I see people online and in-person. Where is your office?

3207 Capsicum CoveAustin, Texas 78748

My office is in my home, which is conveniently located for people in South Austin, Buda, and Kyle. It’s off of Brodie Lane between Slaughter Lane and FM 1626.

How long are sessions?

Sessions are 50-55 minutes. It is possible to get a lot out of that time. 

How do I set up an appointment?

I like to have a 15-20 minute phone consultation with prospective clients to make sure we are a good fit for each other. If it seems like we are, we can schedule an appointment at the end of the call. Please call me at (512) 656-9877 or complete the contact form at the bottom of this page so we can find a time to talk about how I can help.

How much do you charge? Do you take insurance?

My private pay rate is $155 a session. Sometimes I offer a discount if people want to purchase 4 sessions at once. If you like, I can provide a Superbill so that you can submit those to apply to your out-of-network insurance benefits. 

I currently accept Aetna, United (including Optum and Oscar), Carelon, and Quest.

Who do you work with?

I work with adults of various ethnic backgrounds. I am LGBTQ+ friendly (I have close family members who identify as LGBTQ+). I primarily help people suffering from the aftermath of trauma and related problems, like anxiety, depression, and codependency. Sometimes people come to counseling with anxiety or depression and we discover that there is trauma that is at the root of their symptoms.

What is your approach in sessions?

I aspire to offer a supportive, compassionate, safe place for you to explore and guide you through a process that can truly be life changing. One of the most important aspects of therapy is the relationship that we develop together. Through our collaboration, I hope to ensure that you really benefit from your time in therapy.

The first session or two is dedicated to learning more about what problems you’re experiencing and what you hope to accomplish in therapy.

From there, I may suggest a certain approach to therapy that I think you will benefit from, such as EMDR or IFS. Since you are likely unfamiliar with these approaches, we may try them for a session so you can see what you think.

Sometimes people prefer more traditional talk therapy or doing that some of the time. This is your therapy, so you decide what you feel works best for you. 

Do you give assignments to do between sessions?

I often make suggestions about things to do between sessions, but it’s up to you whether or how often you do them. There is no judgment if you didn’t do something we talked about. Most of these suggestions are related to mindfulness practices that help you be more present in the moment.

What is your professional training and experience?

In addition to being a Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist, I am an EMDR Certified and Level 2 IFS Therapist. I also have formal training in emotion and attachment-based approaches. See the About page for more information.

Prior to going into private practice, I was an individual and family counselor in both in-patient and out-patient drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities.

What life experience informs your work as a therapist?

I became a therapist because of my own experience of growth and healing in therapy. 

I have been divorced and have maintained an amicable relationship with my ex-wife allowing us to successfully coparent our first child together. 

Having remarried, I’ve had the experience of being an older parent (my daughter graduated from high school after I turned 60). 

My mother died of cancer in 2015. My father was born in 1930 and is currently suffering from dementia, so I am responsible for managing his finances and medical needs. 

There are some other relevant experiences I’ve had that I won’t get into here that I sometimes share with clients if I think it will be helpful for them. 

If I come to see you, does that mean I’m crazy?

Hey, it’s crazy world we live in! I don’t label people as crazy or reduce people to a diagnosis. I think people have challenges, they may get discouraged, and they persist through painful ordeals. Getting help through counseling is sane and healthy.

What do you like to do for fun?

I really love the outdoors, particularly hiking. I’m from Central Oregon, in the heart of the Cascade Mountains, where I have spent a lot of time in the forests and mountains. My wife and I are always interested in finding new places to explore.

I also really enjoy playing the saxophone. I’ve been playing sax since I was 12. I love jazz, since that’s the music of the saxophone. There is always more to learn. It’s both humbling and inspiring.