Remote Sessions

You may not feel like yourself right now, but you should know that you can be well. We are licensed clinicians at the doctoral or master level who provide personalized therapy and compassionate care. We treat the individual in front of us and not a diagnosis. Let us help you improve self-efficacy, overcome trauma, build resilience, and create a purposeful life for continued mental and emotional well-being. You deserve to feel joyful and vibrant.

We are a mental health practice that is fully online and your appointments will take place face-to-face in our secure telehealth platform, all from the comfort of your home. Therapy services are available across the United States, now reaching 40 states! Scroll down to FAQ’s to see if we offer services in your state.

Request an appointment

The Process

Intake Assessment

Your first appointment will be a clinical intake session. We’ll get to know a bit more about you, what you’re struggling with, and explore any diagnoses if clinically indicated.

Treatment Planning

Throughout your first few sessions, we will focus on treatment planning. This is a collaborative and supportive process aimed at identifying treatment goals.

Therapy

Therapy sessions may take place on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. That’s totally up to you! Whatever you decide, we’ll support you every step of the way.

Ongoing Care
& Support

We’re here for you as long as you need. We understand that life throws curve balls – your mental health is our priority.

Treatment Specialties

Anxiety can leave you feeling overwhelmed by the load of it all. Anxiety disorders can present themselves in many forms such as generalized anxiety, panic, or OCD. You don’t have to be plagued by irritability, remain confined to your home, or cave under the weight of it all. You can learn to manage your symptoms and begin to feel better.
Depression is not a character flaw or a weakness. Cognitive and behavioral interventions and skills work well to treat symptoms of depression so you can start living life again and thrive. We also treat perinatal and postpartum depression. Sometimes it is a complication of giving birth. If you’re struggling with depression, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms so you can feel less angry, sad, or overwhelmed.
Relationships can be complicated and dynamics may change in personal and professional relationships over time. These changes can be hard to go through, and you’re not alone if you’re left questioning those relationships. Learn to communicate effectively with those you care about and set healthy boundaries where needed.
Traumatic experiences interfere with many important life areas, such as relationships, physical health, and overall cognitive and emotional well-being. Unresolved trauma can contribute to depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health related concerns. You deserve to understand what is happening in your body when there is traumatic response and how to regulate accordingly.
Life adjustments and change can increase stress and feel overwhelming. Whether you’ve graduated college, moved to a new place, started a new job, or ended a friendship – working through it is an important aspect of being able to move through the transitions. We’re here to help.
Running a business while being a parent is a different ball game. Sometimes, mental road blocks get in the way, mom guilt surfaces, you feel stretched thin, and you can’t seem to find a middle ground between work and mom responsibilities. Learn to get clear on your values, set obtainable goals, communicate your boundaries, and understand your mental road blocks so that your vision for work and family balance begin to align instead of compete.

Types of Therapy

Courses of Treatment

EXPOSURE AND RESPONSE PREVENTION (ERP)

ERP is a highly effective form of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed to treat anxiety disorders, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In ERP, individuals systematically face feared thoughts, images, and situations while refraining from engaging in compulsive behaviors. By breaking the cycle of avoidance and ritualistic responses, ERP empowers individuals to manage and overcome their anxiety, promoting long-lasting relief and improved overall well-being.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT)

CBT is an evidence-based treatment modality for a variety of mental health problems such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, trauma related disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. The primary focus of CBT is modifying dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts by uprooting negative beliefs or thinking errors. Narrative Exposurce Therapy (NET) is a cognitive intervention used to treat more complex cases of trauma.

ACCELERATED RESOLUTION THERAPY (ART)

Accelerated Resolution Therapy works directly to reprogram the way in which distressing memories and images are stored in the brain so that they no longer trigger strong physical and emotional reactions. ART accomplishes this through the use of rapid eye movements similar to eye movements that occur during dreaming. ART is effective for treating PTSD, depression, grief, anxiety, OCD, and phobias.

ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT)

ACT is an evidence-based and action oriented treatment that focuses on mindfulness, values, and committed actions. The purpose is to gain clarity on the things that are meaningful to you and how to live a life that aligns with your values. In ACT, you learn how to reduce the impact and influence of painful thoughts and feelings while also taking action to build a life that is rich and full of meaning.

INTERPERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY (IPT)

IPT is an evidence-based treatment modality for mood and anxiety disorders, and Perinatal IPT is specific to treating mood and anxiety disorders in pregnancy and postpartum. It is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on you and your relationships with other people. IPT integrates your relational experiences, your thoughts about yourself, and your familial experiences to bring awareness to how these three domains impact your present circumstances. The goals of IPT are to improve your interpersonal functioning, increase social support, and reduce symptom severity.

SUPPORTIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY

Supportive psychotherapy relies on the therapeutic alliance to alleviate symptoms, improve self-esteem, regulate impulses and negative thinking, and reinforce the ability to cope with life stressors and challenges. The approach integrates various treatment modalities and works best for individuals with mild symptoms and those seeking additional support or to build their self-esteem.

Common Questions

+ How long is each session?

Your first session will consist of a diagnostic intake evaluation that is approximately 75 minutes. Sessions thereafter will be one therapeutic hour of approximately 50-55 minutes.

+ Do you take insurance?

We are an insurance friendly practice and we've partnered with Mentaya, a service that streamlines getting reimbursed for your therapy sessions through out-of-network benefits.

See if you qualify: https://mentaya.co/checkbenefits/dralicepsyd

Here's how it works:

Sign up (you'll recieve a sign up link if you become a client/patient).
Our practice will enter your sessions into the platform.
Mentaya submits the claim and handles any insurance follow-up.
You get reimbursed by insurance!

Mentaya charges a 5% fee per claim, which includes handling any paperwork required, dealing with denials, and calling insurance companies. It's risk-free: They guarantee claims are successfully submitted, or a full refund of their fees.

Treatment services may apply towards qualified medical expenses if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

Diane Wagner, LCSW, is credentialed with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna.

+ What type of payment do you accept?

Dr. Pickering accepts all major credit/debit cards and HSA/FSA cards. Payment is due before or at the time of service.

+ How often would I come to therapy?

Therapy sessions generally take place once per week or bi-weekly; however, this may be modified to fit your personal goals and/or financial needs.

+ How do I schedule an appointment?

An appointment is scheduled by filling out the Client Contact Form. Click “Request an Appointment” at the top of this page to be directed to the Client Contact Form. Dr. Pickering will be notified and will be in touch with how to move forward.

+ Do you prescribe medications?

Dr. Pickering does not prescribe medications. Patients who are on a medication regimen are encouraged to maintain a relationship with their prescribing provider(s).

+ Is teletherapy right for me?

Teletherapy is a great option for a client who

May have difficulty navigating or coordinating (additional) childcare
Has limited time to travel to sessions
Has limited access to (maternal) mental health providers in their area
Requires flexible times and days of the week for therapy
Is familiar with the use of computers and navigating the Internet
Doesn't require extensive intervention or treatment. Those with complex mental health issues are encouraged to see a provider in-person.
Teletherapy provides you with more time for you and your family while you work towards becoming your best self.

+ What is the cost of therapy?

The cost of therapy sessions varies depending on your insurance benefits and reimbursement rates.

For private pay, the cost depends on your provider:

The first session is a 75-minute diagnostic intake evaluation: $200 with Dr. Pickering $175 with Diane Wagner

Remaining therapy sessions are approximately 55 minutes: $175 with Dr. Pickering $150 with Diane Wagner

If you have additional questions about fees or would like to schedule a session, please feel free to reach out!

+ Who do you offer teletherapy services to?

Dr. Pickering offers teletherapy to residents of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Diane Wagner, LCSW offers teletherapy to residents of Arizona and Florida.

+ How many sessions will I need?

Treatment may range anywhere from 12-16 sessions, sometimes more, sometimes less. This will look differently for each client and depends on a variety of factors. Change takes time and intention.

+ Where is your office located?

Dr. Pickering’s practice is exclusively online at this time.

+ Is teletherapy secure?

Similar to an in-person appointment, telehealth services are private and confidential. Dr. Pickering utilizes a HIPAA compliant platform specifically designed for telehealth services. Sessions will never be recorded.

+ What are some things you address in sessions?

anxiety, overwhelm, constant worry, panic
sadness, irritability, anger, depression
life transitions
birth trauma
trauma
maternal mental health education and information
postpartum planning and preparing for motherhood/parenthood
adjustment and transition to parenthood – this includes (but is not limited to) changes in relationship dynamics, changes in self identity, emotions around feeding baby (breastfeeding, bottle feeding, formula feeding), returning to work, staying home, etc.
sleep hygiene
complex feelings and emotions
bonding with baby
navigating intrusive or scary thoughts
work/life balance
self-care
effective communication and boundary setting
relationships, marriage struggles
self-improvement

Check Your Benefits

We've partnered with Mentaya, a service that streamlines getting reimbursed for your therapy sessions through out-of-network benefits. See if you qualify!

Is My State on the List?

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Maine

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

For Urgent Crisis Support

If you are experiencing a crisis and require urgent support, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.