Counseling in Connecticut, Florida & New York

Counseling Information

We are currently offering counseling online. Visit this page.

We are professional counselors who provide counseling in our Milford, CT office and via telehealth. We see teens and adults. The office is open Tuesday through Friday. We see clients by appointment only. For your convenience, we offer afternoon and evening appointments.

We opened our doors in 2002. We serve all towns and cities in Connecticut, Florida and New York. These include Milford, Stratford, Fairfield, Westport, Greenwich, Storrs and Mystic. We also see clients from Boca Raton, Jacksonville, Naples, Miami, St. Petersburg, Tampa and more. Clients have also come from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, New York City and others.

Of importance, for our current clients 
If you are in crisis and are unable to reach us, call 211 or 988 for a Mobile Crisis Unit. You may call your psychiatrist if you cannot reach us.  If you are having a clinical emergency, report to your nearest emergency room or call 911.

Who We Are

We are professional counselors who work with people much like you. Of importance, our professional counselors can only treat patients they have an expertise in. This is a professional responsibility. Please visit each professional counselor’s biography page by clicking on their name. You can read more information about who they see for counseling and their background. 

Lisa Taylor-Austin, NCC, LPC, LMHC, CFMHE, CFBA

Lisa Taylor-Austin is the practice owner and a licensed professional counselor.  She counsels teens and adults. Patients must be ages twelve and older. She has an approachable demeanor and explains things in an understandable manner. Lisa uses different approaches in counseling. First, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, can teach patients how to look at things in a more realistic and positive manner. Second, Interactive Therapy and Person Centered Therapy help patients feel comfortable and connected. Third, she provides EMDR for those who have experienced trauma. Lastly, she teaches patients skills to help themselves. Lisa sees a diverse population of patients and has extensive experience working in educational settings.

Additional information

Also, Lisa is a renowned international gang expert and specializes in counseling and consultation on gang issues. To learn more about gang intervention, click here.

What to Expect

First, some people become nervous or scared when they call for counseling. So, we make your experience comfortable. Most important, counseling is an interactive process. As such, you are part of the decision making team. Because of this, you are directly involved in your own care. First, we offer day and evening appointments. Second, confidentiality is important to us. Third, we adhere to all ethical guidelines and HIPAA regulations regarding confidentiality. You may read our Notice of Privacy Practices in the document to the right, on this page.

Individual counseling is provided for patients. Therefore, we do not treat couples or families. However, parents and guardians do need to be involved in the counseling process with teens. Because of this, we meet with parents regularly in person and by phone. Usually, counseling sessions are 45 or 53 minutes long.

Your Appointment

First, an evaluation appointment will be arranged for you. At this appointment please bring your insurance card, identification and copay. Payment in full is needed if you are not using insurance. If you have not paid your deductible for the year, we will tell you the contracted rate to pay. Also, all payments are due at the time of the appointment. Next, at the evaluation session you will receive information about your counselor and information regarding confidentiality.  Paperwork will be discussed with you. Also, you will be asked to sign it. Lastly, once evaluation is completed, a treatment plan will be discussed with you. Finally, you will be informed of your option to continue counseling with your licensed professional counselor.  All people seen for evaluation appointments are not accepted as patients. However, most people are accepted as patients and return to the practice.

What we do not treat

We do not provide counseling for Attention-Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder or ADHD. Similarly, we do not treat Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD. Additionally, we do not treat extreme behavioral issues such as, biting, kicking or spitting. Furthermore, we do not treat eating disorders, sexual issues – including sexual offenses. Lastly, we do not treat personality disorders. These are not areas of expertise for us and as a result, are outside the scope of our practice. For that reason, if we begin working with a patient and learn they have these issues, we will refer them to a clinician who is better able to help them. This is a professional ethical obligation.

We also cannot see those with Medicare insurance and Workman’s Compensation cases. If you have Medicare and would like to see us you can opt out of using your insurance and pay out of pocket. We can help you with this process.

Payment

The only way to ensure confidentiality is to pay out of pocket.  This way, your diagnosis will not be reported to the Medical Information Bureau by an insurance company. In contrast, using insurance, will probably mean your diagnosis will be reported to MIB.  As a result, this can can impact your ability to purchase life insurance or long term care insurance, in the future. When paying out of pocket, the fee per session is $150. You may pay by cash, check, HSA or FSA card. Please ask us if you have questions.

Insurance

Lisa Taylor-Austin, NCC, LPC, LMHC, CFMHE, CFBA is an in-network provider with Connecticut insurances. If you are outside the state of Connecticut please ask us about your insurance:

  • Aetna and Aetna EAP
  • Anthem and Anthem EAP
  • Blue Cross-Blue Shield
  • Beacon Health – formerly called Value Options (not EAP)
  • Cigna
  • ESI EAP
  • Husky – Medicaid
  • Magellan and Magellan EAP
  • Multiplan
  • New Avenues
  • New Directions
  • Optum Behavioral Health – Connecticare, Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts uses this company
  • Oxford
  • Peace Corp – you need prior approval from Peace Corp
  • ComPsych (managed care only, not EAP)
  • The Lexington Group – EAP
  • United Health Care
  • Value Options – some Anthem plans use this
  • Yale Health Plan

Additionally, please call the 800 number on the back of your insurance card and ask which company provides your outpatient mental health coverage. It usually is not the medical insurance company on the front of your card.

Of importance, we cannot accept Medicare if it is your primary insurance. Our professional organization is lobbying to get this changed.

What’s Next

In conclusion, we look forward to hearing from you and helping you on your journey in life. Lastly, call us today to discuss how we can help you, (203) 522-6164.

Finally, it is our Practice Policy that patients are not allowed to switch between counselors in this practice.  If you are not happy with your counselor, for any reason, you will need to seek help elsewhere, from a qualified professional. We can help with the transition.

 

Above all, The Taylor-Austin Group, LLC does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.