Frequently Asked Questions

  • It’s your choice! whatever makes you feel most at ease in our work! Most people (clients included!) do call me Rachel, and I introduce myself as Rachel when I talk to clients for the first time.

    I’m very aware that Dr. Gustafson is a mouthful and most people mispronounce it the first 80 times they say it. (maybe this will help?). It is also more formal, which some folks prefer when working with a mental health professional.

    I’ll leave it up to you! I also commonly go by “Rach” to those close to me, and “Dr. G” has become shorthand for my impossible last name. On a college trip with multiple Rachels, I even became known as “Gus Bus” to help differentiate between us.

    My least favorite things to be called are “Miss,” “Ms.,” and “late for dinner”—so let’s skip those if we can.

  • I am happy to break this down for you into some easy steps!

    Step 1: Book a free intro call with me! This is optional, but a great way to establish contact especially if you wanna feel things out before diving right into a full session.

    Step 2: Book an intake with me! If we do an intro call, we will set this up then. If we don’t do an intro call, you can set this up by either emailing me or calling me at 770-953-4744 × 40.

    Step 3: I will send you some forms via email to do prior to our first appointment. Nothing too painful, just a way to get some logistic and background information out of the way so that when we meet we can dive into things more quickly.

    Step 4: You show up to your intake, we chat, figure out exactly what you’re hoping to get, and figure out a rough idea of what that will look like in therapy.

    And off we go!

  • Great question!

    I don’t know if I can answer this in a way that will be true for everyone who reads this. It seems like our culture is big on making therapy cool- don’t get me wrong, I LOVE this. That said, there are alot of barriers that can make it difficult for someone to get therapy (money, schedule, finding a good fit, etc). If you’re considering services with me, I absolutely want to make sure it’s worth what you’re putting into it, or if there’s another way of managing your symptoms that could more accurately target what you’re hoping to gain. Here’s some questions to consider:

    • What kind of support do I have in my life without therapy, and what kind of additional support do I hope therapy could provide me?

    • What do I wish to change as a result of the time I spent in therapy?

    • What have I tried to change ______ that hasn’t worked, and what else could I try?

    If you don’t have answers to one or all of these questions, that’s okay! Alot of times I spent the first few sessions with folks simply figuring out their expectations for therapy and putting together what they hope to achieve, so don’t let not knowing deter you from reaching out! Sometimes, figuring out the next step can be enough of a goal.

  • This is going to totally depend on what your goals are and the type of therapist that you’re working with. So much of therapy depends on finding the right “fit” between you and the therapist, so I’m happy to share what therapy with me is like!

    We will typically meet for 50 minutes, give or take a few. If you bring in something specific to discuss, we’ll dive right into it, or sometimes, we just start taking and find our way to whatever feels meaningful in that specific session. We’ll check in regularly about the goals that initially brought you to therapy and what keeps you coming back- it’s very common that these goals shift over time, but I want to make sure you’re getting your needs met.

    I strive for a balance between comfortable and relaxed while also pushing you towards topics that may be more challenging. You can read more about how I practice therapy in my about page!

  • I sure can. But just to be clear, before beginning treatment, you receive a more formal and expansive written version of this explaining what confidentiality is. I also go over it with all of my clients before beginning treatment, and when it comes up in treatment as needed.

    Most people are coming to therapy to discuss more sensitive matters in their life and things that they would prefer to keep between themself and their therapist. With Confidentiality, you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. However, there may be some instances where you may want your therapist to share information (such as with your Physician or Psychiatrist). Your therapist legally cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission from you. On the flip side of this, state law and professional ethics codes may require therapists to disclose information in instances of child abuse, elder abuse, or threats of serious harm.

  • Medication can be a great option, for sure! Of note, I only practice psychotherapy- if you’re looking for someone to prescribe a medication, you’ve come to the wrong place, but I do have some lovely referrals for you.

    Both psychotherapy and medication have been shown to be effective for reducing distress, and it is up to you, your therapist, and your medical team to figure out if a combination between these would be helpful to you. Like a lot of these questions in the FAQ section, I can’t really give a “one size fits all” answer, but medication is certainly something to explore if your treatment team feels like it could be helpful in managing your current symptoms.

  • Short answer is yes! Read more here!

    If finances are are issue, I am also happy to discuss sliding scale fees, other resources, or other options for support.

  • Wow I was waiting for someone to ask!

    One of the things that I can nerd out about is tarot cards. For several years, I’ve chosen a “card of the year” on January 1st to set an intention for my year ahead. The year that I launched my independent practice, 2025, my card of the year was temperance. Temperance signifies inner peace, following your moral compass, and learning how to balance. 

    Of course, I had no way of knowing that the series of events in the months that followed would lead me to make shifts in my life that were completely unanticipated. 2025 was proving itself to truly be the year of temperance. As I was fully going through it, I rewatched Abigail Eir’s video on the meaning of Temperance, and I was FLOORED. In a period of my life that was marked by pain, grief, and fear, these feelings were also matched with excitement, opportunity, and freedom. Around this same time, I began my independent practice, and with the temperance energy as my guide, I found this to be a grounding force to continue my work with clients in a new setting.

    The pictures at the bottom of the website are each of a different symbol taken from the original Rider-Waite Tarot card of temperance. Each has a different meaning that I hope to carry over to my work with clients. 

    Cups- The cups represent the unconscious and conscious parts of oneself coming together in reconciliation. Unlike the picture on my website, the traditional temperance card shows the liquids (most likely pond water) mixing, which represents alchemy- the mixing of the various parts of self creating a transformation. This suggests that however painful the blending may be, that true harmony comes from integrating these different parts of the self. The process often requires a deep level of self-awareness. 

    The path- Nothing too different from what you’d expect; the path represents the road to reaching goals, mastery, contentment, etc. This is the long and winding road of personal growth and evolution. The path serves as a reminder of patience, flexibility, and mindful movement as important characteristics to hold fast to when overcoming any difficulty. 

    Irises- The two irises can be another depiction for the unconscious and conscious, but are also seen as a symbol for hope and renewal. Amidst all the transitions, changes, and struggles in trying to find balance, these often overlooked symbols of growth and new opportunity sit in the middle of the temperance card. Funny that even though they’re in the middle of the card, this symbol of hopefulness and better times ahead often gets overlooked the most when looking at all the symbols of the Temperance card. Humans definitely don’t struggle to recognize symbols of hopefulness that are right in front of them…. right? RIGHT?!?!

    Water- The pond can hold several meanings, but the one that speaks to me aligns with my ACT way of practicing therapy. The pond here can symbolize the importance of following life’s flow. Though we may have hoped for different circumstances, these are seldom in our control. Thus, we must respond by adapting our approach (ahem, psychological flexibility). Water also carries symbolism of peace and tranquility, further offering a reflection of finding stillness amidst change and discomfort.

    Angel- The angel here has no specific religious affiliation, unless you get really deep into the Tarot lore. For our purposes here, it is yet another main symbol of balance and moderation. On the traditional card, every tiny element having to do with the angel- their stance, their androgynous appearance, and more- is symbolic of unity and integration of opposites can enhance mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. 

    (of note, I am a very amateur tarot reader. So If I’m wrong…. Please be kind.)