Frequently Asked Questions

• Do you take insurance?

For many reasons, I DO NOT accept insurance.

Don't be discouraged--with my sliding scale options, sessions are often the same or even at times less than they might be if you used your insurance, especially if you have a high deductible and high specialist copays.

Also, if you use your insurance, you will have to be given a diagnosis and it will likely become part of your record with the insurance companies, along with other personal information, and it could be considered a pre-existing condition in the future. Insurance companies dictate how many sessions you are allowed and how often you can go to therapy, and at times they will refuse to cover therapy sessions at all. By not accepting insurance, I can keep your information more private and spend more time focusing on you rather than on phone calls and paperwork, allowing me to offer lower rates to you and all my clients.

• What about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA)?

I happily accept FSA and HSA cards or can provide you the itemized receipts for you to file for reimbursement.

• HOW DO I KNOW HOW MUCH MY SESSIONS WILL COST?

My sliding scale works on an honor system. Two people with the exact same income may have very different expenses, so I don't have any charts or formulas to determine your session rate. I don't require any proof of income. You get to decide what is sustainable for you--you are putting your trust in me by opening up to me about your problems, and I put my trust in you that you will pay what you are honestly able to afford. If your rate needs to change in future as your income changes, that can happen. (The typical rate for a doctoral-level psychologist in Austin with my level of experience starts around $150-$200 per session and can be as much as $300.)

Letter evaluations are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, so you decide what amount works for you. People have offered everything from $15 because they were on disability to $300 because they had a very well-paying job. There’s no wrong amount. (I wish I could do them totally free, but that’s not an option for me at this time.)

For ongoing therapy clients: After your first therapy session, which is 60 minutes long (flat rate $150), we discuss what rate will work for you for your future sessions. My sliding scale starts at $125 and goes up to $250 for 45-minute individual therapy sessions. Those who can pay a little more help out those who need the lower end of the scale, and it balances out.

If my rates are still out of your budget, there are other options that might be a better fit. You can find a list of affordable counseling resources via Open Path.

• How long do i need to be in therapy?

This varies for everyone and depends on the intensity and complexity of what you are working with. When we meet, we'll talk about your goals and the best ways to work towards them. My aim is to help my clients reach the point where they no longer need therapy as often or at all because they have gained the tools they need. Even after our main work together ends, you still have the option to schedule booster sessions if needed.

• how often would we meet?

  Again, this also varies from person to person. If we’re just starting out, once a week is ideal, especially if we’re dealing with intense feelings and memories. That frequency of sessions can get things rolling and give you as much support as possible. Meeting every other week is an option for less intense issues and can work especially well for people who like to do homework between sessions or who have done a lot of therapy in the past. As therapy progresses, it is possible to space sessions out even more to once every 3 or 4 weeks in order to give you more time to practice what you’ve learned.

• How old do I have to be to see you?

  I see clients age 18 and older.

• Can you prescribe me medications?

  I’m sorry, but nope! I have a doctorate in clinical psychology, but I am NOT a medical doctor. For things like medical advice, prescriptions, medication evaluations, or hospital admissions, you need to see a licensed medical provider like an M.D. or D.O., or a nurse practitioner who has the ability to prescribe.

• Do you do couples or family therapy?

  No, I don’t. I work best with individuals, so I stick with that. There are many gifted couples and family therapists out there if that’s what you need. You can try searching Therapy Den, Inclusive Therapists, the Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, or Psychology Today to find one to fit your situation.

• Do you do psychological testing?

  Although I am trained to do many types of psychological testing, I am currently only offering therapy and evaluations for letters to support access to gender-affirming services. You can try searching Therapy Den or Psychology Today to find a psychologist who offers testing services.

• CAN I MEET WITH YOU IN PERSON?

  No. My services are all telehealth only (phone, messaging, or video). I began switching to all telehealth even before the pandemic was a thing, and I’ll keep doing it even afterwards. It is a better fit for me due to my chronic health conditions. It also allows me to reach clients who might not otherwise have a knowledgeable therapist nearby. Although it can take a little time to adjust to it at first, telehealth has actually been shown in studies to be just as effective as in-person therapy. You can check out these tips to make telehealth sessions run more smoothly.

  Through the wonders of technology and recent agreements between certain states, I can now offer video therapy sessions to the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. (More states coming soon!)

• I have seen you before for a letter for gender-affirming services, but I need to get an updated letter or a letter for another procedure. What should I do?

  If we have already done an evaluation for a letter, you don’t have to schedule a whole new appointment. Please send me an email so I can determine what we need to do, depending on how long it’s been and what you are needing. My email is info@beyondtherapy.us