Frequently Asked Questions:

River Lily Counseling offers one-on-one, or individual, therapy where clients meet with a licensed professional from a private location, such as their home, using confidential video conferencing, to address emotional and psychological challenges. The online format offers increased accessibility, greater privacy, and improved comfort for clients by allowing access to familiar environments during sessions. Individual Therapy is good for managing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or major life transitions. It also supports personal growth by improving self-esteem, communication skills, and relationships. The goal is always to provide a safe, private space to talk openly about thoughts, feelings, and challenges. It helps people better understand themselves, identify unhealthy patterns, and build healthier coping strategies.

River Lily Counseling offers individual therapy in 1-hour, 45-minute, and 30-minute increments.

Individual Therapy:

Motivational Interviewing ~ Gestalt Therapy ~ Existential Therapy ~ Holistic Brain Interventions/Neurobiological Strategies ~ Somatic Therapy ~ Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ~ Holistic Healing ~ Feminist Theory/Feminist Therapy ~ Dialectic Behavioral Therapy ~ Structural Family Therapy ~ Psychodynamic Therapy ~ Narrative Therapy ~ Theories of Development and Psychosocial Development ~ Expressive Arts Techniques ~ Theories of Memory and Learning ~ Jungian Theories of Personality ~ Theories on Adapting to Immigration ~ Culturally Specific Interventions ~ Theories on Gender Identity ~ Gender Development and the WPATH Standards of Care ~ The Stages of Change ~ ADD: Harm Reduction Model

Methodologies Utilized at River Lily Counseling:

Image of Laura Szyikowski, sitting among green bushes and trees at the San Francisco Golden Gate Japanese Tea Garden

Laura treats humans ages 13 and older with anything they may bring in, with only a few exceptions. She currently offers 1 hour, 45 minute, and 30 minute telemental health 2 way video conferencing appointments. These appointments are always remote, and currently only offered to residents of Virginia.

Laura primarily employs a combination of person-centered and solution-focused strategies. Additionally, she believes that therapy goals should be set by the client.

Laura specializes with people who are non-conforming to mainstream society, especially persons who are queer or neurodivergent, develop identity, self-esteem, self-love, and self-acceptance.

Laura’s sessions are geared around building a sense of agency and joy within the client. The client will always get to choose what is discussed in session, and Laura will not have a set agenda as far as her own goals, she is there to support them. She feels this gives her clients the freedom to focus on what they are struggling with in the moment, and look for ways to change something about the situation through a strengths-based approach.

Laura Szyikowski’s Specialization and Practices:

To Schedule:

To schedule an Individual Therapy Appointment, you may select your preferred provider and reach out directly via their contact form on their provider page. Alternatively, you may contact us via the Contact Page and you will be assigned a provider based on who is available soonest, or who specializes in the type of therapy or practices you’re seeking.

At this time, Laura Szyikowski is our only provider currently taking Individual Therapy Appointments.

Now Accepting Applications For Spring Groups

~

Now Accepting Applications For Spring Groups ~

River Lily Counseling offers group therapy meetings, where at least once facilitator and several participants join an online video conference with the goal of all members contributing to the discussion, providing feedback, and supporting each other. Group therapy is not a facilitator working one-on-one with one person at a time while everyone else watches, because of this process, it is very important that everyone participating in the group is aware of the risks, benefits, and expectations. Please take the time you need to review all materials attached below before asking to join any group, and reflect on whether this is the right choice for you at this time.

There are many benefits to engaging in telehealth group psychotherapy. These benefits include lower cost, ease of accessibility (evening sessions, no travel time, no travel costs), working with people you are less likely to interact with in your community or daily lives (which can feel safer), and research shows positive outcomes that are equal to the results of individual psychotherapy for the treatment of mental health. There are also risks associated with telehealth group psychotherapy. These risks include online communication in general (email, texts, phone) being less secure, and people sometimes say things that can be hurtful. Sometimes after a group you might think about what was said and want to talk that out more, but will be asked to wait until next week, so the group can talk it out together. This is part of the group process, and it can be emotionally taxing to offer feedback or support to others. It can also be challenging to be open or vulnerable around new people. This is where the magic happens, however, and the gains are also multifold! The hope with group psychotherapy is that all members of the group feel included, get something worthwhile from attending the group, and learn and grow together.

Group Therapy:

We are seeking people for this group:

Building Better Boundaries

This group provides a safe, supportive space for adults to explore relationships, boundaries, attachment styles, and identity. It is designed for those struggling with patterns in relationships, codependency, boundary-setting, or difficulty forming secure partnerships.

Admissions for this virtual group close on April 21st.

April 27th - June 12th , 1.5 hours per meeting

Meeting time to be determined by attendee’s.

Gender Affirming Care Letters:

Gender-affirming care letters are an essential service we provide to support individuals seeking access to gender-affirming medical treatments such as hormone therapy or surgery. Healthcare providers often require these letters to ensure patients receive medically necessary, identity-affirming care. At our practice, we approach this process with compassion and respect, recognizing the importance of timely and affirming documentation for our clients’ well-being. Our therapists work collaboratively with each client, centering their unique experiences and needs in the process. By offering this service, we aim to reduce barriers and make gender-affirming care more accessible.

You must be a resident of the state of Virginia.

We are currently accepting insurance for this process.

Coming Soon…

Sensory Processing Disorder Assessments!

In conjunction with...

Sensory Processing Disorder Coaching:

River Lily Counseling will be offering one-on-one Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Coaching for adults who struggle with managing their symptoms. This service is not considered a replacement for medical help, and is not a medical service provided by a psychotherapist or psychologist. Instead, SPD Coaching is working one-on-one with a peer who can provide education and can assist in developing skills to help you invent creative solutions for any sensory related concerns. This service is intended as support for people who have difficulties processing sensory information which can impact emotional regulation, the ability to participate in daily activities, self-control, headaches, and other medical or personal manifestations.

Coaching is offered in 30 minute increments via telehealth private video conferencing to anyone located in the United States.

And an Adult Sensory Processing Disorder Educational Course!

The assessment that River Lily Counseling can provide is appropriate for adults who are typically functioning, but who still struggle in daily life activities, and who want to know if it is because of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

You must be a resident of Virginia, over 18, and not in need of an educational profile.

The test is a multiple step process that will take a minimum of 2 hours over several days. This begins with completion of a written intake form, then your completion of the QBCheck online by having your camera on throughout the test, and finally a 30-45 minute meeting with a psychotherapist to complete your assessment.

In order to take the QBCheck test, you must have:
1. A laptop or computer with access to a webcam. The camera is required to track your movement, and a phone or tablet will not work for the testing program. The camera is not recording you, but it is tracking how much movement you are doing, if you have any questions about this feel free to ask.
2. Reliable Internet
3. A chair which doesn’t swivel, rock, and isn’t on wheels.
4. A quiet, non-distracting room, with a blank, or mostly blank wall behind you.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Assessments:

River Lily Counseling offers one-on-one ADHD Coaching for those who struggling with managing their ADHD symptoms. This service is not considered a replacement for medical help, medication management, and is not a medical service provided by a psychotherapist or psychologist. Instead, ADHD Coaching is working one-on-one with an ADHD peer with lived experience who can provide education and skill building to help you with completing tasks of daily living. This service is intended as support for people who have difficulty with executive functioning tasks such as time management, organization, adaptability, self-control, planning for the future, task prioritization, motivation, goal tracking, task initiation, or task completion.

Coaching is offered in 30 minute increments via telehealth private video conferencing to anyone located in the United States.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Coaching:

To Schedule:

To schedule an ADHD Assessment or Coaching Appointment, you may select your preferred provider and reach out directly via their contact form on their provider page. Alternatively, you may contact us via the Contact Page and you will be assigned a provider based on who is available soonest.