Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need counseling?

It is said that comfort is the enemy of change. The impetus for considering counseling usually involves being uncomfortable with some aspect of your life. The discomfort is actually a very healthy thing as long as you don't ignore it. Consider the twinge of pain you might get from a thorn piercing your skin; it directs your attention to it, causing you to pull it out and prevent infection. Discomfort prompts us to seek change. This feeling may come from an old problem or from old pain that seems to follow you through the years of your life. It may also come from a new problem that has caught you by surprise or left you feeling stuck. Even in the absence of a big problem, you may feel drawn to your potential to improve the quality of your life in some way. The decision to work with a counselor is a very personal one. You may have other ways you can help yourself- through your own will power to do things differently, through gaining new ideas by your own reading and discovery, or through talking with a trusted friend or family member. There may be some private issues that you do not choose to share with the people you know, and a counselor is required by law to maintain confidentiality. Although you may be considering counseling at the suggestion of someone you know, you are the one who will be doing the work, so it will work best if you have identified something that you want for yourself. If there is a positive change that you are seeking in your life, then counseling can help you find the missing pieces that will help you make progress. 

How long can I expect to be in counseling?

When working with an effective counselor, a little work goes a long way. Tangible, visible change can happen relatively quickly for most people. In fact, research shows that most of the change in therapy happens within the first 6 sessions. If change doesn't happen by that point, it is unlikely that change will happen through counseling, at that time, and with that therapist. Some choose to go long term if they are still experiencing benefits from the counseling, for maintenance, or when they have other areas of change to explore. 

So…what actually happens in therapy?

In counseling/therapy/psychotherapy, we seek to have healing conversations through insight, self-awareness, acquisition of new understanding, tools, and practices which will lead us to a healthier state of being. Sometimes these conversations are more open-ended and exploratory, leaving space for questions to be processed and considered over time. Some clients benefit from the therapist asking good questions, where the client can find their own personal answers. Some clients are seeking more direct guidance and structure from the therapist and need tools and exercises to help them practice new ways of thinking and behaving. There are many different models or “schools” of therapy that you may hear about in popular media, “CBT- cognitive behavioral therapy”, “DBT- dialectical behavioral therapy”, for example. Most models of therapy have many of the same core principles, they simply speak about them in slightly different terms. Those core principles involve adjusting thought, feeling, and behavior.

What if I feel counseling is not helping me?

You are investing time, energy, and money in your counseling; therefore, you deserve to feel satisfied with what you are getting in return. A good counselor will seek your feedback about how the counseling is going. Feel free to share your concerns if you feel the counselor does not understand you or things are not improving in your life. Research shows that the notion of "you have to feel worse before you start feeling better" is not true for most counseling clients. A competent counselor will be able to listen to your feedback and change the course of counseling to meet your needs. If it just doesn't work with that counselor, seek a referral to another counselor or talk with your counselor about other options outside of counseling that may help you, such as support groups or other community resources. 

What are the differences between counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists? - I am not sure of the right place to get help.

These are all people within the "helping professions". The term "therapist" can be used by anyone in these professions, so the term by itself does not provide much information about their specific education or specialty. 

Counselor (therapist/psychotherapist) : a therapist who has a master's degree and professional license to provide counseling. They may have a master's degree of counseling, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or social work. Counselors help with a variety of issues, such as depression, anxiety, relationship or family problems, and substance abuse. Some pastors or ministers also provide counseling, and they can be very helpful, but they are not licensed and might not have higher education in any of the fields listed above.

Psychologist : a therapist with a doctoral degree (PhD) in psychology. A psychologist has training in counseling and in research. Psychologists provide counseling and diagnostic testing. They often use the title of "Doctor", but are not medical doctors and are not able to prescribe medication in Texas or in most other states. While many “counselors” are generalists, covering a wide range of clinical topics, “psychologists” may often specialize in the area that they pursued in their PhD training.

Psychiatrist : a medical doctor who specializes in mental health and the chemistry of the brain. They are interested in how the physical brain, neurophysiology, and human body interact with thought, behavior, and emotions. Most psychiatrists do not provide much counseling or "talk therapy". Their primary activity is assessing the need for medication and prescribing the correct medication for their patient. 

How much does counseling cost? Do you take insurance? 

The rate for a 50 minute individual or couples counseling session is $160.00. The only insurance plan I work with directly is Aetna. For “out of network” claims, I can provide an invoice with billing codes for reimbursement through your insurance plan. Most of my clients submit an invoice from me to their insurance plan, and most receive a significant reimbursement. I accept the following forms of payment: cash, health savings account funds, flexible spending accounts, all major credit and debit cards which I can process through Square, Paypal, or Venmo.

Cancellation policy- Most therapists charge for late cancellation since that is an appointment time that could have gone to another client. My policy is more liberal than most. No charge for cancellation if 24 hours notice is given. Less than 24 hours notice (the day before your appointment), there is a charge of $75. Same day cancellation would be the full fee of $160. If you can’t make it in person, I do offer virtual video appointments or phone sessions.

Do you offer in-person or virtual sessions?

I see clients at my office in South Austin, and I also offer sessions virtually through video conference using the Zoom platform. Some clients switch back and forth between in-person and virtual, depending on their schedule and location.