Frequently Asked Questions ...

Why should I engage the counseling process? If you have parts of your life that are not working optimally, you have an opportunity to change that. Unfortunately, there is a great deal about relationships (including the relationship with self), parenting and living a peaceful, content and happy life that is not taught in school, church or our families of origin. Actually, what most of us learn growing up is more like "mis-information". The reality is that this "information gap" gives rise to many problems in life. When done well, the counseling process closes this "gap" with happiness, contentment, fulfillling relationships and a "more successful life" being the natural result of the work done.

Can you relate to what I'm going through? It's an important part of our job, not only to understand your experience and difficulty, but to communicate it back to you in a way that has you say, "Yep, he's got it." While our experience may not be identical, Gary (Wimberley Counseling founder) has been through his version and his share of life's challenges and difficulties - so he uses that experience to relate to clients. Where appropriate, he does not hesitate to share his experience confronting and dealing with his own demons and issues in working with clients. His ability to relate to clients' experiences, and their ability to relate to him is reflected through what clients have shared with him in comments, emails, cards and letters. A glimpse of this is available via the testimonials page.

What is your experience level? Gary Avignon, began working in therapeutic settings in 1984. He received his graduate degree in counseling in 1988 and was licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor in 1990. In 1995, he transitioned his part-time private practice to full time. With the exception of a few years, has practiced full-time ever since.

What should I look for in a counselor? The most important thing is the person "behind the counselor". In other words, you would never seek financial advice from someone who just declared bankrupcy, right? There are six life arenas: social, physical, intellectual, psychological, spiritual and financial. A counselor has a responsiblitiy to be "healthy" - this means the counselor should be able to demonstrate a certain degree of health across all of these domains. A counselor cannot teach what he/she does not know how to do.

How much does it cost? It's not unusual to pay $150 or more per 50-minute counseling session. However, we are committed to providing affordable counseling services. Our rates range from $70 to $140 per 50-minute session, depending upon your "ability to pay". We only ask that you agree to "pay forward" (contribute similarly to someone) any discount that you receive at some point in the future when you are in a position to do so.

Where are you located? We are located in Wimberley on River Road one mile from "the square". For the convenience of our clients, we also offer services by phone or Skype.

Do you accept insurance? No. The expense, complexities and frustrations of dealing with insurance companies are well-known. At the same time, we know that the purpose of insurance is to make services more affordable. To that end, we have our own process of making our services affordable. Please see "How much does it cost" above.

What are your specialty areas? Please click here to go to the services page.

I was thinking most counselors are women. What's it like working with a man? Of course, as therapists we all bring our own individual strengths to the counseling process; we also have certain gender-based tendencies as counselors. In most cases, the gender of the couselor is not important, but in some cases it can be VERY important. Some reasons to consider specifically working with a male counselor follow:

• Working with a male counselor can be an opporuntity to interact with an emotionally healthy male. If a woman has a history of difficulty with male relationships, having a good experience with a male can be an important element of the counseling work.
• In couples work, the woman is typically more open to the counseling process than the man. When the counselor is also a woman, the man - who may already be resistant - can feel like the deck is stacked against him. If this dynamic is in place, it can be important that the counselor is male.
• Some men relate more easily to and learn more effectively from another man.

What is unique about Wimberley Counseling? Wimberley Counseling is a "small-town" counseling practice with a "big-city" experience base. Gary Avignon had a counseling practice in Austin for fifteen years. He brings that depth and breadth of experience to clients "away from it all" in Wimberley where you are treated more like family and less like a number.