Yes, we have openings

Little Dove Psychology has openings for new child, teen, and college student clients right now. Most families have their first session the same week they reach out, with evening and weekend appointments available. We are a fully virtual practice serving all of Texas plus PSYPACT states, in network with Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Optum, and every family starts with a free 15-minute consultation.

Why is the wait everywhere else so long?

Most families who call us have already tried somewhere else. The waits they describe are real: three months at a hospital-affiliated clinic, six at a well-known practice, sometimes a form submitted in spring with no callback by summer.

There are structural reasons for it. Large systems batch their intakes, staff to an average rather than a peak, and route everyone through a central queue. None of that is anyone behaving badly. It just means the places with the biggest names are often the slowest to answer the phone.

A smaller virtual practice works differently. There is no central intake queue and no shared office space to schedule around. When a family reaches out and a clinician has room, we can usually get them on the calendar that same week.

What "available now" actually means here

Being specific matters more than sounding reassuring, so here is exactly what we mean:

• Free 15-minute consultation, typically within a day or two of your first message. It is a real conversation, not a sales call, and part of its job is telling you honestly if we are not the right fit.
• First full session the same week for most families. Specific clinician requests and testing referrals can take a little longer.
• Evening and weekend appointments. The single most common reason a family cannot start therapy is that the only slots offered are during the school day. Ours run to 7:30 pm on weeknights, plus Saturday and Sunday hours.
• Fully virtual, anywhere in Texas. No commute, no waiting room, no missed afternoon of school and work.
• In network with Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Optum. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is projected for late September or early October. Details on our Fees & Insurance page.

Who we can see quickly

Our six-clinician team has current openings across the practice:

• Anxiety in children, teens, and college students
• Depression and low mood
• Emotion regulation and big feelings, DBT-informed
• Family conflict and communication, including divorce and major transitions
• ADHD testing and treatment and psychological evaluations
• Kids coping with medical conditions, an area where our founder literally wrote the textbook

Common questions

How fast can we actually be seen?

Most families have a first session the same week they contact us, and the free consultation usually happens within a day or two. If we cannot see your child in a timeframe that works for your family, we will say so on the consultation call rather than putting you on a list.

Do you have a waitlist?

No. That can change as clinicians fill up, which is why this page carries a date at the top. If it has been a while since that date, call and ask. We would rather you have the current answer than a stale promise.

Do you take our insurance?

We are in network with Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Optum, with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas projected for late September or early October. Self-pay families receive a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. The full picture is on our Fees & Insurance page.

Can you see us if we are not in Austin?

Yes. We are fully virtual and see families in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and everywhere in between, including rural Texas. College students attending school in a PSYPACT participating state can usually keep their Little Dove psychologist too.

What happens on the free consultation?

Fifteen minutes with our team. You describe what is going on, we ask a few questions, and we tell you honestly whether we are a good match and what starting would look like. If we are not the right fit, we will say so and point you somewhere better.