IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR CURRENT CLIENTS
As much as I love providing a welcoming office space for our sessions, the time has come for me to take that space entirely virtual. I know that any change can bring stress, so I’ll do my best to answer questions.
Why are you leaving your office? Austin has changed a lot over the years. Many of my clients are sitting in traffic longer and longer to get to appointments or have hectic schedules. Plus, Austin office rent is rising, and I don’t want to have to dramatically increase my rates or move my office really far north or south. More personally, I can better accommodate my chronic illnesses when I work from home, meaning I can be more present. About 25% of my clients have already been doing virtual sessions for the past year, and their feedback has been positive.
When will this happen? My last day for appointments in a physical office is March 10th, 2020. All appointments after that will be online, by phone, or by messaging.
What if I would rather see a therapist in person? That’s okay, I get it. And I can try to help you find a therapist who might be a good fit for you. I’ll miss our meetings, but no hard feelings.
How will we be meeting? We can have sessions by phone or over secure video chat. For each appointment, you can even decide at the last minute which you’d like to do. The video service I use is called Regroup Connect. I also have a messaging option that can be used along with talk therapy or on its own through a service called Trusst. I have a private home office space for sessions.
What will I need in order to do the video sessions? You’ll need to install Zoom, which is a free app/program for Windows, Android and iOS. You’ll also need an internet connection good enough to stream Netflix. You can use a tablet, computer, or phone. Earbuds with a mic in the cord (or headphones with a microphone) help keep the session a little more private and improve the sound quality. I’ll send more detailed tips before your first video session.
What is this messaging option? Basically, you would have the ability to send me secure written messages anytime, and I would reply within 24 hours Monday through Friday. Some people like this option because it doesn’t require appointments, there’s an easy way to look back through the conversation, and anyone watching just thinks you’re playing on your phone. You can learn more here: https://trusst.app/ and my therapist code is 2XXC0X to request me as your therapist. (There are other messaging therapy options out there, but after looking into all of them, this one is the most solid in my opinion. It is created and run by psychologists who developed it from their research projects.)
Where do I need to be in order to do these virtual sessions? The nifty thing is that you can be anywhere within Texas that has an internet connection (or a cell signal for phone sessions). You gotta be in Texas because I’m not licensed to do therapy anywhere else. But now if you move from Austin to Houston or El Paso, we can continue our work in therapy and you won’t have to try to find a new therapist on top of the stress of moving (of course you can find a new one if you want to). I just ask that you NOT be driving during sessions, for safety’s sake and my peace of mind. However, cuddling with your pets is 100% okay!