Capital Area Counseling has been an excellent place to work with clients in Austin. The staff is…read morevery caring, helpful, and supportive.

Working as an intern at Capital Area Counseling has been an incredibly positive and fulfilling…read moreexperience, from the supportive environment to the opportunity to help new clients. I wholeheartedly recommend Capital Area Counseling to anyone seeking internship opportunities or affordable therapy options.

David is an incredibly insightful relationship counselor. In just a few sessions, he was able to…read moregive us valuable insights and the tools we need to continually improve our marriage.

Game changer The only regret I have about hiring David Cantu…read moreas a life coach is that I didn't do it years earlier. After repeatedly hitting my head against the same wall of counseling I knew I needed something different. David was just what I needed to get on with my life. Turning my midlife "crisis" into a second adulthood has been so energizing that I am inspired to build a new company to help inspire others in their 40's, 50's and 60's have a positive future.

I can't say enough good things about Lisa Young. Working with her has been incredibly helpful,…read moreespecially during the postpartum period after having my baby. She created such a safe, non-judgmental space where I felt comfortable exploring emotions and thoughts that came up that I honestly wasn't expecting. She helped me gently unpack why certain feelings surfaced postpartum and guided me through understanding them instead of feeling overwhelmed or ashamed by them. She never rushed the process and always met me where I was emotionally. I felt truly heard, supported, and validated in every session. If you're navigating postpartum changes, big life transitions, or just trying to understand yourself better, I highly recommend Lisa Young. She's compassionate, thoughtful, and genuinely cares about helping you move forward in a healthy way.

If you are looking for a wonderful option for therapy support, please take the opportunity to work…read morewith Caileigh Chadwick of Bloom therapy. I was fortunate to have great support in my younger years when I tragically lost my father at an early age. More recently, I felt I needed support as I have been dealing with PTSD from the past and anxiety. Caileigh is the most genuinely caring, empathetic , and active listening counselor I have ever encountered!! Whether it is our conversation, or the use of EMDR, She has been a problem solver and beyond wonderful!!!

My first review of Julie D. Lee, LCSW was posted 1/9/19 so it's time for an update…read more I originally found my way to Julie a few years after severe and permanent injuries caused me to lose my health and career, which put enormous strains on my personal relationships. I wasn't sure I would survive at all, much less figure out how to make sense of the predicament. Prior to the catastrophe I defined my worth as a human being, my actual right to live and breathe, through work and the ability to provide for my family. That's generally a good thing, right? Workaholism is complicated. That issue alone can cause serious problems if it gets away from you. In my case, it blew up in my face when I became bedridden and unable to perform even the most basic functions, dressing and feeding myself, bathing... It took many years of excruciating effort, surgical interventions, daily physical therapy, pain management, etc., to regain a life worth living. Part of that process was accepting the fact that my injuries were permanent and I would never be the person I was before. As it turned out, I also lost a parts of me that had been causing harm to my loved ones for decades... workaholism and all the nasty little traits that were hammered into my personality in childhood. Long story short, I was raised in an extremely violent home by whackadoo parents. In the small West Texas farming community in which I was raised during the 60's and 70's, it was perfectly normal for adults in schools, churches, etc., to ignore obvious signs of child abuse. The overlapping bruises and open wounds on my back, arms, legs, and torso rarely had time to heal before more were added. My brothers and I were manipulated into fighting one another like cats and dogs and to wage emotional warfare. It seemed there was no escape from the cycle of epic violence. I followed a stereotypical path through the criminal justice system in my teens, left home at 15 years old, and became a business owner just before my 20th birthday. I became a lifelong business owner and high producer...never looked back and thought I "had it all figured out." News flash: I did not have it all figured out. I would not be alive today if I hadn't reached out for help -- not just from surgeons and such, but also those wonderful people in the behavioral health specialties -- psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. Each played a roll in the seemingly impossible task of essentially un-hammering my mind and guiding me back to a life worth living. This is where Julie comes into the picture. My wife and I rely on her for couples counseling and we are both happier for it. Julie does an outstanding job untangling communication issues and helping us see and understand underlying issues that cause stress and confusion. My wife and I also rely on individual counseling with Julie to focus on issues more specific to our own life experiences and to better understand really...everything. I still don't "have it all figured out." But I do know this: Before the injuries that broke my body down and left me a basket case, the things that I thought were most important in life, and the tools I used work my way through it, were partly correct but also intolerably self defeating. And worse, I was inadvertently hurtful to those I cared about the most. Those are tough lessons for an old billy goat like me. But I am a better person for it and I can very clearly see how much happier my life is now. So thank you Julie Lee. Thank you for going above and beyond.

I don't think I can say enough great things about Julie - besides being a wonderful therapist and…read moreperson, she genuinely cares and is extremely insightful! This shows in how well she listens and interacts, is able to pinpoint the issue(s), and also with just how easy she is to connect with. She has a way of putting a person at ease while getting to the root of things and working together for a solution. She has done so much for me personally, and I am truly grateful for her! If you are looking for an amazing therapist, you should look no further!

As far as picking a therapist goes... You can't go wrong with Stewart Gallas. If you are struggling…read moreto change things within your life, he can help. I sincerely believe I would not be alive today, if it wasn't for him. I've struggled with extreme anxiety and depression my entire life. I thought I was doomed to a life of sadness. He was truly the first person who believed in my future... causing me to believe in it as well. He challenges me every single time we talk. Sometimes, I dig myself deep into the ground with feelings of uselessness... And without fail, he's always there with a ladder, showing me the way out. He isn't your typical pen and pad therapist. He gives you his undivided attention. He's solution-focused. He also happens to be hilarious-- which provides a sense of comfort and relief when things feel too heavy. He is extremely empathic, always going through the hard stuff with you, rather than just standing by on the sidelines. Seriously, this therapist rocks. If you are truly motivated to work on yourself, look no further than Stewart.

Stewart is an absolutely amazing therapist. He's helped me so much in so many ways in my life. Run,…read moredon't walk to go see him.

Excellent collection of mental health professionals. Depression, social anxiety, spousal abuse,…read moreobsessive procrastination, anorexia, grief, et al. They provide tools to help clients grapple with all of these issues. If I could offer more than five stars, I would attach as many as possible to this review. Outside of their counseling expertise, they have great administrative staff. Many payment options available. I needed receipts to submit last minute before my FSA money was deleted. They mailed them the day I called and I got them the very next day!!! No charge to me for the postage, which was greatly appreciated. Seriously. A lot of other offices would have been like, "You can drive over and pick them up at our front desk."

This is just regarding Diana Schaefer. The facility has been beyond kind and helpful, and I hope to…read morefind a therapist here that fits my needs. -- Years and years ago, a therapist told me I was a whore for kissing a boy on the first date. I thought that would forever be my worst story of therapy gone wrong, of a therapist superimposing their own beliefs and issues on me. Diana hit a new record. She "fired" me as a client and pulled wildly unethical moves before doing so. I wholly believe that there is a time to part ways when therapy isn't serving the client or when a client is rejecting help from the therapist to everyone's detriment. Therapists have just as much of a right to end the relationship as clients do. The reason I'm writing this has nothing to do with the farewell and everything to do with how it was handled. I have an eating disorder. I made it clear from the start that I didn't care that she didn't specialize in them. I'd had enough therapy around eating disorders and wanted to take a new approach. I also told her in our first session that if she thought it wasn't a fit to have open communication because I would be doing so. I've played the "suffer through a relationship that isn't working" game too much at this point in therapy. We had weekly sessions for months. I thought many of them were helping. But then I told her how many calories I consumed during the week. That was undeniably the point where she flipped. We talked for a month or so more. She started talking to my dietician more. That seemed logical to me. And then she started telling my therapist I needed to go to treatment. Asking her why she hadn't suggested it or wasn't pushing it on me. (She has.) I am in no way a high risk anorexic. Perhaps treatment wouldn't hurt but my life right now prioritizes above something that isn't necessary. She pressured me and I said no, several times. And then the day came where she let me tell her about my life before interrupting and starting the conversation of removal of services provided. Like I mentioned, that alone wasn't the issue. What WAS the issue was that she had also called my dietician and tried to pressure her into leaving me. To the point of my dietician's discomfort and recognition that abandonment on that level would be detrimental and more harmful that good. (How Diana didn't see that, I don't know.) She gave me an ULTIMATUM of treatment or no therapy. She told me I COULD NOT go to therapy ANYWHERE until I dealt with my eating disorder. (And no, this wasn't just in reference to being cognitively unable to proceed with EMDR.) She wouldn't give me referrals. She made fun of the shirt I was wearing that day that said, "Mental health is health," because I wouldn't go to treatment. I was in utter shock during that last session so I didn't really have responses beyond saying no to treatment and that I understood where she was coming from. But none of those things are okay and I should have said that to her then. I regret that. Fuck that. I deserve therapy. Everyone does. She clearly spooked when eating disorder stuff came up, was not educated on it, and chose to bully and threaten me instead of just saying, "I'm not qualified in this topic and don't feel comfortable proceeding." Period. Period. Period. If you don't fit in her little box of qualifications, stay away. And if you pick up any of her own anxieties, leave. It's not worth wasting your time.

I reached out to Deep Eddy to schedule a appointment with a PA or NP of psychiatry for medication…read moremanagement because I was finishing up a 12 week program at Meadows outpatient Center. I really only needed them to manage 4 medications (lithium, Quetiapine, lamotrigine and propranolol) no controlled substances. The dosages were already figured out. All the work had already been done for them. I also listed a bunch of other PRNs that I had tried while in treatment that i wasn't currently taking. Again no controlled substances, they were trazadone, gabapentin, hydroxyzine. I've been a RN for over 12 years, I was the supervisor on the first acute care floor in central tx to take on covid. The first wave really did a number on me that caused a lot of my PTSD. Anyway, what im trying to say is I tell people when they haven't been honest with me, to avoid being resentful toward them. When I tried to set up this appointment to see a PA for medication management I was denied because I was too "high acuity." What happened before that was me giving Christopher Keener some honest feedback on his response time. They wouldn't confirm the appointment until they had a credit card on file. Before I could put my husband's credit card on file I had to fill out a release of information form. Which made me feel like a criminal that had to prove my innocence. Credit card information has nothing to do with HIPAA. I have never heard or been asked to do this before. I was told I would be called as soon as it was in. I did it right away, waited, emailed to see if he received it, waited a little longer, tried to access my portal to enter the card but it hadn't been set up, I called back got someone different they said they sent him a message and he would be calling back in 20mins, it never happened that day. I wanted to get it done because I was finishing up treatment the next day and wouldn't have my phone on me. They would only hold the spot for 24hrs and i was worried I'd loose it. No attempt was made to reach out to me for clarification, no doc to doc was requested. Just a refusal. The corespondance is copied and pasted below. Notice the times. I gave him some honest feedback about response time at 11:46 and the refusal was sent at 11:52. I think somebody(Christopher Keener) may have got in their feelings and did this passive aggressive lash out. I'm really surprised that a therapist(Christopher keener) could have such thin skin. I love his its not you its me response. "Please know this isn't a reflection on you in any way; it's simply about making sure you receive the support that's best suited to your situation." On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 11:52 AM CST, Deep Centered Mental Health scheduling@deepcentered.com wrote: Hi , Thank you so much for taking the time to complete our pre-screening! As I mentioned, our team primarily focuses on more routine psychiatric support, and I want to make sure you're connected with care that fully aligns with what you're going through right now. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like your current needs may be better supported by a provider or clinic that offers a higher level of care than what we're able to provide here. Here are a few referrals who may be able to better support you: BlueSky (telehealth) Legion Health (Austin) Mindful Behavioral Health (Dallas) Please know this isn't a reflection on you in any way; it's simply about making sure you receive the support that's best suited to your situation. Warmly, Christopher Keener -- Christopher Keener (512) 956-6463 On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 11:46 AM CST, RN 45319 rn wrote: I left a message(called and emailed)and u ignored it/me. U promised to call back. U flat out lied to me. Why? Not a great way to start to building this relationship. The card has been entered into my portal. On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 10:39 AM CST, Deep Centered Mental Health scheduling@deepcentered.com wrote: Hi RN, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Yes we have received all the forms, I was reaching out to you to add the card on file. If you can give us a call back at 512-956-6463, that would be great. You can add the card yourself if you'd like. Just log into your profile. You can click on 'Bills' followed by 'My Card' to input this information. Thank you, Chris Keener

My therapist after my first session set me up with what she said would be a weekly time slot, and…read morewe agreed on that. The next week, she did not show up for our scheduled session. Later that day I got a notification for an appointment the following day, which I was not available for. It was very confusing and I wasn't sure who to contact. The therapist later apologized and said she would get in touch about our next session, even though we had established a weekly schedule, but she never followed up. A week later I canceled services and had nothing but $300 in fees.

I genuinely don't know what I would do without Brenda. I can say with complete honesty that she…read morehas changed my life. I came to see her initially because of a specific issue I was trying to work through and have continued to see her because she makes my life so much better. I feel lighter after I see her and more equipped to handle difficult situations. She is never judgmental and we have covered a range of life topics from career to marriage to family planning. She is so attentive and thoughtful with her advice and what I appreciate most is how focussed she is on gradual solutions to achieve your goal. It never feels like she is asking me infinite questions with no direction - it is a genuine conversation with real feedback and applicable advice. She is also available via text - which I appreciate - and can be flexible to get you in for an appointment at a convenient time. There is parking in front of her office and she has never once been even a minute late. Go see her!

I feel incredibly lucky and grateful that I found Brenda and have been working with her for over a…read moreyear. I love her friendly/non-judgmental approach to therapy. She's relatable, attentive and gives non-bias advice and support. I always leave each session with "homework" and goals to aim for as well as podcasts and book recommendations. She is also flexible and easy to reach in a pinch! I don't know what I'd do without her.

Medical team was good. Patient advocate, reception, and business office are HORRIBLE. They have…read moreowed us a reimbursement check for stolen goods After 4 months of calling, the CFO told me he knew nothing about it and blamed the patient advocate. Said he would send a check, which he did, with the WRONG NAME on the check. I have called multiple times and no one will answer phones, or return my voice mail messages.

Update: add THEFT to the list of grievances. I received a phone call from a staff member. She…read morestated that I left a piece of jewelry there. It was an anklet. Unfortunately, I mentioned it was silver, and her voice changed. She said silver very excitedly. Then she offered to mail the item to my home. I asked if I could have a tracking number for the item and she said no. I NEVER RECEIVED THE ANKLET. Things like this are occuring at cross Creek for obvious reasons.

I first attended a hypnotherapy session with Pavlina to work through my performance anxiety. It was…read moremy first hypnosis session ever, and I didn't know what to expect. But WOW, it was better than I imagined it would be! I used the skills she taught me IMMEDIATELY, and continue to use them throughout my work day. While I was there, I mentioned I wanted to give Reiki a try. She suggested Concentric Reiki for me personally. I can't even begin to tell you how good I felt afterward! I suffer from asthma-induced chest pain and I also keep my stress and past traumas in my chest and shoulders. Immediately after the session I could actually BREATHE without having chest pain! I could put my arms straight up over my head without pain!  It felt like an elephant had been lifted off my chest..... Pavlina is a true healer. She listens intently, she is warm and kind and makes me feel comfortable even during difficult healing sessions. I feel safe speaking with her about personal issues. The techniques she has perfected are specially crafted to guide each participant to a place of healing with purpose and love. She really goes above and beyond for her clients. I feel better and more capable on this new life journey after being a part of her hypnotherapy and reiki sessions, and I plan to return regularly. My boyfriend is excited to give Reiki a try, and he has already made an appointment! Thank you Pavlina:)

Pavlina is a very gifted healer and past life regression guide. I had a wonderful experience with…read moreher and highly recommend her. She's a very special person and a rare find.