Services and Rates

We help people with anxiety gain the skills to manage their symptoms and cope with stressful situations. We use a variety of techniques, individualized to your needs, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and relaxation training.

CBT is a type of therapy that helps people identify and change the negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. At its core CBT helps us understand what you think about something and teaches you skills to think about that stressor differently. We don’t teach you what to think, but rather emphasize how to think differently. Mindfulness includes a set of skills that helps people focus on the present moment and reduce stress. Relaxation training helps people learn how to relax their bodies and minds. We use each of these, again tailored to your needs, to help you overcome your anxiety and lead a more productive and happier life.

Our psychologists help couples improve their communication, resolve conflict, and build stronger relationships. Drs. MacBride and Kessler have over 50 years of combined experience working with couples, and we use a variety of evidence-based techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), emotional-focused therapy (EFT), and Gottman therapy. We can help couples with a variety of concerns related to communication issues, sexuality and intimacy, extended families, fertility, parenting and blended families. 

We have found that the most effective way to help couples is to create a safe and supportive space where they can feel comfortable talking about their challenges, focusing on improving communication and understanding. We help couples to identify and address the underlying issues in their relationship, and we help them develop the skills they need to communicate more effectively, resolve conflict, and move past perpetual issues in a healthy way by creating emotional attunement.

We help people with insomnia overcome the thoughts and behaviors that keep them awake at night, including anxiety or worries, which are often experienced as “my brain won’t shut off”. Research has shown that chronic problems with sleep can lead to symptoms of depression and worsen anxiety as well as exacerbate medical issues. Drs. Kessler and MacBride have specialized training in treating insomnia with CBT-I, which is a non-medication approach that has been shown to be effective in treating insomnia in over 80% of cases.

CBT-I: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) helps people change their thoughts and behaviors about sleep. CBT-I is a short-term, evidence-based treatment that can help people with insomnia improve their sleep quality and get more restful sleep. In many cases it can also help you get more sleep.

CBT-I typically involves multiple components. You will work with your therapist on each of these as needed, individualized to your sleep issues, with most people seeing significant improvement in 3 to 6 visits:

• Education: Learning about the science of sleep and how thoughts and behaviors can impact sleep.

• Stimulus control: Identifying and avoiding the things that keep you awake at night.

• Sleep restriction (if needed): Gradually reducing the amount of time you spend in bed to help you consolidate your sleep.

• Relaxation training: Learning how to relax your body and mind before bed.

We primarily use a CBT intervention called Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to understand what is trauma, why post-traumatic reactions occur, and address where these experiences may have you stuck.  This therapy aims to help you process these traumatic instances differently, ultimately changing your relationship to these events. This therapy specifically targets thoughts of stuck points around issues related to Safety, Trust, Power/Control, Esteem, and Intimacy.  Many people when they have completed this type of therapy are able to change how they react to their triggers and feel more productive, safe, and secure in their relationships with others.  

We use a number of CBT interventions to treat depression.  At Veritas, our psychologists start with a thorough assessment, focused on understanding the issues and concerns you bring to therapy, your experiences and history, and your current life circumstances. We then work with you, to individually tailor your treatment to your needs. We generally do a mix of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Behavioral Activation. We work with you to identify the thought patterns that may be keeping you in the trap of low mood, limited enjoyment in life, and inactivity.  Low self-worth, self-doubt or esteem may be a part of a client’s depression, we will personalize interventions to help you change these often difficult thought patterns.  

We help couples and individuals with sexual issues, difficulty relaxing to enjoy sex and intimacy, mismatched sexual desire, enhancing intimacy and connection after children, difficulties with communication relating to sex and intimacy, erectile dysfunction, premature or delayed ejaculation, sexual anxiety, sexual shame, and compulsive or out-of-control sexual behavior. We use a variety of techniques, including CBT, sensate focus, sex therapy, and couples counseling. Many issues can be addressed in individual therapy, others are best addressed in couples counseling. We can address questions about treatment and treatment options during your free initial consultation. 

We help people with insomnia overcome the thoughts and behaviors that keep them awake at night, including anxiety or worries, which are often experienced as “my brain won’t shut off”. Research has shown that chronic problems with sleep can lead to symptoms of depression and worsen anxiety as well as exacerbate medical issues. Drs. Kessler and MacBride have specialized training in treating insomnia with CBT-I, which is a non-medication approach that has been shown to be effective in treating insomnia in over 80% of cases.

CBT-I: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) helps people change their thoughts and behaviors about sleep. CBT-I is a short-term, evidence-based treatment that can help people with insomnia improve their sleep quality and get more restful sleep. In many cases it can also help you get more sleep. 

CBT-I typically involves multiple components. You will work with your therapist on each of these as needed, individualized to your sleep issues, with most people seeing significant improvement in 3 to 6 visits:

• Education: Learning about the science of sleep and how thoughts and behaviors can impact sleep.

• Stimulus control: Identifying and avoiding the things that keep you awake at night.

• Sleep restriction (if needed): Gradually reducing the amount of time you spend in bed to help you consolidate your sleep.

• Relaxation training: Learning how to relax your body and mind before bed.

Career changes, relationship shifts, relocation, parenthood, and retirement are just a few of the transitions people experience. While transitions are a natural part of life, they can often bring about a mix of emotions and uncertainties that may leave you feeling overwhelmed or stuck.

At our telehealth practice, we understand the complexities of life transitions and the impact they can have on your mental well-being. We provide space where you can explore your feelings, gain clarity, and develop effective coping strategies to navigate these changes with resilience and confidence.

Our approach to therapy is tailored to your unique needs, ensuring that we address the specific challenges you face during your life transition. Drawing from evidence-based therapeutic modalities, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, and solution-focused therapy, we will work collaboratively to help you overcome obstacles, identify opportunities for growth, and create a fulfilling future.

Feeling overwhelmed with juggling work, family, and everything in between? You're not alone. Many women find themselves struggling with the pressures of modern life – from figuring out relationships and work-life balance to dealing with body image concerns and the constant buzz of societal expectations. Dr. MacBride gets it. As a female psychologist, she's here to help you navigate these challenges in a way that feels authentic and manageable.

It's about finding your voice, whether it's in your personal life or the workplace, and learning how to stand up for what you need without guilt. Dr. MacBride offers a warm, welcoming space to talk about the real stuff – like the struggle of motherhood, the frustration with gender roles, or just feeling like you're not enough. She's all about building up your confidence, improving how you communicate your needs, and equipping you with strategies to handle stress and anxiety that actually work for you.

With Dr. MacBride, therapy is about more than just talking – it's about making meaningful changes that resonate with who you are and who you want to be. Because at the end of the day, you deserve to feel good about your life and your choices. Let's tackle these challenges together.

Common topics men come to therapy for include navigating relationship dynamics, handling stress, fatherhood and family responsibilities, sexual issues, career pressures, overcoming issues related to emotional repression and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Dr. Kessler helps with communication skills, self-esteem and developing healthier coping mechanisms. A good men’s issues therapist recognizes the importance of a supportive and understanding environment where men can explore and address these issues without judgment, leading to improved mental health and well-being.

When addressing men's issues, Dr. Kessler often addresses concerns like managing societal expectations and stereotypes, dealing with traditional notions of masculinity, and addressing emotional expression and mental health in a way that aligns with their personal identity.

OCD comes with unwanted and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). We treat OCD using a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Your clinician will work with you to gradually expose yourself to anxiety-provoking situations or thoughts while refraining from engaging in the associated compulsions. This treatment helps to reduce anxiety and break the cycle of obsessions and compulsions using an exposure hierarchy, understanding of your triggers, and a personalized understanding of your obsessions and triggers called a Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). 

Our psychologists work to provide a safe, supportive, and affirming space for clients of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Veritas Psychologists are committed allies who offer a range of services to address a range of issues to the LGBTQIA community. 

 We help clients navigate a wide range of concerns such as coming out, exploring sexual orientation or gender identity, managing anxiety or depression, developing self-acceptance, building self-esteem, and coping with discrimination or social stigma.

If help with relationships is needed, our psychologists work with clients in all relationships, whether monogamous or consensually non-monogamous, to address relationship issues, improve communication, navigate challenges, and provide a supportive space to foster healthy, fulfilling connections.

 Our psychologists are committed to providing LGBTQIA-affirming care. We strive to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment where our clients feel respected, understood, and empowered to explore their authentic selves.

At Veritas, our psychologists provide compassionate and caring therapy for individuals experiencing grief and loss. Our dedicated psychologists are here to support you through this challenging journey, offering evidence-based approaches tailored to your unique needs. We can help navigate the complexities of grief, find solace, and move towards healing and personal growth. 

A substantial portion of Emergency Room visits are related to Anxiety/Panic.  Panic attacks are typically treated with CBT, including education about what caused the panic, understanding what is normal within how the human body reacts when it perceives a threat and how to use passive resistance, relaxation, and mindfulness to cope with this reaction.  

CBT is a type of therapy that helps people identify and change the negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. At its core CBT helps us understand what you think about something and teaches you skills to think about that stressor differently. We don’t teach you what to think, but rather emphasize how to think differently. Mindfulness includes a set of skills that helps people focus on the present moment and reduce stress. Relaxation training helps people learn how to relax their bodies and minds. We use each of these, again tailored to your needs, to help you overcome your anxiety and lead a more productive and happier life.

Fears can make it difficult to move forward in life. Phobias are intense and irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or activities that can significantly disrupt daily functioning. The most common treatment for phobias is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps you identify and challenge the negative thoughts and beliefs associated with your phobia. One specific technique used in CBT is exposure therapy, where you gradually and safely confront the feared object or situation. Through specifically tailored, repeated exposures, you can learn to tolerate the anxiety and reduce your phobic response. We will also teach you relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and coping strategies to help you manage anxiety during exposure.