Austin, Texas · Independent public information
Before you choose a therapist.
Therapy is a human service sold through an unusually opaque market. This publication makes the credentials, prices, insurance rules and public records legible.
Every guide identifies its sources and review date. No therapist can buy placement or a favorable conclusion.
Read the starting guideThe guide
Nine questions worth answering first
- 01LPC, LCSW, LMFT and psychologist credentialsWhat each Texas license establishes, and what the initials do not tell you.
- 02Therapy costs and private pay in AustinHow fees are set, how to calculate a monthly cost, and what to ask before scheduling.
- 03Insurance, out-of-network benefits and superbillsA plain account of reimbursement, deductibles, allowed amounts and claim documents.
- 04In-person and online therapy in TexasA comparison of setting, privacy, access, technology and interstate licensing limits.
- 05How to verify a Texas therapist’s licenseA five-minute check of license type, status, expiration and public discipline.
- 06Low-cost and nonprofit resourcesAustin-area counseling, public services, peer support and referral programs.
- 07Crisis and urgent supportCurrent national and Travis County contacts for immediate mental-health support.
- 08The initial therapy consultationWhat usually occurs, what to ask, and how to assess the practical fit.
- 09Featured therapist: Marsha Lowes, LPCPractice facts, license verification, areas of work and ownership disclosure.
How this publication works
A claim without a source is advertising.
Licensing statements come from the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Insurance and billing statements are tied to state or federal consumer guidance. A service listing points to the organization providing the service—not to a recycled directory entry.
A credential is a regulatory fact, not a quality score. A quoted fee is not a monthly budget. A superbill is not reimbursement. Those distinctions sound elementary; much of the therapy market depends on consumers not making them.
Editorial and correction standards