Getting Started

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No referral is needed. You're welcome to reach out directly to schedule a consultation call. If you were referred by a doctor or another provider, that's great too — just let me know when you get in touch. 

Therapy isn't just for crisis moments. People come to therapy for all kinds of reasons — feeling anxious or overwhelmed, navigating a big life change, working through something from the past, or simply wanting to understand themselves better. For children and teens, it might look like big emotions that are hard to manage, changes in behavior or mood, struggles at school, or difficulty with friendships. If something feels off and you're not sure what to do with it, that's reason enough to reach out.

Yes! I offer a free 15-minute consultation call before we begin. This is a chance for us to connect, for you to share what's bringing you in, and for me to answer any questions you have. There's no pressure or obligation. That said, 15 minutes doesn't always tell the whole story — sometimes it takes a session or two to really get a feel for whether we're a good fit, and that's completely normal.

I draw from a range of evidence-based approaches and tailor my methods to each individual client. For children, I frequently use Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). For adolescents and adults, I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), attachment-based approaches, somatic approaches, and trauma-focused techniques. I am also a Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) facilitator, supporting caregivers in building stronger, more secure relationships with their children. Rather than following a single rigid framework, I let your unique needs, goals, and history guide which approaches we use together.

Friends are wonderful, but therapy offers something different: a trained, objective professional whose entire focus is on you — without the social dynamics, advice-giving, or reciprocal sharing that come with friendship. Therapy is also a confidential space where you can say things you might not feel safe saying anywhere else. 

Your feedback matters and I take it seriously. If something isn't feeling helpful, I want to know. We can adjust our approach, try something different, or honestly discuss whether another therapist might be a better fit. Therapy should feel worth your time and investment.

Yes, with a few important exceptions required by law: if you (or your child) are at risk of harming yourself or others, if there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, or if a court orders disclosure.

Living in a small community means we might run into each other at the grocery store, at a school event, or just around town — and I want you to know I've thought about that. To protect your privacy, I will never acknowledge you first in public. You're in complete control of whether we interact outside of the office. If you want to say hi, I'll follow your lead. If you'd rather walk past me like you don't know me, I'll do the same — no hard feelings, no explanation needed. Confidentiality doesn't clock out when I leave the office. 

Yes — and I'm glad you're considering it. Not every therapist is the right fit, and a poor experience doesn't mean therapy can't work for you. I encourage you to share your past experience with me during our consultation so we can talk openly about what didn't work and what you'd need to feel safe trying again.

The standard session fee is $200. If cost is a barrier, please reach out — I don't want finances to be the reason someone doesn't get support.

Yes, I am in-network with several insurance plans. For a full list of accepted insurers, please visit the Insurance & Fees page on this site. 

You can book a consultation call or intake directly through my scheduling link https://calendly.com/aatkins406/ — no need to wait for a callback. You're also welcome to call me at 406-260-5257 or email me at aatkins@406therapeutics.com. Returning clients can manage appointments through the client portal.

At least 24 hours' notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice, as well as missed (no call, no show) appointments, will be charged the full session fee of $200. Exceptions may be made at my discretion in the case of emergencies or illness. Please note that cancellation and no-show fees cannot be billed to insurance and must be paid by you prior to your next session.

Yes! I offer both in-person and secure telehealth sessions. Telehealth is currently available for clients located in Montana, with additional states coming soon.

My office is located at 30 E Washington Street, Kalispell, MT 59901. Parking is available along the front of the building. Fair warning — the building has two separate entrances that don't connect inside, so make sure you use the door on the right side, closest to the Asian Buffet building. If you get lost, just call!

A consultation call is a free, 15-minute phone conversation — and it's pretty low pressure. It's not a therapy session; it's just a chance to connect, for you to share a little about what's going on, and for me to answer any questions you have about how I work and who I am. You don't need to have everything figured out or know exactly what to say. We'll just talk.

I'll ask about what's been going on, what you're hoping to get out of therapy, and what's helped in the past — or what hasn't. The more I know going in, the better sense we'll both have of whether working together makes sense. We'll also go over scheduling, insurance, and anything else you want to know about me or how I work.

Anything you want to know about me, how I work, or what to expect. The consultation is just as much for you to get a feel for me as it is for me to learn about you. No question is too small or too blunt — ask whatever would help you feel more comfortable walking in the door.

If it feels like a good fit, we'll schedule your first appointment and I'll get you set up on the client portal to take care of paperwork before we meet. If you need time to think about it, that's completely fine too — no pressure. And if I'm not the right match for what you're dealing with, I'll do everything I can to help you find someone who is. The research is clear that the relationship between therapist and client is the single strongest predictor of whether therapy actually works — so finding the right fit isn't a small thing. It's everything.

No hard feelings — genuinely. Finding the right fit is what matters. You don't owe me an explanation, but if you're open to it I'd always welcome feedback on what helped you decide. And if you ever want to circle back, my door is always open and I mean that.

I work with ages 3 and up.

The first appointment is a chance for me to hear from you — background, family history, your concerns. Depending on your child's age, they may be part of that conversation from the start. I believe kids should know what's happening and why, so I try to include them when it makes sense rather than talking around them. We'll sort out the best setup before we meet.

Yes — I believe kids deserve honest, age-appropriate explanations of what therapy is. I'll talk with your child in language that makes sense for their age and developmental level. For younger children, I often describe my office as a special place where we play, talk, and figure out feelings. For older kids, I'll have a more direct conversation about why they're coming and what we'll do together.

Most kids aren't going to sit across from a therapist and talk about their feelings — and that's completely fine. I use play therapy, sandtray, art, and creative activities because that's how kids actually communicate. When trauma is part of the story, I draw on TF-CBT, a highly effective, research-backed approach built specifically for kids. Whatever we use, the goal is the same: a space where your child feels safe enough to do the real work.

You know your child better than anyone, and that doesn't change when they start therapy. I see parents as a genuinely important part of this process — you're the expert on your kid, and I need that. I ask parents to review and sign a set of guidelines at the start that covers things like communication, confidentiality, and how to support your child at home. If something happens — big or small — reach out. I want to know. That said, one of the most important things I can give your child is a space that truly feels safe — where they can say the thing they've never said out loud and trust that it stays there. Not everything shared in session will be passed along, and that's intentional. The more your child trusts that space, the more real work we can do. We're on the same team.

Kids come in all kinds of ways — some are excited, some are nervous, some shut down completely. I've been there with all of it, and I know how to meet a kid exactly where they are without forcing anything. The relationship builds even in those quiet moments. If your child is really struggling to engage, I'll tell you — and we'll come up with a plan together. You won't be in the dark and you won't be throwing money at something that isn't moving.

For teenagers, I typically start with a brief meeting that includes the parent(s) and teen together to go over some basics. Then I'll spend the bulk of the first session one-on-one with your teen. I want teens to know that this is their space — not a place where I report everything back to their parents.

Confidentiality is something I take seriously for teens. What your teen shares with me is generally kept private — I won't give parents a session-by-session rundown. The important exceptions are situations that involve safety: if your teen is at risk of harming themselves or someone else, or if there is abuse, I am required to take action. I explain this clearly to teens and parents from the start so everyone understands the ground rules.

I get it — being brought to therapy can feel like a punishment, or like adults think something is "wrong" with you. I don't push teens to open up before they're ready. I meet them where they are, often starting with low-pressure conversation and activities, and let trust build naturally over time. Most teens come around once they feel genuinely heard and not judged.

I check in with parents periodically and will share general themes of our work (e.g., "we're working on managing anxiety") without disclosing specific session content. For younger teens, parents may be more involved; for older teens, I prioritize their sense of ownership over their therapy. We'll find a structure that works for your family.

The intake process usually takes one to two sessions — it depends on you and what you're bringing in. It covers similar ground as the consultation call but goes much deeper. I'll ask about your background, history, what's going on, and what you're hoping therapy will help with. It's a conversation, not an interview. You share what feels comfortable, and by the time we're done we'll have a real sense of where we're headed together.

Sessions are 50 minutes. Each session is a dedicated space that belongs entirely to you. We might explore what's been on your mind since we last met, work through something specific that came up, dive deeper into patterns you've noticed, or practice new skills. There's no single formula — we'll find a rhythm that works for you.

Not long-term, no. I do prefer to start with weekly sessions — it helps us build a solid foundation and get some momentum going. From there we can adjust to biweekly, or even as-needed once things feel more stable. We'll figure it out together.

This varies a lot from person to person. Some people come for a focused period of a few months to work through a specific issue; others find longer-term therapy more meaningful as they explore deeper patterns or want ongoing support. We'll regularly check in on your goals and progress, and you're always in the driver's seat when it comes to how long we work together.

Not necessarily. While understanding your history can sometimes be helpful, therapy doesn't have to focus on the past. We'll work in whatever way feels most useful to you — whether that's making sense of your past, focusing on what's happening right now, or building skills for the future.

That's completely okay. Sometimes people come in and feel like nothing is "big enough" to bring up, or they just don't know where to start. We can start wherever you are. Even exploring that feeling of not knowing where to begin can be meaningful work.