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Offered in-person & online

Help for LGBTQ+ issues in Austin, TX

Start in-person or online sessions with a provider you can trust. We accept most major insurances. Book online or by giving us a call

Connect with a therapist, psychiatrist or counselor near you

Care without the wait

154 licensed therapists & providers in Texas—1 in Austin. Available as soon as today, in person and online

Therapy for every life stage

Our providers work with individuals, couples, families, & teens for anxiety, depression, grief, & more

#1 for in-network coverage †

We accept UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, BCBS Plans, Humana, Aetna, & many more. Self-pay options available, no membership fees

Patients who get better

94% of patients feel truly understood by their provider. 3 out of 4 see improvement in depression & anxiety symptoms within 3 months

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1,233 people sought LGBTQIA+ counseling help at Austin in the last year

Discover how starting LGBTQIA+ counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist as soon as this week

Houston, TX

Sometimes you just need a break from doing ALL. THE. THINGS. If you’re the type of person that feels like you're drowning and gets...

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Midland, TX

As someone with lived experience relating to trauma, I understand the need to be validated, understood and experience compassion f...

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Fort Worth, TX

As a young minority woman and board-certified PMHNP, I know how important it is to feel understood and comfortable with your provi...

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Fort Worth, TX

I believe every person deserves to feel heard, understood, and empowered in their mental health journey — because lasting healing ...

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Pflugerville, TX

I am honored that you are considering me to accompany you on your mental health journey....

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We don’t have any providers with availability. Our schedules change daily. We’ll reach out as soon as a spot opens up.
Bill Stone

Hear from Bill Stone, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

View Bill Stone's profile

What is your go-to approach for LGBTQ+ counseling?

My go-to approach for helping people in LQBTQ+ counseling is to affirm them with out any judgement and empower them to live fully authentic lives.

What tools do you teach in LGBTQ+ counseling?

I teach the following tools in LGBTQ+ counseling:

  • CBT tools for anxiety and depression management
  • Providing other LGBTQ resources in their community
  • Affirming therapy that will enable LGBTQ clients to live authentically
  • EMDR and CBT for trauma (especially trauma related to their orientation and gender identity)

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in LGBTQ+ counseling?

I know a client is making meaningful progress in LGBTQ+ counseling when they are able to come out to people they trust and are fully accepting of living their lives authentically.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement LGBTQ+ counseling?

Client can supplement their time in LGBTQ+ counseling by being advocates in the local community and by supporting organizations like The Trevor Project or Human Rights Campaign Fund.

What should someone do to prepare for starting LGBTQ+ counseling?

To prepare for their first LGBTQ+ counseling session an individual can contact their provider and ask them any questions or look at their profile on the Thriveworks website or Psychology Today.

LGBTQIA+ counseling FAQs

What is LGBTQ+ counseling?

LGBTQIA+ counseling is a type of queer affirmative counseling dedicated to assisting individuals and couples in navigating the intricate intersections of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and mental health, with a primary goal of fostering well-being, self-acceptance, and affirming a client’s life experiences as a queer individual. Although not all LGBTQ+ individuals seek specialized counseling, a substantial number discover vital support and empathy within these inclusive and affirming therapeutic settings.

How does LGBTQ+ counseling work?

Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Austin, TX typically begins with an initial assessment to understand your specific needs. LGBTQ+ counselors aim to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for anyone within the LGBTQ+ community by encouraging self-acceptance and offering an understanding of your identity and experiences. LGBTQ+ therapy addresses issues like coming out, discrimination, mental health challenges, and gender transition, and provides support for LGBTQ+ relationships.

Why is LGBTQ+ counseling important?

LGBTQ+ counseling is incredibly important because it can help queer individuals accept their identity, learn self-love, and give them important tools for facing the challenges of being a queer person in today’s society, among many other benefits. LGBTQ+-affirming therapists can understand the unique perspective and experiences of queer individuals as they help them process past trauma, address family conflicts, treat issues with anxiety, and more.

Is LGBTQ+ counseling conducted in person or online?

Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Austin, TX is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does LGBTQ+ counseling last?

The number of sessions for LGBTQ+ counseling depends on the specific needs and goals of the individual. It could encompass a relatively limited series of sessions or extend into a longer counseling plan. The precise quantity and duration of sessions typically emerge through collaborative discussion with the counselor, taking into account the client’s progress and their therapeutic objectives.

Need more help deciding?

Working with a supportive therapist to identify the negative patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors is paramount in helping the LGBT population to achieve a greater understanding of themselves, their relationships and the world.”

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) community has faced social stigma for years. Although the field of counseling and psychology determined several decades ago that homosexuality is not a mental illness, society as a whole has still not adopted this attitude.

When someone’s outward expression of his/her identity differs from society’s expectations of their behavior due to a variance in gender, gender identity and/or sexual orientation, this person may be ridiculed, harassed or teased by others.

Therefore, many choose to remain “closeted” (not expressing or revealing themselves as LGBT) for fear of offensive treatment (anti-gay jokes/teasing, bullying, violence, etc).

Such harsh treatment may continue through adolescence and even persist into adulthood, resulting in mental health problems and emotional distress for those who are questioning their identity or who may already identify as LGBT. Heterosexual bias and homophobic prejudice can affect LGBT individuals as children, adolescents, and adults. This is why it is important for the LGBT community to have a strong support system (consisting of family, friends, and healthcare providers) for improved psychological health and emotional stability.

An LGBT client may seek therapy for various issues related to his/her sexual orientation, which may include, but is not limited to:

  • Conflicting feelings or uncertainty about their sexual orientation
  • Relationship discord with others, including family members (especially parents), friends or peers
  • Prejudice or discrimination, which may be present in both school and/or the workplace
  • Psychological stress due to remaining “closeted”

In extreme cases, these individuals may be the targets of hate crimes, including emotional torment and physical violence that results in trauma. Each of these situations may take a tremendous toll on a person’s self-esteem, which may lead to increased depression, anxiety, or even suicidal behaviors because he or she may feel alone and unsupported.

Therapy for LGBT

Sometimes it may be necessary for the person to seek the help of a trained professional to help resolve their feelings.

Whatever the client’s reason is for seeking therapeutic support, it is also just as important for the therapist to be knowledgeable, yet sensitive and show respect, to these aforementioned issues.

Clinicians who are knowledgeable of these stressors and the oppressive attitudes of a heterosexist society will be more effective in treating the LGBT population. In addition to following the ethical guidelines for mental health providers, it is just as important for clinicians to take an affirmative approach to therapy, free of heterosexist bias and homophobic prejudice, when counseling this population. Clinicians shall accept a client’s diversity, empathize with the client and continue to educate themselves about this population as society continues to change.

Seeking such a therapist will help a client receive the emotional support needed to cope with such stressors. Services may be aimed at the individual client or may be part of relationship or family counseling. An effective therapist will provide the client (and the family, if necessary and when appropriate) with tools and resources to help improve the client’s mental health and emotional well-being.

The insight gained in therapy can be highly effective for clients who are looking to receive understanding and support from loved ones. Working with a supportive therapist to identify the negative patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors is paramount in helping the LGBT population to achieve a greater understanding of themselves, their relationships and the world.

Looking for someone to talk to? Call to schedule an appointment with a LGBT therapist today!

 

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurance and we offer self-pay options too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling at Thriveworks.

Our therapists and counselors in Austin accept 58 insurance plans

  • Adventist Health Associates | Employee Health Plan

  • Adventist Health Associates | Non-Employee Health Plan

  • Aetna

  • Aetna Medicare Advantage

  • Ambetter by Superior Health Plan

  • Baylor Scott and White Health Plan

  • Baylor Scott and White Health Plan Medicare Advantage

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas HMO

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas PPO

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas | Blue Advantage HMO (BAV)

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas | Medicare Advantage

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas | MyBlue (BFT)

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Self-pay costs at Austin
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

4.5 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
The thing I appreciated most was that my provider allowed me to understand why I feel the way I do with no judgment. She allowed me to see that I’m only human and a person who has been through extreme life altering events. She gave me the opportunity to see how sports impacted me as a person and utilized it as an analogy so I could understand my situation.
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Thomas Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
My experience with my provider has been great and very useful. I was apprehensive to start therapy at first but now I realize how helpful it really has been for myself, my family, career and my life.
Swati Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Dr Fallon was the realism I needed to break through my brain fog, I appreciate her insightfulness and her ability to speak candidly while validating and working toward solutions for core issues.
Emilia Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Jesus is an active listener. He also is very patient.
Reiko Aug 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Excellent service both an administration and in care.
Ciara Jul 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I really enjoyed talking to guy. I felt like she really listened and has the right experience and attitude to help me get where I need to go from here.
Mariana Jul 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Enjoyed my first session.
Theodore Jul 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
This is my first time with therapy and I have felt very comfortable with the whole experience and have found it to be helpful throughout my day to day and would definitely recommend this to someone struggling with their own challenges.
Alexa Jul 2026Thriveworks.com verified review
8 of 21 reviews

Where to find us

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Address

7004 Bee Cave Road Suite 222
Austin, TX 78746

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Austin is located near Bee Caves Road and Edgegrove Drive, off Capital of Texas Highway. It is right by the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and close to Hill Country Animal Hospital

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Phone number

(512) 601-5098
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Languages spoken by TX providers

  • English
  • Spanish
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Hours

Friday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in CT

Friday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 11:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 11:00pm

Shown in CT

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