A fully virtual practice serving Austin and Central Texas: secure online therapy and counseling by video from the comfort of home, anywhere in Texas.
Austin families deserve access to top-quality mental health care without the hassle of long drives, crowded waiting rooms, or months-long delays. Little Dove Psychology provides expert virtual psychotherapy from the comfort of your Austin home. We're an online-only practice: there is no physical Austin office, and every session takes place by secure video, so you can meet with us from anywhere in Texas.
Founded by Dr. Kristin Kroll, PhD, a licensed psychologist and former academic medicine professor, our practice brings specialized expertise in child, adolescent, and health psychology directly to Central Texas families through secure video sessions.
Whether your kid is wrestling with anxiety, depression, family conflict, or big emotions, we bring the same caliber of care you would expect from a top children's hospital, delivered virtually for kids, teens, and college students.
We help Austin kids, teens, and college students work through anxiety, depression, family conflict, and big emotions. Our evidence-based approach is tailored to each young person's developmental stage and unique needs.
Parenting is demanding, and Austin's fast pace can make it even harder. Our dedicated parent therapy helps you manage stress, prevent burnout, and build the skills you need to support your family's mental health.
Dr. Kroll trained as a pediatric psychologist at Children's Wisconsin and held an academic appointment at the Medical College of Wisconsin. That hospital training shapes how she works today with anxious, depressed, and dysregulated kids and teens. Learn more →
We serve families throughout the Austin metro area and Central Texas, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Leander, Kyle, Buda, San Marcos, Dripping Springs, Lakeway, Bee Cave, and all surrounding communities. No matter where you are in the greater Austin area, expert care is just a video call away.
Austin parents look for child mental health support using all kinds of phrases, and we want you to find us no matter how you search. Whether you're looking for an online therapist in Austin, TX, a virtual therapist in Austin, an online counselor in Austin, virtual counseling in Austin, TX, or simply online counseling in Austin, Texas, you've found the right practice. Little Dove Psychology provides the same licensed, evidence-based psychological care for Austin families across all of these terms.
What stays the same no matter the wording:
In Austin you'll see "online therapist," "virtual therapist," "online counselor," and "virtual counselor" used interchangeably. They describe similar services, but credentials matter. A licensed psychologist (PhD or PsyD) has doctoral-level training and can provide psychological assessment and evidence-based therapy; a licensed counselor (LPC and similar) has master's-level training. Both can be excellent. At Little Dove, your care comes from a licensed psychologist.
Yes. Peer-reviewed research consistently finds that virtual therapy is as effective as in-person care for anxiety, depression, and emotion-regulation work with young people. For Austin families there are real added benefits: no fighting I-35 or MoPac traffic, no downtown parking, no pulling your child out of school early, and many kids and teens actually open up more from their own room. Families who assumed they wanted in-person care often tell us their child engages better online once they start.
Yes. Multiple peer-reviewed studies show virtual cognitive behavioral therapy is as effective as in-person therapy for anxiety, depression, and emotion regulation in kids and teens. Many young people engage more easily from the comfort of their own home.
Sessions take place over secure, HIPAA-compliant video, like a FaceTime call, but private. All you need is an internet connection and a quiet, private space. We'll send a simple link before each appointment.
We are in network with Aetna, UnitedHealthcare (UHC), and Optum, and we are projected to be in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas by late September or early October. For self-pay families, we can provide superbills you can submit for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Many Austin families find this gives them faster access to care without insurance-panel delays.
We work with children, teens, and college students, roughly ages 5 to 22, plus dedicated support and coaching for parents and caregivers.
Yes. Because we're licensed in Texas and PSYPACT states, we can see your college student wherever they're studying: at UT Austin, at home, or out of state. Virtual therapy makes consistent care possible even across breaks and moves.
Openings are typically available within a week. The first step is a free 15-minute consultation to make sure we're the right fit for your family.
Not sure where to start? These pages go deeper on what Austin families ask about most:
Take the first step with a free 15-minute consultation. Call (512) 240-2633 or contact us online.
“I can’t recommend Dr. Kristin Kroll at Little Dove Psychology highly enough. She is extremely knowledgeable and brings years of experience to every session, and you can tell she genuinely cares and is invested in helping you.”
“Kristin is a very caring, compassionate and thorough therapist. She engages on a 1:1 level with varied age groups to better suit their individual needs. Professional, approachable, and respects privacy.”
“We cannot recommend Little Dove Psychology highly enough. They take the time to truly listen, helping clients feel understood and supported: thoughtful, evidence-based care tailored to each person’s needs.”
