Austin has changed faster than almost any major U.S. city over the past decade. The Austin-Round Rock metro population grew from roughly 1.72 million in 2010 to more than 2.47 million by 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024), and with that growth has come every kind of transition a therapist sees in the room: relocations, job changes, relationship strain, the isolation that often follows a cross-country move, and the quiet exhaustion of living in a city that never stops moving. This guide covers how to find therapy in Austin, TX, when to seek help, what to expect, how much it costs, and what makes our Austin location different.
Who Should Consider Therapy in Austin, TX?
Therapy is appropriate for anyone experiencing persistent emotional distress, relationship strain, or life transitions. As the American Psychological Association puts it, "In one classic study, half of psychotherapy patients improved after eight sessions. And 75% improved after six months" (APA, 2023). You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from counseling.
Common reasons Austin residents seek therapy include:
- Relocation stress and social isolation: Many Austin residents arrived in the last five years from California, New York, or the Midwest and are still rebuilding social and family support
- Relationship strain: Tech-industry workloads, dual-career households, and long commutes on MoPac/I-35 put real pressure on couples
- Anxiety and burnout: High-performance professional cultures, especially in tech and healthcare, drive chronic stress that does not resolve on its own
- Addiction and recovery: Alcohol and substance use concerns, often co-occurring with anxiety, depression, or trauma
- Bilingual and bicultural needs: Spanish-speaking families navigating the U.S. mental health system, or bicultural clients wanting a therapist who understands both worlds
- Trauma recovery: Processing past experiences that are surfacing now, including EMDR-appropriate trauma work
- Parenting and adolescent concerns: Academic pressure in Round Rock ISD, Leander ISD, and Austin ISD, plus teen mental health
If you have been thinking about therapy for more than a few weeks, that is your signal to start. Early intervention leads to better outcomes and shorter treatment timelines.
What Types of Therapy Are Available at Mental Health Counseling of Austin?
Mental Health Counseling of Austin offers evidence-based counseling for individuals, couples, families, and adolescents through licensed clinicians, as well as coaching. Services include:
Individual Counseling
One-on-one sessions for adults addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, addiction, and personal growth. Individual counseling sessions run 50 to 60 minutes, depending on the counselor and the type of session, and usually occur weekly or biweekly.
Couples and IMAGO Relationship Therapy
Structured sessions focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and resolving conflict. Our Austin location specializes in IMAGO Relationship Therapy, a widely practiced approach, with early research support, developed by Drs. Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt that uses structured dialogue to transform conflict into understanding (Hendrix & Hunt, Getting the Love You Want, 3rd ed., 2019).
Family Counseling
Sessions involving multiple family members to address parenting challenges, blended family dynamics, adolescent behavior, or communication patterns. Family counseling is especially valuable when a child or teen's behavior is affecting the entire household.
Bilingual (Spanish) Therapy, by Telehealth
We offer therapy in Spanish for individuals, teens, couples, and families. Like all of our care for Austin clients, this is a telehealth service, provided by a Spanish-speaking counselor at another of our Texas locations. One study of bilingual Mexican American participants found that a counselor who switched between English and Spanish could draw out more emotional expression (Ramos-Sánchez, Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 2007).
Addiction and Recovery Counseling
Individual counseling for alcohol, substance use, and behavioral addictions. Our team includes a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) trained in evidence-based addiction treatment.
Adolescent Therapy
Specialized approaches for teens (ages 13–17). Common concerns include academic anxiety, social difficulties, emotional regulation, and parent-teen communication.
Life and Executive Coaching
Goal-oriented coaching for career transitions, executive development, and personal growth. Coaching is distinct from therapy, it does not treat mental health conditions but focuses on clarifying and reaching specific goals.
Telehealth
All of our Austin sessions are by video, and we offer telehealth therapy statewide across Texas. A 2021 review of 16 randomized trials found that cognitive behavioral therapy delivered by video reduced symptoms compared with usual care or waiting lists, though the authors note that more trials are needed for specific conditions (Matsumoto et al., Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2021).
How Much Does Therapy Cost in Austin, TX?
Austin-area therapy rates are higher than the Texas average because of the city's cost of living. According to Psychology Today directory data (2025), private-pay licensed therapists in Austin typically charge between $140 and $220 per 50-minute session, with many specialists in trauma, couples work, or addiction charging $180–$250.
Therapy at Mental Health Counseling of Austin follows the same private-pay model as our other Texas locations, and Austin Weber's profile lists his own fees. All services are delivered on a private-pay basis; we do not bill insurance directly, but we provide detailed superbills so you can request out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance provider.
| Service | Fee per session across our practice |
|---|---|
| Individual counseling | $130 to $200 |
| Couples counseling / IMAGO | $150 to $230 |
Sessions run 50 to 90 minutes, depending on the counselor and the type of session. For family counseling, addiction counseling, adolescent therapy, and coaching, ask about fees during your free consultation.
Why we operate this way: Private pay allows us to protect your clinical privacy (nothing goes to an insurer unless you choose to submit a superbill, which carries a diagnosis code), eliminate session limits or approvals set by insurers, and allow you to choose the therapist and approach best suited to your needs. How much your insurer reimburses depends on your plan. Our guide to private pay and superbills explains how to check your out-of-network benefits. See our insurance and fees page for a full explanation of how superbills work.
How Does Mental Health Counseling of Austin See Clients?
Virtual Appointments Only Serving Austin and all of Texas by telehealth Phone: (262) 354-4684 Email: info@mhcaustin.com
Mental Health Counseling of Austin does not keep a physical office. Sessions run over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform, which means there is no drive across town and no waiting room, whether you are in Jollyville, Anderson Mill, Milwood, Wells Branch, Avery Ranch, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, or anywhere else in Texas.
We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, by appointment. To schedule, book online or call us directly. If you would prefer to meet in person, our Katy and Sugar Land offices both have rooms.
About Our Austin Team
Our Austin location is staffed by three clinicians and coaches:
- Austin Weber, LMFT, LCDC: Founder. IMAGO relationship therapy, addiction, couples and individual work
- Bobby C Johns Jr, CLC, CRC, CPT: Owner. Life coaching, relationship coaching and personal training
- Brandy L Johns, APRN, PMHNP-BC: Psychiatric evaluation and medication management for children, teens, and adults
I am Austin Weber, LMFT, LCDC, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, and I am Imago-trained. I founded the Austin location of Mental Health Counseling Group to bring coordinated, evidence-based care to Austin and across Texas by video. The Austin team is built around two things Austin needs more of: deep couples and relationship work (led by our IMAGO specialization) and integrated addiction treatment that takes co-occurring anxiety, depression, and trauma seriously.
When a client needs specialty services outside our team's scope, for example play therapy for young children, we coordinate referrals across our Katy and Sugar Land locations, or provide telehealth access statewide for adults and teens.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
The first session is called an intake and lasts 50 to 90 minutes, depending on the counselor. Here is what happens:
- Paperwork review: You complete intake paperwork online before the session. This covers contact information, emergency contacts, consent to treatment, HIPAA notice, and financial agreement.
- Getting to know each other: We spend time understanding your history, current concerns, and what brought you in now.
- Goal setting: We identify 2–3 specific goals for therapy and discuss what success would look like.
- Approach discussion: Your therapist explains the clinical approach they would recommend for your situation, session frequency, and expected duration.
- Scheduling: We book your next session, usually one week out.
You will leave the first session with a clear plan and an understanding of what the work ahead looks like. If at any point you do not feel the fit is right, we will help you find a better match, with another clinician on our team, or through an appropriate referral.
Can I Get Therapy in Spanish in Austin?
Yes, by telehealth. Our Austin practice does not currently have a Spanish-speaking clinician, but Khrista Quevedo, M.S., LPC-A, NCC, supervised by Stephanie R. Frey, works with clients in English and Spanish, and we offer telehealth statewide across Texas.
If you or a family member would be more comfortable in Spanish, say so when you get in touch and we will match you accordingly.
How Do I Know If I Need Therapy?
Common signs that therapy may help:
- Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or irritability persist for more than two weeks
- Sleep patterns, appetite, or energy levels have changed noticeably
- Relationships with partners, children, or coworkers feel harder than usual
- A significant life event (move to Austin, job change, loss, divorce) is affecting daily functioning
- Alcohol or substance use has increased, or is being used to cope with stress, sleep, or anxiety
- A child or teen in your home is showing behavioral changes, academic decline, or withdrawal
- You have tried self-help strategies and they have not been enough
If any of these feel familiar, a consultation call is free. Book online or call (262) 354-4684.
What If I Am Worried About Alcohol or Substance Use?
Addiction is one of the most common, and most under-treated, concerns in Austin. Per the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only about 1 in 10 adults with a substance use disorder in the U.S. receives specialty treatment in a given year (SAMHSA, 2024).
Our Austin team includes Austin Weber, LMFT, LCDC, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, who integrates addiction work with mental health care. That matters because alcohol and substance use rarely exist in isolation, they are most often intertwined with anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship strain. Treating them together, rather than in sequence or in isolation, is the approach we take for that reason.
Early conversations are confidential, non-judgmental, and focused on understanding where you are before recommending any specific treatment path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you take insurance? We operate on a private-pay basis and do not bill insurance directly. We provide detailed superbills so you can submit to your insurance provider for out-of-network reimbursement. See our insurance and fees page for details.
Do all Austin sessions happen by video? Yes. We provide telehealth therapy statewide across Texas. Sessions are conducted over a secure HIPAA-compliant video platform.
Do you offer sessions in Spanish? Yes, by telehealth. Khrista Quevedo (LPC Associate, supervised by Stephanie R. Frey) works with clients in English and Spanish, and we offer telehealth statewide across Texas. Ask for a Spanish-speaking counselor when you get in touch.
How long does therapy take? It depends on your goals. Short-term, focused work on a specific concern often takes 8–12 sessions. Longer-term work on relationships or deeper patterns can take 6 months to 2 years. We discuss expected duration at your intake and revisit every few months.
What ages do you work with? Our Austin team works with adults and with adolescents from age 13 up. For children under 13, including play therapy, we coordinate referrals to our Katy team.
Is what I share in therapy confidential? Yes. Texas law and federal HIPAA protections cover everything discussed in session. Limited exceptions exist for situations involving imminent risk of harm to self or others, or suspected child/elder abuse. Your therapist will explain these at your first session.
What if I am not sure therapy is what I need, maybe coaching is a better fit? A 15-minute phone consultation is free. We can help you decide whether therapy, coaching, or a combination is appropriate, and match you to the right clinician. Call (262) 354-4684 to schedule.
Ready to Start?
If you are considering therapy in Austin, TX, the next step is simple:
- Book a consultation online: select Austin as your location
- Call (262) 354-4684: ask questions or request a callback
- Email info@mhcaustin.com: we respond within one business day
Mental Health Counseling Group serves clients across Katy, Sugar Land, Fulshear, and Austin, TX, plus statewide telehealth. Our mission is simple: to walk alongside you with compassion, clinical expertise, and hope, empowering wellness, one self at a time.
Sources
- American Psychological Association (APA). (2023). Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/understanding
- Hendrix, H., & Hunt, H. L. (2019). Getting the love you want: A guide for couples (3rd ed.). St. Martin's Griffin.
- Matsumoto, K., Hamatani, S., & Shimizu, E. (2021). Effectiveness of videoconference-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with psychiatric disorders: Systematic and meta-analytic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(12), e31293. https://doi.org/10.2196/31293
- Ramos-Sánchez, L. (2007). Language switching and Mexican Americans' emotional expression. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 35(3), 154-168. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1912.2007.tb00057.x
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2024). 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). Vintage 2023 population estimates for the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area, and the 2010 Census count for the same metro area. census.gov