I am most passionate about treating OCD as well as other anxiety symptoms and disorders, such as social anxiety, generalized anxiety, specific phobias (e.g., emetophobia), and panic disorder. I also treat mood disorders, particularly when linked to interpersonal stressors, low self-esteem, and/or perfectionism.  While I have provided care across the lifespan, I exclusively work with adult clients.

My Treatment Philosophy

Perhaps you are coming to therapy wanting to “feel better,” and have gotten stuck in the understandable patterns of trying to get rid of different distressing or troublesome thoughts, images, emotions, or urges. And yet, as most of us who have repeatedly tried and eventually realized, these internal experiences are not easily controlled. Thus, I view therapy as actually “getting better at feeling”—whatever those internal experiences may be—in service of working through and disentangling from them and their unhelpful patterns. We often focus on changing your relationship with these internal experiences as well as adjusting your responses to them to help you break out of the cycles that are no longer working; instead, finding freedom and flexibility in your functioning.

I emphasize an active, change-oriented approach that integrates cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) as well as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindful self-compassion (MSC). I believe in the importance of meeting you where you are at, promoting progress through strengths-based and consistent behavioral approaches. These approaches encourage the acquisition of new skills and intentional responses as well as learning to understand the underlying processes in order to build confidence and manage symptoms, even after treatment. Because I believe that the therapeutic relationship is just as important as any clinical interventions, I prioritize creating a safe and accepting space for you to share your experiences, and to provide educational and collaborative treatment. Within the relationship, I offer an open and affirming attitude when working with diverse individuals to inspire continued growth and behaviors that are consistent with their particular values.

Similarly, I am committed to providing comprehensive and evidence-based treatment, recognizing the importance of individualized care. Thus, therapy usually begins with a mindful curiosity and understanding your unique experience within broader contexts and systems. After identifying meaningful and personal goals, treatment is then tailored based on your needs and level of readiness. As therapy is both a process and a practice, I offer and welcome honest and compassionate feedback, promoting reflections and evaluations across our sessions to determine what works best for you. I am honored and grateful to do the work that I do, and want to help you thrive towards your short- and long-term goals, whatever those may be. Lastly, I recognize that therapy is an investment of time, energy, and resources, and thus I am available for consultation to help determine therapeutic fit, if requested.

Contact and Fees

Please contact me at emily@anxietyaustin.com, 512-879-1836 ext. 808, or via our contact page if you would like to discuss the possibility of working with me.

For a standard 50-minute session, my fee is $190 per session. The fee for an initial evaluation is $225. There is an additional charge of $25 per hour for after-hours (i.e., 5:00 p.m. or later) appointments. I am in network with Aetna insurance. I am out of Network for all other insurance companies but I am happy to provide you with an invoice that includes all the billing codes required to obtain reimbursement from your insurance company.

I also maintain a limited number of reduced fee slots for individuals and couples facing financial hardships.