FAQ

Who is Cheerful Heart right for?

We help high-achieving BIPOC Christian women work through seasons of loss, betrayal, chronic stress, chronic pain, medical trauma, church hurt, and burnout that can trigger a crisis of faith. Many of the women we work with are professionals, caregivers, ministry leaders, therapists, or those who encourage everyone else, but don’t know where to put their own pain. Our clients also come to therapy dealing with anxiety, depression, burnout, or life transitions that intersect with their health journey.

If you want counseling that respects your faith while also giving you real clinical support, we’d love to help. We specialize in integrating Christian faith into therapy in a way that honors your beliefs without minimizing your pain or pressuring you to “be positive.” We are inclusive and work with individuals from different faith backgrounds as well.

You can rebuild trust, deepen resilience, and find a way forward even if you and your faith feel fragile right now.

Do I have to be a woman of color and Christian to work with you?

No, we are open to all faiths but specialize in working with BIPOC Christian women. All races, faiths, and genders are welcome at Cheerful Heart. We are an inclusive practice!

What makes your approach as a Black Christian therapist unique?

Many Black women and women of color feel they have to choose between their faith and their mental health. At Cheerful Heart, we provide faith-integrated therapy that honors your spiritual values without “spiritual bypassing.” We believe that lament and clinical excellence can coexist. You don’t have to “just pray it away” here; we use evidence-based tools like EMDR and ACT to help you heal while respecting your relationship with God.

How do you help women navigating medical trauma and chronic illness?

We specialize in supporting women with Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and autoimmune conditions who have experienced medical gaslighting or trauma. Our approach bridges the gap between physical and emotional care. We help you process the trauma of surgery, painful procedures, and diagnostic delays so you can reclaim a sense of agency over your body and your life.

Can I talk about my "crisis of faith" or anger at God in therapy?

Absolutely. This is a safe space for “church hurt,” spiritual burnout, and the complex questions that arise when living with chronic pain. We believe that lament is a holy and healthy part of the healing process. You are allowed to be honest about your doubts and frustrations without fear of judgment.

What is EMDR, and can it help with medical trauma?

Yes. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful tool for processing traumatic memories. We use specialized protocols like R-TEP and G-TEP specifically designed for medical trauma and chronic pain. These methods help your brain “file away” the distress of medical events so they no longer trigger a fight-or-flight response in your daily life.

What types of therapy do you offer?

THERAPY SERVICES

WHAT WE TREAT

Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and PMDD
Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain
Medical Trauma and Medical Gaslighting
Faith and Spirituality Struggles (including church hurt and crises of faith)
Trauma, CPTSD, and PTSD
Women’s Identity and Life Transitions
Therapy for Therapists and Clinical Supervision

HOW WE HELP

Faith-based counseling
EMDR
EMDR Groups (GTEP, RTEP, GREP2)
Brainspotting
Brainspotting Groups – coming soon
Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Do you work with other therapists?

Absolutely! As the founder and director of Cheerful Heart, I genuinely enjoy working with clinicians and won’t lean on your training as a shortcut. You won’t hear “you already know what to do here.” The work will be exploratory, and any resources or psychoeducation will be offered thoughtfully, not defaulted to because of your credentials.

Therapists are often a natural fit for the kind of depth work I do, and there is something really beautiful about watching a healer finally let themselves be supported.

How can I know if we are a good match?

This is a great question… it’s important to feel comfortable and safe with your therapist. The best way to know if we are a match is by doing a free consultation so we can speak and get a feel for each other. Usually we can determine if we’d be a good match after one conversation. Please feel free to request a free 15-min consultation by contacting me online or calling (914) 214-7792.

How do I prepare emotionally for therapy?

It’s normal to feel nervous! Remember: therapy is a collaborative process. You don’t need to have all the answers — just a willingness to show up and begin the journey.

Do you offer virtual therapy, and what states are you licensed in?

Yes, we offer telehealth services to make specialized care accessible for high-achieving women with busy schedules or chronic pain flares. We are currently licensed to serve clients in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Connecticut, and California. We also offer in-person sessions at our White Plains, NY office.

Do you offer a free consultation?

We do! You are welcome to a free 15-min consultation with us so we can talk and determine whether we are a good fit. You’ll be able to ask us any questions that you may have, and we can learn about your situation to determine if our team’s skill sets match your needs

What can I expect to get out of therapy?

Depending on the reasons you are seeking out therapy, what you can expect to get out of therapy differs. Generally, my clients are seeking clarity around a certain issue, want to break the cycle of bad habits, or need advice and counsel about a current life situation. Whatever is going on for you, hopefully therapy will make it easier by providing clarity, relief, confidence, or whatever you feel you need at this time.

How long does it take to feel better?

This varies from person to person. Some people feel a sense of relief after the first session, while for others it may take multiple sessions to start feeling a shift.

How long is the first session?

The initial session is 60 minutes. We’ll review your intake form, discuss your goals, and outline a personalized treatment plan.

How much does therapy cost?

Individual Talk Therapy
60 minutes: $225 / session

EMDR Therapy
60 minutes: $250 / session

EMDR Intensives
Half-day & full-day formats — coming soon
Contact for pricing

Brainspotting
90 minutes: $300 / session
Brainspotting intensives coming soon, contact for pricing

30-Minute Paid Video Consultation
(For those wanting a longer intro before committing)
$50

15-Minute Phone Consultation:
Complimentary

Endo Kin Collective Group EMDR
Cohort-based: pricing announced per cohort
Sign up for updates

Clinical Supervision & Consulting for Therapists
Individual and group formats available:
Contact for rates

Intern / Reduced-Fee Services:
Sliding scale options are available with our advanced clinical interns. Contact us for current availability.

What type of insurance do you accept?

Insurance + Accessibility

Cheerful Heart is a private pay practice. Leaving insurance panels was a values-aligned decision made to protect the depth, privacy, and clinical freedom of your care. Insurance-based therapy requires a permanent diagnosis on your record, grants third parties access to your clinical file, and limits how and how often we can work together. That structure was not built with you in mind.

Going private pay means your therapy stays between us. No audits. No session caps. No insurance company deciding what you need.

Ways to Access Care:

HSA and FSA cards accepted
Superbills provided for out-of-network reimbursement via Thrizer
Check your out-of-network benefits using the Thrizer widget: eligibility.thrizer.com/cheerful-heart-mhc-pllc
Community Care Agreement (equity-based pricing) — inquire during your consultation

How can I request a new appointment?

You can request a new appointment here. Or, feel free to contact me online or call me at (914) 214-7792.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule?

Sessions must be canceled or rescheduled at least 48 hours in advance. To avoid a late cancellation fee, please reschedule within the same week of your cancellation date.

If you’re sick, experiencing an emergency, or need to switch to virtual at the last minute, please let us know as soon as possible. We would be happy to accommodate you if we can.

Contact me today for your free consultation.

(914) 214-7792

Free 15-min Consultation