Choosing a Therapist
How to Choose a Therapist in Austin
Choosing a therapist is mostly a question of whether you can imagine talking to this person. Credentials matter, and so do cost and logistics, but fit is what makes the work possible. Here is how to look for it.
Fit Matters More Than Credentials
Credentials tell you someone is trained and licensed. They do not tell you whether you will be able to say the hard thing out loud in their office. Fit matters more than credentials in this work, because the relationship is where the work happens. That does not mean you have to feel instantly comfortable; starting therapy is uncomfortable almost by definition. It means asking yourself a few honest questions. Can I imagine telling this person the truth? Do I feel respected, or managed? Do I feel safe enough to try?
It also helps to know what style you want. Some therapists mostly listen. I am not a therapist who only nods through a session. If I notice a pattern, I will name it, kindly and clearly, and I also do not push into material you are not ready for. Neither style is wrong in general, but one of them will suit you better, and knowing which makes a good fit easier to recognize when you hear it.
Check That the License Is Active in Texas
Before anything else, make sure the person is licensed to provide therapy in Texas and that the license is active. A licensed therapist should be glad to tell you their license type and number, and you can look it up with the state licensing board to confirm it is current. Mine is Texas license #202374, as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Supervisor. If you plan to meet by telehealth, location matters too. For therapy with me, you should be located in Texas during each session, wherever in the state that happens to be.
Ask About Approach, Format and Cost Up Front
You are allowed to ask practical questions before you commit, and a good therapist will answer them plainly. Cost in particular deserves a straight answer before you book, not a surprise later. If a question feels awkward, that is a reason to ask it early rather than carry it quietly into your first session. A few questions worth asking on any first call:
- How do you work, and which methods do you draw on?
- What happens if I am not ready to talk about something?
- Where do sessions happen: in person, outdoors or online?
- What does a session cost, and is there a sliding scale?
- Do you provide superbills, and what is your cancellation policy?
What to Listen for on a Consultation Call
A consultation call is short, so notice how it feels as much as what is said. Did they let you finish your sentences? Did they answer questions about cost without hedging? Did they tell you honestly whether your concern is something they work with? Did you feel pushed toward booking, or free to think it over? Afterward, notice how you feel when you hang up: lighter, heard and a little hopeful, or tense and unsure. Your own reaction is worth taking seriously.
On my own consultation, a free 15-minute phone call, you describe what is going on and I say plainly whether it is something I work with. We cover fit, scheduling, cost and format, and nothing is decided until you are ready. My answers to the practical questions are public too: you can read about how I work, see every fee on the rates page and find plain answers in the FAQ.
A Therapist Who Will Say When It Is Not the Right Fit
One of the best signs in a therapist is a willingness to say, "I am not the right person for this." No one works well with everything, and a therapist who claims to is not being straight with you. If I am not the right fit, or if what you need falls outside what I do well, I will say so and point you toward someone better suited rather than send you away empty-handed. That honesty protects your time, your money and your hope, and all three are too valuable to spend on a poor match.
Practical Fit: Where, When and in What Language
Austin is a large, spread-out city, so logistics are part of fit rather than an afterthought. A therapist you cannot realistically get to is a therapist you will struggle to keep seeing. My office is at 5900 Southwest Pkwy, Building 5, Suite 230, in Southwest Austin, with in-person sessions on Fridays and some select other times and days as schedules allow. Online therapy across Texas can cover the other weeks, and walk-and-talk sessions happen outdoors. Sessions are available in English and Spanish, so if Spanish is where you feel most like yourself, sessions in Spanish are a real option.
Give Yourself Permission to Take One Step
You do not have to decide everything today. Choosing a therapist is not a lifetime contract. It is a first step you can review as you go, and progress is something a good therapist will discuss openly rather than avoid. If the first person you try is not the right match, that is not a failure on your part. It is information, and it brings you closer to the right room. Acceptance. Hope. Healing. Each of those starts with being willing to reach out, and a few honest sentences are enough.
Common Questions
Do I need to know what kind of therapy I want before I call?
No. You do not need a diagnosis or a polished explanation. Tell me what has been hardest lately, and we can work out together whether this is the right place for it.
What can I ask on the free consultation?
Anything about fit, scheduling, cost and format. The consultation is a 15-minute phone call, and cost is a fair thing to lead with.
How can I confirm your license?
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Supervisor in Texas, license #202374. You are welcome to look it up with the state licensing board to confirm it is active.
Do I have to commit to anything on the consultation call?
No. The consultation is free and there is no obligation on either side. We talk through fit, scheduling, cost and format, and you decide what happens next.
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