Frequently Asked Questions

If you're considering therapy, you may have questions about how it works, whether we're a good fit, or what to expect before getting started. Here are answers to some of the questions I hear most often about working with Therapy-Tree Counseling.

Where is Therapy-Tree Counseling located?

Therapy-Tree Counseling is based in the Dripping Springs and Austin area and provides therapy entirely through telehealth. Because sessions are online, I work with clients throughout the state of Texas.

Do I need to live in Austin or Dripping Springs to work with you?

No. I provide online therapy throughout Texas. You can live in Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, or elsewhere in the state. You simply need to be physically located in Texas at the time of your therapy session.

Who do you work with?

I work with adults, adolescents, and couples. Many of the people I work with are seeking support for trauma, anxiety, relationship difficulties, attachment patterns, grief, emotional regulation, intrusive thoughts or rumination, life transitions, and the effects of difficult experiences from the past.

What areas do you specialize in?

My practice has a particular focus on trauma and EMDR, attachment and relationship patterns, couples therapy, infidelity and betrayal trauma, anxiety and emotional regulation, and grief.

I also work with concerns that often overlap with these areas, including depression, perfectionism, family conflict, self-esteem, identity and life transitions, stress, and relationship difficulties.

What therapy approaches do you use?

The approach I use depends on the person I'm working with and what brings them to therapy. My work is trauma-informed and attachment-focused and may incorporate EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), attachment-based approaches, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, mindfulness, nervous-system regulation, and other evidence-informed approaches.

Therapy doesn't look exactly the same for every person. We can talk together about what feels useful, what isn't working, and what approach makes the most sense for you.

Do you offer EMDR therapy?

Yes. I am trained in EMDR and use it with clients experiencing trauma, PTSD, complex trauma, attachment wounds, difficult relationship experiences, grief, anxiety, and other experiences that may continue to affect how they feel or respond in the present.

EMDR isn't always the first thing we do in therapy. We spend time understanding what you're experiencing, developing resources when needed, and deciding together whether EMDR is appropriate for what you want to work on.

Can EMDR be done online?

Yes. EMDR can be provided through telehealth. Bilateral stimulation can be adapted for online sessions using methods such as eye movements, tapping, or other forms of alternating stimulation.

As with in-person EMDR, preparation and pacing matter. Before beginning trauma processing, we'll talk about what you are experiencing, your ability to stay grounded when difficult material comes up, and what you may need to feel adequately supported during and after a session.

Do you work with complex trauma and childhood trauma?

Yes. I work with adults who may be affected by experiences from childhood as well as trauma that occurred later in life.

Complex trauma doesn't always show up as a clear memory of one traumatic event. It can affect relationships, self-worth, emotional regulation, trust, boundaries, the nervous system, and the way someone responds to closeness, conflict, rejection, or perceived danger.

Do you work with attachment issues?

Yes. Attachment is an important part of much of my work. Therapy may involve understanding how earlier experiences influenced what you learned about closeness, trust, vulnerability, conflict, and depending on other people.

For some clients, attachment patterns show up primarily in romantic relationships. For others, they affect friendships, family relationships, self-worth, or the way they respond when they feel rejected, criticized, overwhelmed, or disconnected.

Do you provide couples therapy?

Yes. I work with couples experiencing recurring conflict, communication difficulties, emotional disconnection, attachment differences, major transitions, and relationship distress.

My work with couples incorporates attachment-based approaches and Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Rather than looking only at the argument happening on the surface, we often work to understand the pattern the couple has become caught in and what may be happening underneath each person's response.

Do you work with couples after infidelity?

Yes. Infidelity and betrayal trauma are particular areas of focus in my practice. I work with couples who are trying to understand what happened, stabilize the relationship after discovery, rebuild trust, and determine whether and how they want to move forward.

I also work individually with people who have experienced betrayal and are dealing with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, grief, anger, difficulty trusting, or uncertainty about the relationship.

Does insurance cover couples therapy?

Insurance generally covers treatment for a diagnosed mental health condition rather than relationship counseling itself. There are situations in which a partner may appropriately participate in an individual's treatment when their involvement supports that person's treatment goals, but that is different from using an individual's insurance plan to pay for traditional couples therapy.

If you're unsure what applies to your situation, we can talk about the type of therapy you're seeking and whether insurance may be appropriate.

Do you accept insurance?

Yes. Therapy-Tree Counseling works with several insurance plans. Coverage varies depending on your specific plan, and being insured by a particular company does not always mean that every plan offered by that company includes the same behavioral health benefits. Currently, I accept Aetna, United, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum, Cigna, and Carelon. 

Before beginning therapy, it's helpful to verify your behavioral health benefits, including your deductible, copay or coinsurance, and whether telehealth mental health services are covered.

Do you offer private-pay therapy?

Yes. You can choose to pay privately for therapy rather than use insurance. Some clients prefer private pay because they do not want to use a mental health diagnosis for insurance reimbursement or because the service they are seeking, such as traditional couples therapy, is not covered by their insurance plan.

Do you work with teenagers?

Yes. I work with adolescents experiencing concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, ADHD, relationship and friendship difficulties, family changes, identity concerns, school stress, and major transitions.

Therapy with adolescents also involves balancing a teen's need for privacy with appropriate parent involvement. We can discuss how that will work before treatment begins.

What happens during the first therapy session?

The first session gives us time to talk about what brought you to therapy, what has been happening in your life, relevant history, and what you would like to be different.

You don't need to arrive with a perfectly organized explanation of what's wrong or a specific therapy goal. Part of my job is helping you make sense of what you're experiencing and figuring out together where it makes sense to begin.

How do I know if we're a good fit?

A therapist can have the right training on paper and still not feel like the right person for you. The therapeutic relationship matters.

You may want to consider whether you feel comfortable talking with me, whether my way of understanding what you're experiencing makes sense to you, and whether the approaches I use fit what you're hoping to work on. It's okay to ask questions before deciding whether you want to begin.

What is the Therapy-Tree Growth Library?

The Growth Library is a collection of educational resources I've created and gathered to help clients better understand many of the ideas we talk about in therapy. It includes information and practices related to trauma, the nervous system, attachment, relationships, emotional regulation, mindfulness, self-compassion, values, and other areas of personal growth.

The Growth Library is educational and isn't a replacement for individualized mental health care, but it can be a useful place to learn, reflect, and continue practicing skills outside of therapy.

How do I get started?

If you're interested in working together, you can contact Therapy-Tree Counseling to ask about current availability, insurance, private-pay options, or whether I may be a good fit for what you're looking for.

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