Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering something that isn’t addressed here? Schedule a 15 minute consultation.
- My problems feel small compared to what other people are going through. Is therapy still for me?
- Yes. People often arrive apologizing for taking up space with something they’ve decided isn’t serious enough. Exhaustion, resentment, the sense of running a life you can’t keep running — those are reasons to come, not reasons to wait until things get worse.
- I came because of parenting stress. Is that all we’d talk about?
- No. Parenting is often what makes the appointment, and it’s rarely the whole of what’s going on. Plenty of what comes up is about your own upbringing, your work, your relationship, or who you were before any of this. We follow what’s actually pressing.
- What approach do you use?
- I’m trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and I bring a systemic and liberation focused lens. In practice that means concrete techniques alongside naming the systems that got you here — looking at what’s happening for you individually, and at what you’re inside of. Mindfulness and self-compassion are part of how we’ll work together, too.
- What happens in a first session?
- Mostly talking, and mostly you. I’ll ask what brought you here and what you want to be different. You don’t need to have it organized, and you don’t need to know where to start — working out what the actual problem is can be the first session’s work. Nothing is required of you beyond showing up and being honest about what’s going on.
- What if we’re not a good fit?
- Then we say so. The 15-minute call exists partly for that, and it goes both ways — if what you need is outside what I can offer, I’d rather point you somewhere better than keep you in the wrong room. Changing your mind after a session or two isn’t failing at therapy.
- Is what I say confidential?
- Yes, with the legal exceptions every Texas therapist works under: risk of serious harm to you or someone else, suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, or a court order. Because I practice under supervision, my supervisor may also review clinical work as part of that oversight. I’ll walk through all of this in the first session.
- Your site says you’re supervised. What does that mean for me?
- I’m a Licensed Master Social Worker practicing under the clinical supervision of Andy Davis, LCSW-S, at Polaris Therapy, LLC. Supervision means an experienced clinician reviews my work regularly. It’s a standard part of the path to independent licensure in Texas, and in practice it means your care has more than one set of eyes on it.
- How long is a session, and how often would we meet?
- Sessions are 50 minutes. Most people start weekly, and that changes as things change — some move to every other week once the most urgent thing has settled.
- Are sessions virtual or in person?
- I am currently holding virtual sessions using a confidential telehealth platform. Sessions are conducted via a secure platform to protect your privacy and confidentiality.
- Do I have to live in Austin to work with you?
- No. Sessions happen by video, so you can be anywhere in Texas — Houston, El Paso, a small town, or parked outside school pickup. Texas licensure is what sets the boundary, not how far you are from Austin.
- Can I see you if I live outside Texas?
- No. Texas licensure covers clients who are physically in Texas at the time of a session. If you live elsewhere, or are out of state on the day, that session cannot go ahead — but being anywhere in Texas is fine, including somewhere other than Austin.
- Do you accept insurance?
- I am able to accept the following insurances: Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Aetna. Clients can also private pay, and my rate is $125 with the option for a sliding scale.
- How do I schedule sessions with you?
- To schedule your free 15 minute consultation, fill out the contact form. You’ll have the chance to ask any questions and see if my approach aligns with your needs and priorities. If so, we’ll schedule a time for your first full session.
Fifteen minutes is usually enough to tell whether it is worth going further.