Health & wellness
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
The Austin area is saturated with mental health providers specializing in a variety of therapies, said William Schroeder, co-owner and counselor at Just Mind Counseling. Despite the saturation, a 2024 Mental Health America report showed Texas ranked 44th in adult mental health and 15th for youth. Cost and accessibility is often a barrier to therapy, while others may delay therapy out of feeling vulnerable or judged by a stranger, Schroeder said. “[The new year] is often a time where—from the data side—people start making those changes,” Schroeder said. Just Mind Counseling therapists say the process of starting a therapy journey can look like: Knowing the signs of when to consider therapy 1 Understanding individual goals, challenges and needs out of therapy 2 Doing research 3 Considering the financial implications 4 Austin counselor offers tips for finding therapy
1 Austin Family Institute: $30-$130 per session 2 Center for Relationships: $50-$150 per session 3 Just Mind Counseling: $100-$200 per session 4 Liz Watts Counseling: $50-$80 per session 5 Moonstone Counseling: $165-$225 per session 6 New Life Counseling Center: $45-$195 per session Affordable therapists in the Lake Travis, Westlake area
The cost
Schroeder said utilization of mental health ser- vices has increased since the start of the COVID- 19 pandemic, but some insurance companies may not have covering therapy costs modeled into their care, he said. If they do, coverage varies. On the clinician side, more local providers seem to take insurance, but Schroeder said this can present challenges if insurers decrease their reimbursement rates. “There’s the [therapist’s] desire for acces- sibility that exists, and yet there’s also the fundamental principle of being able to survive on the rates that are there,” Schroeder said. “Over the next five to 10 years, we’re going to see more people leave the field just because it’s really hard to survive taking insurance—because insurance [companies] like to play these different games.” Just Mind Counseling also provides resources for finding affordable therapists in Austin, with most sessions listed in its guide starting at $100 or below.
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What the experts say
“Sometimes you can find somebody that looks great on paper, and then you get in there, and it’s like watching paint dry.” While therapy helps build the skills and coping mechanisms needed to make lasting change, Schroeder said it may require work to “lift some of the fog” before feeling like you’re able to commit to one. Schroeder suggests joining support groups, reading therapy blogs and talking with a health care provider about medication.
It’s important to understand an individual’s needs going into therapy, Schroeder said, and to make note of any provider preferences, such as their age, gender or cultural background. Talking with health care providers, friends, family members or using an online directory such as Psychology Today can also help people find a therapist that fits their needs, he said. “It’s really important to kind of gut check the [therapist] and see if it feels right,” Schroeder said.
consultation 5
Scheduling an initial session or
Gathering any questions, concerns or documents needed before the first session 6
Committing to going 7
SOURCE: JUST MIND COUNSELING/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Major takeaways
“When you’re in a room with somebody, you get that energy in a different way from them,” Schroeder said. “That can also be very demonstrative and important of knowing a variety of different things, like if what you’re doing is actually working.” While each experience will differ, Schroeder said it’s important for people to check in with how they feel at the end of each session to make sure their therapist is a good fit.
The structure of therapy sessions vary, Schroeder said, and it’s important to know the provider’s style. Some may be more directive and give clients homework or goals to work on, while others offer a less structured approach. Telehealth therapy has also expanded access, but Schroeder said it could lead to providers missing major body language cues.
Checking in after a session
Feel like progress is being made
Feel the therapist’s approach and feedback is effective
Feel respected, heard and valued
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