Where is your office?
I see people online in Pennsylvania and Virginia. In-office sessions will be available later in 2024 in the Philadelphia area.
What are your hours?
I schedule visits based on availability Monday – Thursday. The earliest appointment is 7:45 a.m., and the latest is 8:15 p.m.
How long are the sessions?
We meet weekly, and sessions are 50 minutes in length.
Do you take insurance?
I take Aetna and Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Virginia if you live within 25 miles of Culpeper. For the rest of Virginia and in Pennsylvania, I am out of network for all insurance. Where I am out of network, I will provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
How do I set up an appointment?
Please email me at peterlewis68@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (202) 643-1385. I am the only person that receives your emails and voicemails, and your message is confidential.
What is your cancellation policy?
At least 24 hours’ notice with no charge. I will charge late cancellations and no-shows at the total rate. I’m not unreasonable, and I know things come up in life. If your cancellation rate exceeds 20%, I cannot prioritize your day and time for you. In that case, you should consider whether weekly therapy is the right thing for you.
How do you take payment?
You can pay via Mastercard, VISA, Discover, HSA cards, or Venmo.
Why don't you take insurance?
Insurance brings complications to the experience, and I try to limit our mutual exposure to those frustrations. Where I am out of network, I will provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
With whom do you work best?
Frankly, I work well with most people, especially those stuck in some way and motivated to do something about that. It helps if you’re clear about your goals and intentions, but that doesn’t always have to be true. “I want to feel better” is a good starting place for therapy.
With what age ranges do you work?
15-year-olds up to people in their eighties and everybody in between.
Do you work with women, men, and couples?
I work with adult and teenaged women and men in individual therapy. I do not provide marital or family therapy.
What do you do in sessions?
Most sessions feel like a conversation. Sometimes, I’ll provide psychoeducation you may find helpful. We might practice coping skills together. Sometimes, we laugh together. You might cry in session. The focus is always on you and helping you.
I think my trauma/shame/guilt is too significant to handle. Can you help me?
Yes!
Is there homework in therapy?
Sometimes, but not always. I may ask you to journal, write down dreams, watch a movie, or try a new skill and report on how it went. Most people don’t like therapy homework, so I limit my suggestions. You can have a good experience in therapy without doing any homework, so don’t sweat that part.
What modalities do you use?
I use an eclectic mix of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and somatic and sensorimotor approaches, for those interested. I utilize some mindfulness techniques, and I’m generally person-centered in my approach.
I am a Level II certified trauma professional. My background and advanced professional training are in Jungian depth psychology. I provide supportive psychotherapy, ongoing dream analysis, or occasional dream analysis. My perspective is psychodynamic and psychoanalytic in nature. Jungian dream analysis gives us both good information about your inner life. Some people do dream work, and some don’t.
What is considered a good therapy outcome?
Therapy should help you learn to manage symptoms and triggers and learn to live with your struggles, so they don’t control your viewpoint and world experience. Sometimes, we can resolve issues and help you move forward. Other times, we may sweep the metaphorical dust into a corner and teach you how to use the broom when that dust gets stirred up. Both are good outcomes in therapy.
Are you a Christian counselor?
My religious background is Christian, and I have a long affiliation with the Jewish community. I am not a Christian (or “Nouthetic”) counselor by that title or understanding of our relationship. I am open to your religious or spiritual background (or non-religious background) and supportive of it as it informs our work together. Most of the people I have worked with don’t have any religious affiliation.
Do you have any hobbies?
In the winter, I enjoy skiing. I try to garden in warm weather, but I’m not very good at it.
What would people say about you as a person?
Although I come across as serious, I have a good sense of humor and am very open-minded.
Cats or dogs?
Whoa! I don’t want to divide us into categories, but since you asked, I’m a cat dad, and I love other people’s dogs. Whether you’re a cat or dog person, I do ask that you leave your pets at home while we’re working in the office together.
Favorite food?
I didn’t know how much I liked Thai Massaman curry until I had it once served with pineapple chunks.
Tissues?
I supply the office with soft, lotion-laced tissues. Sometimes, people have to cry it out in a session. Who wants cheap, dry tissues?
