Frequently Asked Questions

Not at this time.

Due to the social distancing requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic I have transitioned to serving all of my clients via teletherapy. I use a HIPPA compliant Audio and Video service for the teletherapy appointments.

Because therapy works!

Therapy has been scientifically proven to be effective, and when you make the commitment to partner with a therapist you will see change and results faster and easier than attempting this transformation on your own.

There is power in talking and sharing your story and struggles with someone else.  The secrets and thoughts that we keep inside can become powerful and controlling. Once spoken those secrets and thoughts loose their power and become less scary.  Once you’ve said it out loud, we can then start to change it.  Change happens when you begin to connect what you are thinking and feeling to what you are doing in your life.  All of it is important- your thoughts, your emotions, and your behaviors- and therapy is where we can connect the dots and empower you to make lasting change in your life.

Honest truth: it’s different for everyone. The goal is not to adopt you as a therapy client forever, but to help you accomplish your goals and transform your life. Therapy is a process that requires time, effort, and most importantly your commitment to making lasting change in your life.

You will get the best and quickest results by attending therapy sessions weekly.  This is especially important in the beginning as we get to know one another and build trust between us.  When you commit to taking consistent action toward your goals, you will see results.   The pain and struggle you are feeling right now don’t have to stay in your life forever.  Therapy is a way out of that pain and struggle. Therapy is worth it.  You are worth it.

Your weekly therapy sessions will look and feel like a conversation with a purpose. I ask questions. You think and respond. We explore different patterns and themes that come up while you’re talking. There is no set agenda for the week. If you have something specific you want to talk about and work through, great!  Let’s talk about that. If not, that’s okay too. I will guide the conversation and keep us on track. You just need to show up and be open to exploring what comes up.

I will provide education on topics as the need arises, along with exploring different exercises and activities that you can work on outside of our weekly sessions. The goal is to take what you learn in those 50 minutes and apply it to your daily life.

We will discuss difficult topics and you may experience sadness, anger, and other emotions during our sessions.  This is normal and an indicator that we are on the right track. It can be scary to let yourself feel sad or angry. I will be there with you, and walk you through how to embrace the feeling, figure out why you’re feeling that way, and help you reduce the intensity of your emotions. The feeling is temporary, and if you can stick with it, relief is on the other side.

My clients have said that they leave sessions feeling: relieved, lighter, hopeful, optimistic, more energized, motivated, and empowered.  Those 50 minutes are powerful and life changing.

I am considered out-of-network with most insurance companies. Some of my clients utilize their out-of-network (OON) insurance benefits and are reimbursed for a portion of their out of pocket costs. I am able to provide you with the appropriate documentation required to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement (called a Superbill).

The best way to determine what your insurance benefits would be for therapy is to call your insurance company directly. You can usually find the number on the back of your insurance ID card (if there’s a specific Behavioral Health number, call that one). When you call ask about your “outpatient, out-of-network, mental health benefits”.

A word of caution about using your insurance for therapy:

There are many factors to consider when utilizing your insurance benefits to help pay for therapy, including your privacy and access to care. Insurance companies can (and will) limit the number of sessions that are covered, and request copies of your therapy notes, which are records of what occurred during each therapy session.

Additionally, if you choose to utilize your out-of-network benefits, I will be required to provide you with a mental health diagnosis (ex: Major Depressive Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, etc…) to prove “medical necessity” for therapy. This diagnosis may become part of your permanent record, and result in you having a pre-existiting condition.  I believe that therapy is an essential service that everyone could benefit from at some point in their lives, and that a required diagnosis is a barrier to accessing good care. Just because you attend therapy does not mean that you have an illness or a disorder that requires a permanent label.

Please note that I am only offering teletherapy sessions at this time

Not in Austin? I offer video therapy sessions for women living in Texas.  Give me a call to see if you would be a good fit for video therapy.

You are welcome to call, email, and text me outside of our sessions for scheduling purposes only. Please know that text and email are not secure forms of communication and your confidentiality cannot be assured with those means.

Phone: 512-553-2913
Email: Hello@ChristieHaysTherapy.com

Sessions are 50 minutes long and payment is due in full at the time of service. I accept cash, debit and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), and HSA and FSA cards.

I have a 24-hour cancellation policy, and if you cancel or reschedule your session less than 24 hours in advance you will be charged the full fee for the session. This is non-negotiable, and you will be required to have a credit card on file for any late cancellations.

I do not provide crisis services. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1, the 24 Hour Crisis Hotline 512-472-HELP, or go to the nearest emergency room.