FAQs about therapy
How do I know if I “need” therapy?
First, I’ll answer your question with another question (typical therapist move…) Have you received a court order that you must meet with a therapist? If YES, then I would say, yes, you NEED therapy. (That is, if you do not want to have legal consequences for not complying with court ordered requirements.)
Other situations may be causing you to seek help, but weekly counseling sessions may not offer the support you need. If you are struggling with severe mental or emotional stress, active addiction or abuse you should get help right away from a center that can provide specialized support for you. If you are experiencing the following here are resources you can contact to get help right away:
If you are in crisis and are at risk of harming yourself or others, please call the Suicide Prevention and Crisis 24/7 hotline 1-800-273-8255
For a medical emergency or life-threatening situations call 911 immediately.
If you are an Austin resident experiencing symptoms of active psychosis, extreme mood swings or psychiatric crisis, contact Austin Travis County Integral Care 24/7 at 512-472-4357
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence 24/7 hotline 1-800-799-7233
If you are an Austin resident, call the Safe Alliance 24/7 hotline: 512-267-7233
If you are struggling with an active drug or alcohol addiction, contact American Addiction Centers 1-888-369-0014 to receive guidance in finding a rehab center best suited to help you in your addiction.
Or, if you are experiencing an eating disorder call the National Eating Disorders Association helpline at 1-800-931-2237 (Mon-Thur, 9am-9pm; Fri, 9am-5pm EST)
The above situations will require extra assistance and support that goes beyond the help that could be offered to you with weekly counseling sessions. After you receive specialized treatment and feel stabilized on your own, then you would be ready to benefit from the support in your recovery through individual therapy.
Otherwise, you might ask yourself, “Do I want therapy?”
Other situations may be causing you to seek help, but weekly counseling sessions may not offer the support you need. If you are struggling with severe mental or emotional stress, active addiction or abuse you should get help right away from a center that can provide specialized support for you. If you are experiencing the following here are resources you can contact to get help right away:
If you are in crisis and are at risk of harming yourself or others, please call the Suicide Prevention and Crisis 24/7 hotline 1-800-273-8255
For a medical emergency or life-threatening situations call 911 immediately.
If you are an Austin resident experiencing symptoms of active psychosis, extreme mood swings or psychiatric crisis, contact Austin Travis County Integral Care 24/7 at 512-472-4357
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence 24/7 hotline 1-800-799-7233
If you are an Austin resident, call the Safe Alliance 24/7 hotline: 512-267-7233
If you are struggling with an active drug or alcohol addiction, contact American Addiction Centers 1-888-369-0014 to receive guidance in finding a rehab center best suited to help you in your addiction.
Or, if you are experiencing an eating disorder call the National Eating Disorders Association helpline at 1-800-931-2237 (Mon-Thur, 9am-9pm; Fri, 9am-5pm EST)
The above situations will require extra assistance and support that goes beyond the help that could be offered to you with weekly counseling sessions. After you receive specialized treatment and feel stabilized on your own, then you would be ready to benefit from the support in your recovery through individual therapy.
Otherwise, you might ask yourself, “Do I want therapy?”
Do I want therapy?
Do you struggle with symptoms such as depression, anxiety, stress, frustration, lack of direction, helplessness, hopelessness, anger issues, emotional numbness, addictive behaviors, persistent guilt and shame, trust issues, lovelessness, low self esteem?
- Do you feel stuck in self- destructive behaviors?
- Do you you struggle with making healthy changes and sticking to those changes?
- Do you lack motivation to change on your own?
- Do you believe you could benefit from regular accountability?
- Do you believe you could commit to the time, energy, money required to try something different than what you’re doing currently?
- Do you believe your peace of mind, happiness, alleviation of symptoms would be worth your time, energy, money?
- Do you believe that you could potentially benefit from trying out therapy at least once?“
- Have you been told by others or you’ve been thinking to yourself, “Maybe I should talk to a professional about _________?”
If you feel a curiosity or even a faint desire to try out therapy, then I’d encourage you to try it. Even just one session to answer any one of those questions. If you try it and realize it may help you, then continue on, if not, then stop. If you feel like therapy isn’t helpful to you right now, at least you know you tried. I do want to point out that every therapist, as well as, their methods for helping clients will be unique, so if you try out a session with me and realize I might not be the best fit for you, it’s important to try out different therapists before giving up on therapy altogether.
- Do you feel stuck in self- destructive behaviors?
- Do you you struggle with making healthy changes and sticking to those changes?
- Do you lack motivation to change on your own?
- Do you believe you could benefit from regular accountability?
- Do you believe you could commit to the time, energy, money required to try something different than what you’re doing currently?
- Do you believe your peace of mind, happiness, alleviation of symptoms would be worth your time, energy, money?
- Do you believe that you could potentially benefit from trying out therapy at least once?“
- Have you been told by others or you’ve been thinking to yourself, “Maybe I should talk to a professional about _________?”
If you feel a curiosity or even a faint desire to try out therapy, then I’d encourage you to try it. Even just one session to answer any one of those questions. If you try it and realize it may help you, then continue on, if not, then stop. If you feel like therapy isn’t helpful to you right now, at least you know you tried. I do want to point out that every therapist, as well as, their methods for helping clients will be unique, so if you try out a session with me and realize I might not be the best fit for you, it’s important to try out different therapists before giving up on therapy altogether.
How do I know if I’d even benefit from therapy?
You’ll never know until you try! I suggest committing to 3-4 sessions to get a better understanding on whether or not you are benefiting from therapy. Often it takes time to develop some level of familiarity and comfort before you can open up and share with someone that you’ve just met.
Also, expect that making any changes takes an investment in TIME and ACTION. Therapy is not a “quick fix”, rather it’s like going to the gym. Practicing new coping skills or making changes to old patterns of thinking is like a muscle you have a develop over time before it become second nature and to notice the results of these life changes.
One of the primary benefits from therapy will be having someone you can be accountable with. (Or as I like to call it “A-count-of-ability”) Committing to therapy sessions will help you stay on track or identify what’s getting in the way of your goals and desired way of being.
Also, expect that making any changes takes an investment in TIME and ACTION. Therapy is not a “quick fix”, rather it’s like going to the gym. Practicing new coping skills or making changes to old patterns of thinking is like a muscle you have a develop over time before it become second nature and to notice the results of these life changes.
One of the primary benefits from therapy will be having someone you can be accountable with. (Or as I like to call it “A-count-of-ability”) Committing to therapy sessions will help you stay on track or identify what’s getting in the way of your goals and desired way of being.
What happens after I make an appointment?
First, you will need to complete and sign the required paperwork prior to our first session. The paperwork you sign will provide more detail on what to expect and what will be expected from you for our therapeutic relationship. If you agree then you sign it!
There are three options for completing the paperwork:
1. Online: I’ll email you paperwork through DocuSign. You will need to scan or take a photo of the front and back of your Texas photo ID and upload them to an email (not confidential) or patient portal (confidential, which I will email to you.) You will electronically fill out your information and sign/or initial the forms with an electronic signature.
2. In office: I will send you an email with attached forms for you to print out, complete then hand deliver to me during your first session or you can sign copies of the forms when you arrive to my office (just expect to spend an extra 15 minutes or so, at my office to fill out the forms). I will also request that you bring a copy of your Texas photo ID and insurance card which I will make copies of the day of the appointment. You also have the option to complete the forms online through DocuSign (as described above).
At the beginning if the first session I will briefly summarize important information based on the forms you just signed, as well as, provide you the chance to ask me some questions that may have come up for you. I will also remind you that I am an advocate for you and my highest priority is to help you feel empowered throughout the counseling process. This starts in the first session. You don’t have to talk about anything you are uncomfortable sharing until you feel ready. I’m not going to force anything out of you. This is your session and you are in charge of determining when and what you are willing to share about your personal life experiences. It’s likely you’ll discover how building the trust to open and share previously unshared parts of your life will start to provide the mental and emotional release needed for the healing process.
There are three options for completing the paperwork:
1. Online: I’ll email you paperwork through DocuSign. You will need to scan or take a photo of the front and back of your Texas photo ID and upload them to an email (not confidential) or patient portal (confidential, which I will email to you.) You will electronically fill out your information and sign/or initial the forms with an electronic signature.
2. In office: I will send you an email with attached forms for you to print out, complete then hand deliver to me during your first session or you can sign copies of the forms when you arrive to my office (just expect to spend an extra 15 minutes or so, at my office to fill out the forms). I will also request that you bring a copy of your Texas photo ID and insurance card which I will make copies of the day of the appointment. You also have the option to complete the forms online through DocuSign (as described above).
At the beginning if the first session I will briefly summarize important information based on the forms you just signed, as well as, provide you the chance to ask me some questions that may have come up for you. I will also remind you that I am an advocate for you and my highest priority is to help you feel empowered throughout the counseling process. This starts in the first session. You don’t have to talk about anything you are uncomfortable sharing until you feel ready. I’m not going to force anything out of you. This is your session and you are in charge of determining when and what you are willing to share about your personal life experiences. It’s likely you’ll discover how building the trust to open and share previously unshared parts of your life will start to provide the mental and emotional release needed for the healing process.
How does therapy work?
Each client’s needs for therapy are going to be different. Your therapy experience is going to be custom made based on your goals and your level of commitment. These listed therapy stages vary in the amount of time it changes, as well as the order but in most cases that is the typical order.
The general theme of sessions include:
- The introduction or consultation (going over paperwork and you sharing what brings you into counseling and what you hope to get out of it.)
- Getting a full picture (assessment over your patterns in thought, behaviors, emotional responses and habits. Motivators and challenges. Developing acceptance in where you are at in your healing journey.) - Values (finding the reinforcement for current and future thoughts, behaviors actions.)
- Goals (creating a plan of action custom to you and your lifestyle)
- Support (sharing, gaining insight, addressing struggles, revising goals)
- Empowerment (making sure therapy is providing value to your life and learning to trust your own intuition.)
Outside of the session:
- Action (your commitment to experience with coping strategies and skills outside of the session.)
The general theme of sessions include:
- The introduction or consultation (going over paperwork and you sharing what brings you into counseling and what you hope to get out of it.)
- Getting a full picture (assessment over your patterns in thought, behaviors, emotional responses and habits. Motivators and challenges. Developing acceptance in where you are at in your healing journey.) - Values (finding the reinforcement for current and future thoughts, behaviors actions.)
- Goals (creating a plan of action custom to you and your lifestyle)
- Support (sharing, gaining insight, addressing struggles, revising goals)
- Empowerment (making sure therapy is providing value to your life and learning to trust your own intuition.)
Outside of the session:
- Action (your commitment to experience with coping strategies and skills outside of the session.)
How long do I have to be in therapy?
You will be the one to decide if therapy is benefiting you, as well as, choosing the regularity of sessions. Most people starting off with therapy benefit from weekly sessions for around 4-8 weeks, but depending on your schedule and the time and money factors may influence your choice with the regularity of sessions. After the main issue, is resolved or managed, some clients choose to meet monthly or randomly when they need a session for additional support or if a new issues arises.
Will I get diagnosed?
Any mental health diagnosis is based on if you meet the symptomatology criteria classified in the DSM V manual. A diagnosis is simply a term used to communication to other health providers on what condition you are most likely struggling with, so your overall treatment will be more clear, stream-lined and noted in relation to any past or current conditions. Diagnosis can change over time based on what symptoms you are experiencing. I encourage you to look online and learn more about the DSM V and what types of diagnosis have been identified and classified if you are curious. If you are using insurance, I will be required to use a formal DSM V diagnosis in order to file an insurance claim. Because I value open communication, I encourage having an collaborative and clear discussion with you in deciding the most relevant diagnosis to your situation.
What if I don’t like you as a therapist?
I’m not going to be everyone’s favorite flavor of therapist, so don’t feel bad if you decide you’d rather meet with another therapist! It’s empowering to make that decision on who is best suited for your healing journey. I provide a service and if you don’t like my style that’s ok! If you’d made that decision I encourage you, (especially if we have already had sessions) to drop me a message stating, you’d like to try a different therapist. That way, I know you didn’t just disappear into a black hole!
One thing to consider, is if you are simply getting “trigger” (feeling a gut/emotional reaction) to me or something I may have brought up during session. If you can move past the initial reaction of the trigger response and look behind what caused it, you may learn something about some underlying fear or anger that could be quite valuable to address in therapy, rather than run away or hide from. Have the courage to just talk to me about it! That’s what I’m here for!
One thing to consider, is if you are simply getting “trigger” (feeling a gut/emotional reaction) to me or something I may have brought up during session. If you can move past the initial reaction of the trigger response and look behind what caused it, you may learn something about some underlying fear or anger that could be quite valuable to address in therapy, rather than run away or hide from. Have the courage to just talk to me about it! That’s what I’m here for!
Can I bring my dog to therapy?
Online? Yeah! My dog is usually in the room with me!
In the Austin office? Yes! If it’s housebroken and isn’t prone to barking or become aggressive in unknown rooms. On your request I can bring my dog Maisie on specific days. Just ask me more about it!
In the Austin office? Yes! If it’s housebroken and isn’t prone to barking or become aggressive in unknown rooms. On your request I can bring my dog Maisie on specific days. Just ask me more about it!
Can I bring my children to therapy?
It’s best if you can take the time to meet in session on your own, but if you are unable to have someone take care of your child and if your child is around 0-2 years old and you don’t feel like they will distract you than you can.
Do you take insurance?
I am currently accepting BCBS (PPO and HMO), ComPsych, Cigna, Medicaid and Magellan. If you do not have mental health coverage under one of those insurance companies, we can talk about the cost of sessions for "out of pocket" payments.
How much do sessions cost?
The rate for a 50 minute session is $125. If you are unable to afford sessions at that rate, we can talk about a reduced rate based on your current financial situation and income. Some documentation may be required.