Faq

My office is located at:

Yes. Contact me about availability.

Sessions are usually 50 minutes.

A 50-minute session is $175.

I am in network for BCBS PPO and out of network for all other insurance plans. I can provide a superbill so you can file for out-of-network benefits.

Use these links for information about your rights regarding surprise billing and receiving a good faith estimate.
https://www.drhootman.com/no-surprises-act/
https://www.drhootman.com/good-faith-estimates/

You can call me or email me. I offer a free 20-minute consultation by phone or in person.

I ask that you cancel 24 hours in advance if necessary.

Cancellations made within 24 hours of the appointment are charged the full fee since this time has been reserved for you.

I enjoy working with preschoolers through young adults.

I also help parents (of all ages!)

Sometimes.

It’s not unusual for family members to show up tense with each other. That just gives us more to work on.

If we all pretend everything is fine, it usually doesn’t get any better.

Reassure them that I will work to help them become comfortable here.

I have fidget toys, games, art supplies, and activities to make a calm and peaceful environment.

The number of sessions depends on lots of things like what a family/child has been through, how long the problem has gone on, and how long it takes for someone to get comfortable here.

I tend to think about blocks of therapy in which we increase skills and process hard stuff. Then a break makes sense to let that settle and see how things go.

Probably, though there are other options.

Sometimes other ways of expressing what is going on inside of us are better. And change can happen without every inner detail being spelled out in bold print.

Only you and the other people in your child’s life can speak to this question.

But there is a reason you got this far reading on my website. You are really concerned.

During the free 20-minute consultation I offer, we can talk about the risks and benefits of seeking therapy now or waiting.

Sometimes parenting seems full of opportunities for guilt.

We so want to do this important job well, and when a child is struggling, we are tempted to blame ourselves. But behavior is more complicated than that.

Whatever biology, experiences, and dynamics contributed to the problem, you are in a unique position to help your child with it. And seeking help for your child is surely a mark of a loving parent.

I firmly believe that parents are almost always the best helper for a child.

My goal is to empower parents to provide what their children need and to make children more able to receive the good input parents offer.

I seek to turn parents and children toward each other, not against each other.

No. All the information a family gives me is confidential. I do not share it without clear written permission for the purpose of helping that family. These are composite scenarios to give you a sense of how I help kids and families.

Both! I have two dogs and admire dogs wherever I go. (One great thing about Austin is how dogs are everywhere.)

But we got a cat last year who zooms around, cuddles, and pops out of boxes and cabinets unexpectedly. Very fun.