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Individual Psychotherapy

I welcome the opportunity to meet individuals of all backgrounds, including specialties with the following communities and concerns:

 

 Specific Populations

  • Healthcare Professionals and Trainees

  • First Responders

  • Military and Veteran Communities

  • Professions with Elevated Risk of Traumatic Stress

  • Early and Middle Adulthood

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 T​rauma and Severe Stress​​​​

  • Exposure to Violence or Death

  • Emotional or Psychological Abuse

  • Gender-Based Violence

  • Intergenerational Trauma

  • Medical Trauma

  • Combat Exposure

  • Moral Injury

  • Post-traumatic Growth

  • Secondary Traumatic Stress

  • Sexual Trauma

  • Self-Blame

  • Survivor's Guilt

  • Vicarious Trauma

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 Grief and Loss​

  • Bereavement

  • Anticipatory Grief

  • Disenfranchised Grief

  • Suicide Loss

  • Homicide Loss

  • Ambiguous Loss

  • Pet Loss

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 Relational Concerns

  • Betrayal

  • Interpersonal Conflict

  • Family Concerns

  • Estrangement

  • Communication 

  • Loneliness

  • Caregiver Stress

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 Mood and Anxiety Concerns

  • Depression

  • Low Self-Worth or Self-Esteem

  • Generalized Anxiety

  • Loss of Interest

  • Low Motivation

  • Social Anxiety

  • Avoidance​

  • Excessive Worry

  • Catastrophic Thinking​

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 Mind-Body Connection

  • Stress Management

  • Mindfulness Practices

  • Sleep Difficulties

  • Emotional Eating

  • Binge Eating

  • Sexual Concerns

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 Adjustment and Identity​

  • ​Multicultural Identity Exploration

  • Gender Role Concerns

  • Phase of Life Transitions

  • Sense of Purpose or Meaning

Clinical Consultation

Over decades of training, volunteering, and working in a range of healthcare settings, my approach to consultation has been shaped by several guiding beliefs:

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Provider and patient well-being are inextricably linked

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Patient-provider relationships are dynamic and foundational to effective care delivery

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Effective multidisciplinary collaboration is mutually beneficial to providers and instrumental to patient care​

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If you are seeking individualized support in the following areas, let's schedule a complimentary introductory call to discuss your needs and goals:

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  • Deepen professional self-awareness

  • Assess and enhance provider well-being​​​​
  • Strengthen and enrich Patient -- Provider relationships

  • Hone clinical communication and interviewing techniques

  • Learn or refine Trauma Informed Care practices

  • Navigate sensitive or challenging clinical conversations with attunement and clarity​​

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Getting started

  • Open to licensed mental health, medical, and allied healthcare providers

  • Consultation offered by phone, video, or in-person

  • Sliding scale available

Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy

What can I expect in the beginning?

The first one to four appointments serve as an opportunity for you to get a sense of what it would be like for us to work together and for me to learn more about you, your reasons for coming in, and your goals for therapy. At the end of the initial consultation, we will discuss treatment recommendations and we will decide whether to begin psychotherapy.

 

 

How long does therapy last?

Determining the length of treatment is a collaborative process based on your treatment goals and personal circumstances. The most compelling response I've heard to this question is, 'as long as it takes and not a day longer.' During the first few appointments, we will develop a treatment plan together that we can review and modify as we progress.

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How does confidentiality work?

It is my legal and ethical duty to maintain the confidentiality of your treatment, with limited exceptions that are either mandated or permitted by law and pertain primarily to safety. We will discuss these policies in detail as early as possible, typically at the beginning of the first appointment. Please see the practice Notice of Privacy Practices form for more information. 

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Do you accept insurance? 

I am a non-network provider, meaning that I do not have a contract with any health insurance carriers. Insurance policies that include out-of-network benefits may cover a substantial portion of your psychotherapy fees. Psychotherapy is commonly approved by Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plans. You are strongly encouraged to verify your benefits prior to initiating services. You may request itemized statements (i.e., superbills) that list the information required for the claims, which includes a diagnosis code.

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For adult TRICARE beneficiaries, I am a certified non-network provider. Please review the details of your plan to determine if a referral is required to initiate care.

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All clients have the right to receive a "Good Faith Estimate" explaining how much your mental health care will cost. I welcome and encourage conversations about billing to support you in making an informed and financially sustainable decision for your mental health care.

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Do you offer reduced fee or no fee services?

Yes. Reduced and no fee slots for new clients are currently full as of Spring 2025. If financial accessibility is a priority for you, the following organizations* may be able to help:

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Open Path Collective

Pro Bono Counseling (Maryland residents)

Open Counseling (DC residents)

The Headstrong Project (Military community)

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*Dr. Bakalar is not affiliated with any of the organizations listed. These links are provided as general mental health resources and their inclusion on this website does not constitute a formal endorsement of these services.
 

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