trust tends to develop over time, and most people find themselves opening up naturally as they feel more comfortable.

That said, therapy works best when you’re willing to be honest—not necessarily with us, but with yourself. Sometimes that means revisiting difficult experiences, uncomfortable emotions, or patterns that have quietly been running the show behind the scenes. Growth can be rewarding, but it is not always comfortable. Occasionally it feels more like cleaning out a cluttered garage than having a relaxing spa day.

We don’t offer miracle cures, life hacks, or a secret five-step formula for enlightenment. What we do offer is a supportive, nonjudgmental space to explore what’s happening in your life, understand your patterns, develop new skills, and make choices that are more aligned with who you want to be.

Some sessions will feel profound. Some will feel practical. Some may leave you saying, “Well, that was unexpectedly helpful.” All of them are designed to help you build greater awareness, healthier relationships, and a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling.

Yes. Couples occasionally argue in session. In fact, if we’re being honest, it’s often why they’re there.

The good news is that you don’t need to have the perfect conversation before showing up. We expect there to be disagreements, misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and moments where one or both of you may feel frustrated. Our role is not to referee the fight, declare a winner, or hand out trophies for being right.

We don’t take sides of the individual… We take the side of the relationship. Courtrooms decide who’s right. Therapy helps you decide what’s next.

Our job is to help both partners slow down, understand what is happening beneath the conflict, and learn how to communicate in ways that lead to greater understanding rather than further escalation. Most arguments aren’t actually about dishes, text messages, vacations, or whose turn it was to do the laundry. More often, they are about feeling unheard, disconnected, unappreciated, or misunderstood.

For couples work, we generally ask that both partners commit to a minimum of five sessions before making major decisions about the future of the relationship whenever possible. In our experience, this provides enough time to identify patterns, learn new ways of relating, and determine whether meaningful change is possible. By that point, most couples have a much clearer understanding of where they are, where they’re headed, and what they want to do next.

Most couples arrive knowing exactly what’s wrong, especially with their partner… We help them understand what’s happening between them and how to evolve in the most accessible way.

Yes, we do keep clinical notes as required by our profession. The good news is that we’re therapists, not stenographers, so we’re not documenting every word you say.

Our notes are intentionally concise and focus on the themes of our work, your progress, and any information necessary to support ethical and professional care. We spend far more time paying attention to you than typing about you.

The purpose of therapy is not to create a detailed record of your life. The purpose is to help you gain insight, develop new skills, navigate challenges, and create meaningful change. Our goal is to provide a safe, confidential space where you can focus on your growth rather than worry about someone keeping a transcript of the conversation.

If you ever have questions about confidentiality, documentation, or how your information is protected, we’re happy to discuss it with you.

Between the two of us, we’ve spent more than four decades in the helping professions. We’ve learned that expertise is built through both rigorous training and lived experience, and we continue to invest deeply in both, as clinicians and as humans.

Leza brings nearly 25 years of professional experience, along with half a century of life experience that informs her work with relationships, trauma, personal growth, spirituality, and life’s many transitions. Ben has been in the field for nearly two decades himself (18 years and counting). Together, we bring a blend of clinical expertise, hard-earned wisdom, curiosity, and a genuine love for helping people grow.

We have both completed advanced post-graduate training and certification in Gestalt therapy, an experiential approach that emphasizes self-awareness, authentic relationships, and meaningful change. It remains one of the primary foundations of our work.

We’ve been doing this long enough to know there are very few quick fixes—but also long enough to know that meaningful change is absolutely possible.

Before entering private practice, both of us spent many years working in a variety of clinical settings with diverse populations and levels of need. Collectively, our experience includes residential treatment programs, community-based mental health services, behavioral health programs, brain injury rehabilitation, case coordination, crisis support, and outpatient counseling.

We’ve worked with individuals facing trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, substance use concerns, severe and persistent mental health conditions, neurological injuries, and complex family dynamics. We’ve provided support in homes, schools, community settings, treatment facilities, and clinical offices—often working with people during some of the most difficult chapters of their lives.

These experiences gave us a deep appreciation for both the resilience of the human spirit and the reality that meaningful change rarely happens through a one-size-fits-all approach. They also taught us how to meet people where they are, whether they are navigating a major crisis, rebuilding after adversity, or simply seeking greater fulfillment and self-understanding.

Today, our work is primarily focused on private practice, where we bring together decades of clinical experience, advanced Gestalt training, and a relational, trauma-informed approach to help individuals and couples create lasting change in their lives and relationships.

Yes. We both enjoy travel and the perspective it brings, though Leza may be slightly more enthusiastic about turning a trip into a life lesson and mystical experience.

In 2009, not so long after we met, we took a bucket-list adventure that lasted most of the fall. We drove across the United States, spent time in Northern California, and eventually made our way to Europe. Along the way, we explored multiple cities in Ireland and Italy, as well as Amsterdam, London, and Athens.

While we loved the history, culture, and beauty of Europe, the American Southwest left the deepest impression on us. There is something about the vast landscapes, red rock deserts, and sense of timelessness that continues to call to us. So, if you mention Sedona, Zion, Bryce Canyon, or the Grand Canyon, there’s a good chance we’ll have a hard time hiding our enthusiasm.

Travel has given us the opportunity to encounter different cultures, beliefs, traditions, and ways of living. We believe those experiences have made us better therapists by broadening our perspective and reminding us that there is rarely only one way to see the world.

We believe the best therapeutic relationships are both warm and honest. Our goal is to create a space that feels friendly, genuine, and supportive, but we’re not here simply to nod along with everything you say.

Both of us do our best to offer feedback with care, respect, and compassion. Sometimes growth requires difficult conversations. Sometimes it requires looking at patterns you’d rather avoid. And sometimes it means hearing something that is uncomfortable, but important.

There may be moments when we challenge you, surprise you, or even annoy you. That’s okay. In fact, those moments often become some of the most meaningful parts of the work. We don’t measure success by whether you always agree with us or even whether you always like us. We measure success by whether the conversation helps you gain awareness, clarity, and the ability to make more intentional choices.

We are not afraid of strong emotions. Anger, frustration, disappointment, confusion, and disagreement all have a place in therapy. We don’t take those feelings personally, and we won’t ask you to hide them. Some of the most transformative work happens when people feel safe enough to bring their honest reactions into the room.

We’ve been challenged, questioned, disagreed with, and occasionally told exactly where we could put our advice. We survived. Often those clients ended up doing some of the deepest work of their lives.

So… should you seek therapy for binge-watching? Probably not.

But, don’t get Leza started—she’s the worst. If there were an Olympic event for becoming emotionally invested in fictional characters, she’d at least make the finals.

The truth is that human beings are wired for connection and storytelling. When a show is well-written, we spend hours, sometimes years, watching characters grow, struggle, love, fail, and triumph. Our brains don’t always distinguish between people we know personally and people we’ve invited into our living room for eight seasons.

More importantly, great stories often help us make sense of our own lives. Popular television shows create powerful metaphors, archetypes, and learning experiences that can illuminate our relationships, struggles, fears, hopes, and patterns. Sometimes it’s easier to recognize ourselves in a character than it is to recognize ourselves in a mirror.

In fact, we occasionally use songs, movies, television shows, and other cultural references in therapy when they help bring clarity to a situation. A character’s journey, a relationship dynamic, or even a fictional conflict can provide a surprisingly useful framework for understanding real-life experiences and identifying opportunities for growth.

So yes, it’s completely normal to celebrate their victories, mourn their losses, and feel a little lost when a favorite series comes to an end.

And if you happen to process your life through movie quotes, song lyrics, or sitcoms, there’s a good chance we’ll speak your language.

No… stick to telling jokes.

In all fairness, we’d rather help you understand yourself than learn enough psychology buzzwords to diagnose your ex or your family.

Now, you probably pick up some therapy language along the way, but we hope to move beyond what TikTok said about boundaries, trauma, narcissism, and attachment styles.

Our goal isn’t to make you sound smarter. It’s to help you become more self-aware. That’s far more useful at parties… and in life.