FAQ

I run a virtual office, which means we can work together no matter where you are in Texas.

My office hours are M-F from 10 am – 5 pm CT, with 4 pm being the last appointment.

A typical session lasts anywhere from 45-50 minutes. For couples, sessions can run from 50-90 minutes.

Fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page, so we can get you started! Expect a phone call or email from me within two business days.

Like most specialty providers, I do not participate in any insurance plans. Paying out-of-pocket is an excellent option for people who want maximum privacy, confidentiality, and flexibility.

Did you know you might be able to get reimbursed for therapy? Your insurance may be able to cover most (60-80%), if not all, of the cost!

There are a few downsides to using your insurance. The biggest one is lack of privacy. For you to get reimbursed for therapy, I must provide you with a diagnosis. This diagnosis stays on your medical records for life.

Absolutely! I can guide you through the process of figuring out your OON benefits. You will be required to pay the total cost of the session at every visit, and depending on your OON benefits, your insurance will reimburse you a percentage of the price.

We will schedule your initial session together. Once you are an established client, you can schedule appointments through the client portal.

I have a zero-cancellation policy. Your designated hour is your financial responsibility; therefore, you agree to pay for your appointment for our therapeutic arrangement, regardless of whether you choose to come. You can “make up” for canceled appointments if our schedules align. You can do this the week before, during, or after the date of your absence. I will make every effort to find time for you.

You are allotted one “free” cancellation per year for each time that you attend per week. (For example, if you attend therapy twice per week, you are given two “free” cancellations.)

You are not required to pay for sessions that I cancel. I will try to alert you of my planned vacation times in advance.

To reschedule your session, you must give 24 hours’ notice. Otherwise, you are responsible for your fee, and I cannot reschedule the canceled appointment. If you cancel, you will receive a charge by the end of the day of the canceled appointment.

The free initial consultation is a way for me to get more information about you and the services you seek. It’s also an opportunity for you to get a feel of how I can help you. If we are not a good fit, I can offer you referrals to other therapists or service providers who may be a better fit.

If you’re looking for a place to vent, you should find another therapist. My perfect clients are looking for a guide who can assist them in meeting their goals. Most of my clients have already tried everything they can and realized they need more support. They no longer have the time to DIY their mental health and choose to work with a therapist who can provide them with the steps they need to move along in their healing journey more quickly.

Nope. I have worked with many men throughout my career. My caseload was mostly men on active-duty military or veterans for a while. Men are welcome to reach out for therapy in my practice.

Yes!

As a Latinx therapist, I strive to run an inclusive practice welcoming people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions.

The first session is mainly about hearing your story and what brought you to seek therapy. We will start to create goals together, and you will likely leave the session with a lot to consider. Most of my clients are not afraid to lay it out in the first session; that can feel exhausting. If you’re more hesitant, we will work on building up trust and exploring your hesitations.

I cannot give you a definitive answer, as it depends on your goals and what you want to gain from therapy.

Yes, many people cry in front of me. Crying can be a helpful release, especially when holding back or pushing away uncomfortable emotions for a long time.

You don’t have to tell me everything, but the more I know about you and your situation, the better I can help you. Sometimes, people feel stuck in their progress because they hold on to something they deem irrelevant.

People who are ready to take action can benefit from therapy. Therapy is not something you can push people to do. The person must want to make changes to benefit from therapy.

You are welcome to refer anyone with hesitations about therapy, but if it’s an absolute no, then it’s best to let them be. If you’re in a situation like this, you may be the one who could benefit most from therapy.

I work with clients by helping them rewrite their stories. Our stories about our lives are powerful motivators that cause people to feel stuck or like they lack control over their lives. By learning to reframe your situations and experiences, you will feel more empowered by the experiences you face.

Another part of the work I do with clients is identifying how their past informs their current experiences in life. Most of my clients need to take a deeper look at their past to change the issues or patterns they are currently experiencing.

Yes! Regularly attending therapy can be helpful by itself. But to receive the most from the process, you must practice the skills and techniques outside the session.

I’m not going to sit back and let you waste your time. I will be here to keep you accountable for the topics and exercises discussed in the session.

Outside practice can be a variety of things, such as listening to a podcast or audio book, reading a book or article, doing a challenge, practicing a skill, and more.

Like starting anything new, there are risks. Most of the risks in therapy are due to the benefits you gain from therapy.

Here are some examples:

Kim* gained more confidence and self-esteem through our work together. With this newfound confidence, Kim learned to set healthy boundaries with her family. Some of her family members did not like these boundaries, which caused some friction between them. Kim continues to enjoy her life and decisions while ruffling some feathers with her family.

Jen* and Robert* started couples counseling after facing a decision that did not allow compromise. Therapy helped them learn better ways to communicate and express their wants and needs while listening and hearing the needs of the other. In the end, Jen and Robert agreed that it was time to end the relationship because they could not reach a compromise based on their values and hopes for their future.

Yes! I offer video sessions through a secure video platform. Working on this platform means you can have your session anywhere that makes you comfortable!

I have a no-secret policy when working with couples. If you need help working through something before you can talk about the issue with your partner, that is something we can work on together. If I were to keep a partner’s secret, I would not be working in the couple’s best interest, and when I work with couples, I need to maintain trust between both partners.

Yes, couples have verbally fought in front of me. Fighting is not bad, as it allows me to assist the couple in correcting their negative patterns of communication if any.

Yes, if both partners are willing to make the relationships work and do the work, then couples therapy can work.

I love seeing people’s growth and changes due to our work together. Therapy can be challenging, and seeing the results of doing the work never gets old.

Yes, a therapist is only as good as the work they have gone through in their healing journeys. Being a therapist who has also been to therapy helps me better understand your hesitancies or resistance about going to therapy.

Email is the best way to get a hold of me.

No. Since I am not a medical doctor or psychiatrist, I cannot prescribe medication. If you need medication management, I have some great referral sources to psychiatrists who would be happy to work with you.

Yes, I take notes in session as part of the required documentation I must have on file.

Yes, I have three children – two boys and one girl. Don’t worry; my kids won’t be with me during our sessions. They are all in daycare or at school during scheduled sessions.

Absolutely! It’s better to be prepared for a good cry session than to be unprepared.

Sure, you are welcome to ask personal questions. I believe this helps build trust in our therapeutic relationship.

I use physical planners and virtual calendars to stay organized. As someone who advocates for people getting their needs met, I make sure to outsource the things I cannot physically get to, like cleaning my home, picking up my kids from school, and grocery shopping.

My physical location is in Del Rio, TX. It’s a rural town on the border of Mexico. I also enjoy traveling, so having a virtual office suits my lifestyle.