Therapy already asks enough of you. Getting started shouldn’t.
Questions about scheduling, cost, insurance, confidentiality, choosing a therapist, or what actually happens once you begin? We’ve gathered the things people ask us most often.
And if you don’t see your question here, ask us. You don’t need to know the right language before you reach out.
A few things people usually want to know before they begin.
Q&A
You do not have to be in crisis for therapy to be useful.
Sometimes something is clearly wrong. Other times life is functioning reasonably well, but a relationship keeps repeating the same pattern, anxiety is taking up too much space, sex or intimacy has changed, or you simply know that the way you have been handling something is no longer working.
You also do not need to know exactly what the problem is before you begin. Part of the work can be figuring that out together.
Start with the person whose way of thinking or working feels closest to what you need. You do not have to make the perfect choice.
Each of our therapists brings a different style, perspective, and set of strengths to the work. If you are unsure where to begin, your concierge can help you think through what you are dealing with and who may be the strongest fit.
And if you begin with one therapist and later realize someone else may make more sense, that is completely okay. Marc and Sara, in particular, often move clients between them when the work shifts.
The first session is partly about understanding what brought you in and partly about getting a sense of each other.
Your therapist will usually ask about what is happening now, relevant history, relationships or experiences that may matter, and what you hope will be different. You will also have plenty of room to ask questions and get a feel for how your therapist thinks and works.
You do not need to arrive with your story perfectly organized. Start with what feels most important.
No. There is no required length of treatment.
Some people come in for help with something specific and relatively contained. Others discover that the work opens into something deeper and choose to continue longer.
Your therapist can talk with you about what they are seeing and what may be useful, but you remain free to decide whether and how you continue.
That is okay—and we would rather help you make the change than have you stay in a therapeutic relationship that does not feel right.
A strong sense of trust and fit matters. Sometimes that becomes clear quickly; sometimes it takes a few sessions.
If another ACT clinician seems better suited to what you need, we can help make that transition. And if the right person is outside ACT, we are comfortable helping you look there too.
The logistics should be the uncomplicated part.
Q&A
ACT is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly. If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, we can provide the documentation you may need to submit for possible reimbursement.
Coverage varies considerably by plan, so we recommend checking directly with your insurer if reimbursement is important to you.
Your payment method is securely kept on file through the client portal and is typically charged after your appointment.
You can update your card, access receipts and manage other account information through the portal at any time. If you need help with a billing or payment question, your concierge can help.
Many appointments can be offered either in person at our Austin office or virtually, depending on the clinician, service, and where you are physically located at the time of the session.
Some services—particularly ketamine-assisted therapy—have different requirements. We’ll make sure you know what options apply before you schedule.
Yes. Our clinicians are accessible between appointments for scheduling, brief questions, and communication that helps your care stay connected.
Longer therapeutic work is usually best handled during a session, and each clinician may have slightly different boundaries around between-session communication. Your therapist will let you know what works best for them.
Yes. What you discuss in therapy is private and confidential, with limited exceptions required by law or professional ethics.
Those exceptions can include situations involving imminent danger, certain forms of abuse or neglect, or circumstances in which records are legally required to be disclosed. Your therapist will review confidentiality with you at the beginning of treatment and can answer any questions about how it applies to your situation.
Additionally, ACT does case reviews that include appropriate therapists, clinical supervisors, and often the medical director, Dr. Clifford Porter.
You can ask a person instead of hunting for the answer.
Didn’t find what you need above? Cass can help.
She handles scheduling, clinician availability, billing and administrative questions, and can point you to the right person when she isn’t the one who has the answer.
You don’t need to decide whether your question belongs with a therapist, the office, or someone else before you reach out. Tell her what you need, and she’ll help get it where it needs to go.
Current clients can also use the Client Portal for appointments, paperwork, documents, and updating your payment information.