1. What type of therapist are you? What difference is there between a psychologist and other kinds of therapists?
ANSWER: Psychologists (Ph.D.) I am a licensed psychologist (license #32050). Psychologists must have a doctorate in psychology or a related field (i.e. counseling psychology, clinical psychology, organizational psychology, or school psychology). They must be licensed by the state and are trained in the practice of psychotherapy or counseling. Furthermore, they are specialists in the scientific evaluation of clinical data and may administer and analyze tests that measure intellectual and academic functioning and personality. Psychologists view human behavior in an integrated and holistic way that acknowledges the interplay of society, family, socio-economic, and personality factors. They cannot prescribe medications. (If you want to know more about my training and therapeutic style please see About Dr. Gourley.

Provisionally Licensed Psychologist (Ph.D.) In order to be a provisionally licensed psychologist in Texas, the individual must have: a doctorate in psychology or a related field (i.e. counseling psychology, clinical psychology, organizational psychology, or school psychology); successfully completed the post-doctoral year; and passed the National Licensure Exam and the State Jurisprudence Exam. The provisionally licensed psychologist works under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. To become fully licensed, the provisional licensee must successfully pass the State Oral exam.

Psychiatrists (MD) are medical doctors who have chosen psychiatry as a specialty. They have completed a residency in psychiatry, and are specialists in the prescription of psychotropic medications. They are licensed by the state and are the only mental health specialists who can prescribe drugs.

Licensed Clinical Social Workers(LCSW) have a master's level advanced degree and must be licensed by the state-licensing agency. They are trained in both psychotherapy and social interventions aimed at helping the individual cope with problems in his or her environment, or dealing with government or social agencies. They cannot do psychological testing, nor prescribe medications.

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) have a master’s degree in counseling or a related field and must be licensed by the state to provide psychotherapy. They cannot do psychological testing, nor prescribe medications.

Marriage, Family and Child Counselors (MFCCs or MFTs) have received at least a master's level advanced degree and are licensed by the state. They are trained in psychotherapy, working primarily with individuals and/or their families to ameliorate problems. They cannot do psychological testing, nor prescribe medications.

Master's level psychiatric nurses, non-psychiatric MDs (e.g. primary care physicians) also provide mental health interventions in accordance with their licensed practice and training. Additionally, non-licensed individuals (e.g., pastors or clergy, peer counselors or volunteer counselors) offer some kind of psychological counseling. To assure that your therapist is appropriately trained and qualified, you should always ask your provider about their credentials. (Return to top of page)

ANSWER: There are a number of reasons that people seek therapy and they vary from person to person, but the most frequent reasons involve such things as depression, anxiety, difficulty with interpersonal relations, family issues, substance abuse issues, physical or sexual abuse, academic or employment problems, and the desire to gain increased personal insight. The questions asked by many include such things as; "Am I the only person who is experiencing this?" "Is this something that will resolve itself, or do I need to seek assistance?" "What good will talking about my problems do?" Quite frequently people endure a lot of pain before seeking help. However, I believe that pain is a motivator for change, and when you’ve tried everything you know of and those things haven’t worked, it can be helpful to seek the assistance of a professional. Seeking help when you don’t know what to do is a sign of strength and wisdom, as evidenced by the wisdom you display when you’re partner is lost on a road and you stop and get directions! Millions of people have benefited from the work they have done in therapy.

Choosing a therapist is a very personal decision. I suggest checking out the APA's brochure on this topic, "Talk to Someone Who Can Help". http://helping.apa.org/forms/brochure.cfm (You can order it by clicking on the link in the previous sentence.) Along with checking the credentials of your mental health provider, it is important for you to listen to your "gut" reaction to them and how they interact with you.

I believe that the biggest therapeutic agent in therapy is the alliance made between you and your therapist. The qualities of a therapeutic alliance include such basic things as unconditional positive regard, trust, safety, and honesty. It is important that, once you’ve chosen a therapist, to give the relationship some time to develop before you decide to stop or switch to another therapist. Give honest feedback to your therapist and allow the give and take of dialogue to occur. Finally, it is not a good idea to see multiple therapists at the same time, because this can lead to confusion and prevent the therapeutic relationship from developing.

The length of therapy is determined by such things as the presenting problem(s) and the therapist’s recommended treatment, the commitment of the client to work on their issues in therapy, whether the problem is acute or chronic, and financial considerations. Although the general public may have the impression that therapy is always a long-term (years) process, the evidence from scientifically conducted outcome studies contradicts this impression. In fact, many outcome studies indicate that a majority of people in therapy reported improvements after engaging in therapy for 4 – 24 visits. Treatment of a longer duration may be required for individuals with more severe mental illnesses and for people who want to engage in intensive self-examination. I suggest you discuss any concerns you have about these issues at the outset of therapy with me, or with the therapist of your choice. (Return to top of page)

ANSWER: The cost of therapy varies according to the provider, their expertise and the region of the country you live in. When you consider the cost of most other important services that you receive, the cost of therapy is comparable. The unique benefit of therapy is that it is an investment you make in your personal growth that has the potential to bring about significant improvements in your life. As stated before, therapy doesn’t have to be lengthy to obtain benefit. My fees range between $90 - $120 per consultation hour, based on the ability to pay. Payment for my services is due at the time of the session, payable by cash or check (no credit cards accepted). Please feel free to discuss alternative payment arrangements with me.

According to the Consumer Reports (1995), article: "Mental health: Does therapy help?" (pp. 734-739), the majority of people get the maximum benefit from therapy in a range of one session to six months of therapy. The rate of improvement is truly based on individual differences in personality types and the presenting issues. Therapy is also available at community mental health clinics on a sliding scale fee that is based on the client’s ability to pay.

Insurance: I am currently a provider for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas. In the event you have a policy with another insurance company, I will consider working as an out-of-network provider, if their payment schedule is appropriate and if there isn't an unreasonable amount of administrative time involved. (Return to top of page)

ANSWER: The couples I work with face a variety of issues, including such things as problems in intimacy, communication, child rearing, trust and anger. I take a collaborative approach in working with couples and help them examine, in a non-judgmental way, the aspects of the relationship patterns that "need a tune-up". Every couple I know, both within and outside of therapy, have faced challenges in their relationships. Much of couples’ work involves improving patterns of communication between partners and clarifying each partner’s expectations. Although there is no guarantee that therapy will be successful for all couples, it holds the potential for transforming those relationships.

"And what if my spouse, partner, etc. doesn't want to go?"
In the military there is a term, "forced march", wherein the soldier must march, regardless of the circumstances. My response to those who are resistant to entering therapy with me is that there will be no "forced march". The reason is pretty simple. Despite giving my very best clinical efforts to help others, the individual holds the key as to whether or not they will do the work necessary to improve their life for the better. Thus, it is important for those who are resistant to entering therapy to know that they will not be pressured, blamed, judged, embarrassed or attacked. After all, who would want to endure that? Just knowing this may alleviate anxiety about entering therapy.

If you wish to discuss this further, please feel free to call me at my office: 512-452-3392 voicemail box #3; FAX: 512-452-3393. (Return to top of page)

ANSWER: Call me directly at 512-452-3392 voicemail box #3. If you leave a message, leave the phone number where I can reach you, and a couple of good times you are available to talk (the better to avoid "phone tag"). Please also let me know whether I can leave a message. I will return your call usually within a few hours, at minimum within 24 hours. Generally, I will be able to see you the same week that you call. I have office hours weekdays, evenings and, in some circumstances, can make special arrangements to see you on Saturdays.

You can e-mail me at DrCAGourley@austin.rr.com. I check my e-mail at least once a day, but I may not get back to you as quickly as by phone. (Before e-mailing me, please read my e-mail policies and warnings about confidentiality on-line by going to my Contact Us page of this website). (Return to top of page)

6. Do you do psychological assessments (testing)?
ANSWER: Yes, I do psychological assessments.Fees for testing are generally higher than for therapy, as this work requires time outside of the testing hour (for scoring, evaluation, writing up results, etc.). Testing is usually done to evaluate mental and emotional functioning, memory, learning disabilities, intelligence, and personality characteristics. Psychological testing can also be a useful tool for pre-employment screening (e.g., TCLEOSE psychological evaluations) and for predicting the viability of surgical outcomes for certain patients (e.g., liver or bone-marrow transplants. Testing is often required to document certain kinds of disability (e.g. court-ordered evaluations, workers compensation, etc.).(Return to top of page)

ANSWER: You can try searching the web for other psychologist or therapist listings in your vicinity. Another resource is the American Psychological Association. They will connect you with your local psychological association chapter, who will assist you with referrals. Call 1-800-964-2000, and press option "0". You may also wish to try one of the numbers I have listed elsewhere on this site. Click on the appropriate link below:

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