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FAQ
HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED THERAPY?
Anybody could benefit from a little therapy! But you might be more ready or more in need than some. If friends or family have told you they’re worried about you, or that you don’t seem like yourself, or if you’re ready to try living life a little differently, do some deeper work, and live your truth courageously, or just need some help with problem solving…let’s talk about how we might be able to work together.
HOW DOES THERAPY WORK?
It’s more than listening, but everyone’s experience is different. We are there to listen, yes,
but also to provide feedback, and a perspective you might or might not have considered. Therapy involves two-way communication. We can help you examine your options, consider new strategies for how you approach life, figure out why you have been making certain choices, find the best in yourself, understand how your past is affecting your present, learn to think differently, and tune in to what’s going on in your body (learning to hear what it’s trying to tell you). “Beginning therapy can be a big step toward being the healthiest version of yourself and living the best life possible—no matter what challenges you may be facing. Through therapy, you can change self-destructive behaviors and habits, resolve painful feelings, improve your relationships, and more” (goodtherapy.org).
What states are you licensed to practice in?
KATY PERKINS: Texas, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia
All other staff: Texas
WHO DO YOU SEE? ARE YOU TAKING COUPLES AND YOUTH?
Most of our clients are people who have experienced some or all of the following: sexual violence, domestic violence, childhood trauma, oppression or discrimination, identity distress, or have been affected by adoption or DNA discoveries. Regardless of family structure, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race, or other minority status, you are welcome.
Most people we see are adults, but couples and youth (ages 13+) are seen on a case-by-case basis. In the state of Texas, youth 17+ can consent to their own therapy services. In some cases, parents or other family members are seen as third party payors, to cover the cost of services, and/or for parent coaching/consult.
DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?
We do not accept insurance at this time. Sliding scale rates are available. Please contact for more information.
Someone else has offered to pay for my therapy. Is that OK?
If someone else would like to cover the cost of your sessions (your family, friends, or someone else) they are welcome to do so. The Payor will complete a form that gives us permission to charge them and also acknowledges that paying for sessions doesn't give them access to your confidential information. Please contact us for additional details.
HOW LONG AND HOW FREQUENTLY WILL I NEED THERAPY?
This varies from person to person. We will work together to determine how often your appointments should be. It’s fairly common to meet more frequently in the beginning and then decrease how often we meet.
Some people need therapy for a long time, and other just a short amount of time. We will discuss regularly if therapy is still needed or necessary. You might even decide you want to take a break, and come back when something comes up again in the future. Every person is different.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT MY FIRST SESSION?
In your first session we will talk about the limitations of confidentiality and also the office and financial policies. You will have a chance to ask questions (if you have them) about our experience, work history, and philosophies. We will talk about what has brought you to therapy and clarify your goals.
PLENTY OF THERAPISTS SAY THEY OFFER A 'SAFE SPACE'. WHAT MAKES YOUR SPACE 'SAFE'?
It is true that it will take time to build trust in a therapeutic relationship. We will do everything we can
to be worthy of your trust and create a safe setting where you can feel comfortable being open.
It will ultimately be up to you to determine whether you believe us to be worthy of the descriptor
“Ally”, but we commit to doing our best to be allies to folks from many kinds of marginalized groups,
including but not limited to:
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer
Transgender, intersex, and non-binary
Bodies of all shapes and sizes
Non-monogamous and open relationships
Biracial, Indigenous, and People of Color
Sex-positive, kink allied
Disabled / Differently abled
Humanist, atheists, and nature-based faith philosophies
All religions (this practice is secular)
And others
We are aware that it is not your responsibility to educate us about certain life experiences and/or identities,
and we am committed to actively doing our part to address how power and differences in identities in the
therapy room can affect our relationship. Shared lived experience isn’t always required for us to
‘connect’ and work together, but some people find it to be more helpful for them. If we feel that it
would be better for you clinically to work with someone with a shared lived experience, we will do
our best to help you find referrals.
WHAT THE HECK IS EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. It is a visualization exercise using bilateral stimulation (moving your eyes back and forth, using both sides of your brain) that helps to reduce how strongly you react to traumatic memories. It sounds a bit like hypnosis, but it’s not hypnosis. One of the best places to learn about EMDR is to look at www.emdria.org. Please contact us for more information.
DO YOU PROVIDE LETTERS FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS?
Due to liability and ethical concerns, we do not provide these letters. However, if you are interested in obtaining an ESA letter, you might consider this resource: https://www.esadoggy.com/?fbclid=IwAR0HiUOrsLo6JcaPNrJAwwsbedgMIsLvWyY7B5Mtq-_yUZGWEwegZBNPJhs
DO YOU ALLOW EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS IN YOUR OFFICE?
We really wish we could! Believe me - we are animal lovers and would gladly invite all your animals to session if we could. Unfortunately, our office is currently in a building that only allows legally recognized service animals in accordance with ADA regulations. We desperately hope that someday we can offer this option for people - but mostly because we want to snuggle your pets.
WHERE DO SESSIONS TAKE PLACE?
We offer "hybrid" services, which means some sessions take place in the office and some take place online using a HIPAA-compliant app, similar to zoom, depending on where you live and your clinical needs. We do not generally do sessions over the phone, although from time to time we might offer an emergency check in by phone.
IS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT CONFIDENTIAL?
Everything we talk about is completely confidential, with several potential exceptions:
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We believe you are a true and realistic threat to yourself or someone else. We say ‘true and realistic’ because many people have thoughts of self harm occasionally, but have no plans to follow through on these thoughts. It’s ok to think and talk about it, but if we feel like you have a lethal plan that you are most likely to complete then we will need to take steps to keep you safe.
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We have a reasonable suspicion that a child, elderly person, or disabled person is being abused or neglected.
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We receive a court order (such as in a criminal case, or a contested child custody case) requesting client records.
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Your insurance company requests records in the case of an audit. Though our policy is not to disclose records, we do provide a general summary of your progress (no quotations included). If your insurance company refused to accept the summary, they could insist we provide case notes, in which case we would have to do so.
Our response to the examples above is dictated by our professional Code of Ethics and also applicable laws in states where we are licensed.