Arbor Branch Counseling

Elise Boutin, MA, LPC Associate (she/her)

Supervised by Carissa Cano, MA, LPC-S

About Me

I approach life with humor and empathy and I am always trying to perfect the balance between prioritizing self-care and the people in my life. I spend much of my time trying to keep up with my ever-growing puppy, Winnie, named after Wednesday Addams. When I am not seeing clients or wrangling Winnie, I am often trying to find the best wedge salad in Austin. Recommendations are always welcome.

Background

Before becoming a psychotherapist, I was a licensed Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) working with stroke survivors. I started noticing how hard it was for my clients to focus on speech therapy while they were still trying to emotionally adjust to their new normal. With that realization, I decided to switch gears and pursue licensure as a counselor instead. While I am no longer licensed as an SLPA, I have the added experience to help provide counseling to individuals struggling after a stroke.

FAQs

How can therapy help me?

Therapy is a nonjudgemental space for you to get extra support. Sometimes it can be hard to share certain things with family and friends, or their advice doesn't feel particularly helpful. Talking with a trained professional can give you new perspectives and coping skills to make life more manageable. They can provide a safe space for you to process your emotions with an unbiased listener. If you're wondering if therapy can help with your specific situation, contact us for a free consultation!

How long will I be in therapy?

The goal of therapy is to give you the confidence and tools to be able to face life without therapy. Depending on what your personal goals are, this can happen in a short amount of time or take several months or years. Sometimes people will tackle their original goals and then realize there are other things they want to work on. There is no "normal" amount of time to be in therapy. It takes consistency and motivation, but progress can be made.

What is an LPC Associate?

LPC Associate stands for Licensed Professional Counselor Associate. That means I've earned my Masters degree in counseling, completed my practicum and internships, and am now licensed in the state of Texas under a supervisor.

Do you see clients in-person?

Yes! I see clients both in-person and virtually. I have an office in Austin, Texas off of 2222 and Mopac. See contact page for address and directions. If you're not comfortable with in-person sessions or are located in another city, we can meet via a HIPAA compliant teletherapy platform. As long as you are a resident of Texas and currently in Texas, we can do virtual therapy.

Do you take insurance?

Unfortunately, I cannot take insurance at this time. However, I can provide a superbill for reimbursement purposes. Please note that many insurance carriers will not reimburse services by an LPC Associate. I encourage you to contact your insurance to ask about this before beginning therapy. Since I do not take insurance, I do offer some sliding scale openings. Please see rates page for more information.

What is your availability?

I see clients Monday through Thursday. My earliest opening is at 11:00 am and my latest is 6:00 pm. Reach out to learn what spots are currently open! If we can't find a time that works for both of us, I can help you find a therapist with compatible availability. Whether it's as your counselor or as a middleman, I'm happy to help.