Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question that I do not answer on this page, please feel free to email me at maddie@madeleinebrunkcounseling.com

Therapy With Maddie

  • Most sessions are 50 minutes long, though I offer 80-minute sessions upon request. I recommend weekly sessions, as it is better to meet frequently in order to build a strong relationship between clinician and client, but other session frequencies (eg. every other week) are available as well.

  • I do not accept insurance at this time, but I am able to provide a superbill for clients who would like to pursue reimbursement through their insurance carrier.

  • The modalities I use most frequently are Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness, and Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB).

    Internal Family Systems (IFS)

    • This is a therapy based on the premise that all people have multiple, sometimes conflicting, internal parts.

    • These parts all want to protect you, even when they cause distress. There are no bad parts.

    • We all also have a Self: a part that can (and should) lead the other parts, taking into account the needs of the whole system.

    • The goal of this therapy modality is to increase harmony among parts and to encourage your Self to lead your internal family.

    Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

    • This modality focuses on using the innate healing capacity of the brain to reprocess memories that cause distress.

    • It involves the client briefly revisiting distressing memories while watching a clinician move their finger side to side.

    • This movement helps to keep clients in the present and allows them to experience a different relationship to their distressing memory, resulting in the memory being processed into something more adaptive.

    • For a more detailed introduction, click here. (Link opens a video).

    Mindfulness Modalities

    • Mindfulness is the practice of observing ones own thoughts and internal reactions as they occur in the present. It is derived from Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and has been adapted by Western mental health professionals into several different modalities.

    • Some common Mindfulness practices are meditation, breathing exercises, and guided imagery.

    Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB)

    • The basic premise of Interpersonal Neurobiology is that human functioning is a product of our body, mind, and interpersonal relationships.

    • IPNB is influenced greatly by attachment theory.

    • The goal of the therapy is to integrate the mind, body, and relationships with other people in order to create a felt sense of safety within ourselves and in our relationships with others.

  • EMDR

    • EMDR Basic Training Part 1 & 2, Dr. Christie Sprowls, PsyD, November 10-12, 2023 and January 26-28, 2024

    • Consultation in pursuit of certification with Christine Molina, LCSW, beginning in May 2024 (ongoing)

    Trauma

    • An Introduction to NARM: The NeuroAffective Relational Model for Transforming Complex Trauma, Brad Kammer, LMFT, LPCC, January 19, 2024

    • Interpersonal Neurobiology Special Interest Group, Kim Schaefer, LPC, SEP, September - November 2023 

    • A School of Unlearning: A Therapist’s Guide to Memory Reconsolidation, Grief, and Healing, Juliane Taylor Shore, LPC-S, LMFT-S, May 12, 2023

    • Journey into Internal Family Systems (IFS): A Deeper Dive, Jen Braafladt, MA, LPC, on May 10, 2024  

    • Memory Reconsolidation, Juliane Taylor Shore, LPC-S, LMFT-S, October 15, 2021

    • Internal Family Systems 101, Michelle Hawn, LPC-S, September 10, 2021 

    Identity

    • Trans Advocacy: Writing Letters for Gender-Affirming Care, Candice Holloway, LPC-S, January 25, 2024

    • Gender Fragility and the Gender Affirmative Model: A New Framework to Conceptualize Working with Gender, Noah Garcia, MA, LPC-S, NCC, March 19, 2023

    • Gender and Sexuality: A Review and Putting it Into Practice, JP Cardenas, LPC-A, June 10, 2022

    • Engage: Strategies to Engage Culture and Identity in a Clinical Setting, Marlon Johnson, PhD, LPC-MHSP, NCC, November 5, 2021

    • Kink, BDSM, and Poly/Open Relationships, Adam MacDonald, LCSW, August 31, 2021

    ADHD

    • Identifying and Treating the 1 in 5 Students with ADHD and Learning Disabilities Who Are Returning to School Misdiagnosed and Misunderstood, Lynne Kenney, PsyD, July 27, 2022

    • Adult ADHD: Targeting Executive Skills to Manage ADHD in Adults, Kevin Blake, PhD, PLC, ADHD-CCSP, July 8, 2022

    • ADHD, Relationships, and Sex: Strategies to Overcome the Over/Under-Functioner Dynamic, Ari Tuckman, PsyD, CST, July 2, 2022

    • Russell Barkely, PhD on ADHD in Children and Adolescents: Advances in Diagnosis, Treatment and Management, Russell A. Barkley, PhD, June 25, 2022  

    • Rethinking ADHD: A New Treatment Approach, Edward Hallowell, MD, John J Ratey, MD, June 21, 2022

    Autism

    • Alternatives to ABA, AuSome Training, November 18, 2022

    • The Changing Tides of Autism, M.Scott Allen, PsyD, November 11, 2022

    Social Justice

    • Palestinian Liberation: Lessons in Solidarity for Mental Health Professionals, Institute for the Development of Human Arts, December 11, 2023

    • The Counseling Advocate: A Model for Therapeutic Alliance Through the Counselor-Advocate-Scholar Model, Marlon Johnson, PhD, LPC-MHSP, NCC, October 7, 2022

    • Preparing the Conversation: Identifying Biases and Practicing Cultural Humility, Marlon Johnson, PhD, LPC-MHSP, NCC, October 1, 2021

    Other

    • Depersonalization: A Deeper Look at a Misunderstood Phenomenon, Julia Shirar, LPC-A, July 15, 2022

    • Psychopharmacology: Essential Updates for Mental Health Professionals, Kenneth Carter, PhD, ABPP, June 28, 2022

    • A Brief Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Jonathan McNutt, LPC, May 20, 2022

    • An Updated Model to Understand and Treat Addiction, Daniel Hochman, M.D., January 14, 2022 

    • Eating Disorders 101, DeLinda Spain, LCSW, CGP, CEDS, December 10, 2021

    • Modern Attachment Theory in Clinical Practice, Christine Winston, LCSW-S, October 8, 2021

  • I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and have been practicing as a therapist since August 2021. I received both my Bachelor of Psychology and Master of Social Work degrees from UT Austin.

Therapy In General

    1. Find a clinician you are interested in potentially working with.

      (Some good places to look are Psychology Today and Inclusive Therapists).

    2. Contact the clinician by phone or email to ask for a consultation to see if they are a good fit for what you need. This should be free.

      (I offer free 15 minute consultations by phone or Telehealth).

    3. If the clinician feels like a good fit for you, talk with the clinician about how often you will meet and at what price point.

      Once you have agreed on these factors, the clinician will send you paperwork, usually at minimum a client services contract and a policies notice.

      (I send my clients paperwork through the secure software Simple Practice).

      Signing a client contract does not mean that you are committed to staying with the therapist for any specific length of time, unless you are receiving court-ordered treatment.

      You always have the right to decide that a therapist is not a good fit for you, and to find a therapist who will better meet your needs.

    4. Attend your first session!

  • I use Simple Practice, which is an Electronic Health Record software that includes a Telehealth platform.

    Approximately 48 hours before a scheduled session, you will receive an email from Simple Practice with a link to our session.

    If you are using a desktop computer for our sessions, all you need to do is click the link. If you are using a tablet or mobile phone, you may need to download the Simple Practice app from your app store in order to join the session.

If you are having issues accessing any part of this site, please email me at maddie@madeleinebrunkcounseling.com