Individual & Couples Therapy in Austin or Online Across Texas
NEURODIVERGENCE • COMPLEX TRAUMA • RELATIONSHIPS

Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL

  • Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. From our first session, we’ll clarify what you want from this work and shape each conversation around your goals. I’m not here to hand out prescriptions for how to live your life. Instead, we’ll stay curious together, exploring patterns, testing out new perspectives, and discovering solutions that fit your brain and your world.

    Clients often describe sessions with me as grounding and spacious. I bring a mix of humor, warmth, and my love for neuroscience to help you feel both supported and understood. We might notice how your body reacts in the moment, track nervous system cues, or slow things down so we can break unhelpful cycles. To keep our work collaborative, personal, and affirming, I continually adapt my methods to your neurotype and preferred pacing.

  • There isn’t a set timeline. Some people come in for a focused goal (like processing a specific event or learning new skills) and find what they need in a few months. Others stay longer to untangle deeper patterns, build steadier relationships, or keep a regular space for support.

    What matters most is that the work moves at your speed. We’ll check in together about how it’s feeling and whether you’re getting what you came for. Therapy can be a short-term sprint, a steady season of growth, or something you return to at different points in your life.

  • I’ve found that weekly sessions tend to produce the most consistent progress and results for clients. Bi-weekly sessions can also be an option depending on the presenting problem and financial constraints.

    Anything less frequent than every other week is good for maintenance (i.e. after a client has met their goals) but not great for working through ongoing problems (progress typically plateaus).

  • A typical therapy session is 45-60 minutes. I try to keep my sessions to 50 minutes so I have enough time before the next session to write up notes and send any resources we discussed to you after the session.

    Longer sessions are available upon request too! I often see clients who desire more time for processing for 80 minutes. Intensives are an option for those who want to dedicate a larger chunk of time to work through problems - anywhere from 2 to 6 hours (often on a weekend). Each intensive session will be uniquely designed for you and your goals. Learn more here.

FINANCES

  • I do not accept insurance directly. Insurance companies require a formal mental health diagnosis to reimburse for therapy (and that diagnosis becomes part of your legal medical record). Using insurance often limits what types of concerns can be addressed, how long therapy can last, or what modalities can be used.

    By working outside of insurance, I’m able to offer:

    • More flexibility in how sessions are structured and how often we meet

    • Greater privacy and confidentiality (no need to share your records or diagnosis with a third party)

    • Freedom to focus on what matters most to you, whether or not it fits into a medical model of treatment

    Upon request, I can provide a superbill and help with out-of-network reimbursement. Learn more about that process here.

  • The rates of various services are explained on the Rates and Insurance page.

  • A sliding scale means your session fee is adjusted based on your income or financial situation.

    It’s designed to increase access to therapy while still honoring the therapist’s time, training, and ongoing costs.

    I hold a limited number of reduced-fee spots for clients experiencing financial hardship or systemic barriers to care. The rate depends on annual combined household income and current availability.

    If cost is a concern, reach out—you're welcome here.

  • Therapy can feel expensive, and it’s true—the cost reflects more than just the time we spend in session. You’re not only paying for 50–80 minutes together, but for the training, energy, and unseen labor that support your growth and healing. In many ways, you are one of many people renting my nervous system for 50–80 minutes at a time. That means:

    • I hold space for your emotions, patterns, and stories with deep focus and care.

    • I spend time outside of our sessions writing notes, conceptualizing your needs, and tailoring approaches.

    • I consult and stay trained so your therapy reflects the latest, most affirming practices.

    This investment makes therapy both sustainable for me and transformative for you.

NEURODIVERSITY

  • Neurodiversity is the natural variation in how human brains are wired and how we experience, process, and respond to the world. It recognizes that differences like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other ways of thinking aren’t flaws to “fix,” but part of the rich spectrum of human diversity.

    At The Rooted Brain, we see neurodiversity as something to honor… not pathologize. Your brain’s unique patterns shape how you connect, create, and cope. Therapy isn’t about making you “normal”; it’s about understanding your nervous system, finding strategies that fit your life, and building on the strengths that are already there.

    Learn more about the neurodiversity movement here.

  • Neurotypical is a term used to describe people whose brains tend to work in ways that are widely expected and accommodated by society. If you’re neurotypical, many systems are already built with you in mind. Social rules may feel intuitive, traditional classrooms might work well for you, and sensory input usually stays within a comfortable range. Growing up, your development likely fit neatly into the milestones adults were watching for.

    Neurodivergent is an umbrella term that describes people whose brains work differently from those expectations. This isn’t a flaw or even a clinical term, but rather describes a variation in how we process sensory information. If you’re neurodivergent, you might experience deep focus on specific interests, communicate in ways that feel natural to you but unfamiliar to others, or have sensory needs that are often misunderstood or overlooked. Over time, many neurodivergent people learn to “mask”: hiding or editing parts of themselves to feel safer or more accepted, which can be exhausting.

    At The Rooted Brain, we understand that these differences shape how people relate, learn, and connect.

  • Nope! I trust your experience. If something feels like it doesn’t fit or you seem to experience the world differently than other people, let’s start there. There is a lot of value in exploring how you process the world, even without a diagnosis.

  • I am not currently credentialed to make an “official” diagnosis. If an official diagnosis is important to you and/or would provide you support through accommodations, I can help direct you to a provider that can assess you.

    If you are just looking to learn more about how your brain works and find tools that fit with how you process the world, we can certainly explore that! We can look at the diagnostic criteria together and get a really good idea if you may qualify for diagnosis, what that may mean for you, and tools to add to help manage that.

THE ROOTED BRAIN

  • My in-person office is located in South Austin, TX, but I see clients from all over Texas via telehealth. My office is located at 8700 Menchaca Rd. STE 805, Austin, TX, 78748.

  • Both! Currently, I have in-person availability on Monday-Wednesday in South Austin. If you want an in-person experience with more flexibility, let’s chat about Walk-and-Talk as an option!

  • It depends on what you’re hoping to change.

    • Individual therapy offers a private space to explore your own patterns, process past experiences, and build tools for nervous-system regulation. It’s ideal when you want to focus on personal growth, whether or not you’re currently in a relationship.

    • Couple/Relationship therapy is best when the relationship itself is the client. We work together to understand each partner’s needs, processing styles, and attachment patterns so you can reconnect and create new ways of relating.

    You don’t have to pick one forever. Some people start with individual therapy and later invite their partner in; others begin as a couple and add individual sessions to support their own growth. We can talk through what’s happening and decide on the path that fits your goals and your brain.

  • “LMFT-Associate” means I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has finished my graduate training and passed the required exams, but I’m still completing the post-graduate hours the state requires for full independent licensure.

    During this stage, I meet regularly with my clinical supervisor (Angela Funke, LMFT-S) who reviews my work, offers guidance, and helps me keep growing as a clinician.

    Your sessions are still private. My supervisor doesn’t attend our meetings, and I only share what’s needed for professional guidance, protecting your confidentiality (your case information is de-identified and kept very general).

    This extra layer of support means you’re getting both my care and the benefit of ongoing mentorship and consultation. It’s like paying for one therapist and getting the insight/perspectives of multiple consulting therapists!

  • Consultation calls/video meetings are about 20 to 25 minutes long and are a free way to feel out if we may be a good fit for each other. The relationship between the therapist and client is the most important factor in therapeutic change, regardless of therapist style or technique. If we don’t quite fit, I may refer you to a trusted colleague who might better fit your needs so you can get the best care possible.

    During the consultation, I will ask about what brought you to seek out services, what you hope to get out of the experience, and cover the logistical details such as availability, cost of services, and the general flow of therapy with me.

    Feel free to bring any and all questions you may have so I can answer them for you!

  • Fill out this consultation form and it should direct you to find a time to meet with me!