The Top 9 Private Pay Therapists in Houston

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How To Find A Private Pay Therapist Near You

Finding the right therapist can be overwhelming, especially when you want a private pay therapist who offers personalized, high-quality care without the limitations of insurance. At Connect Clinical Services, our team of licensed Houston therapists specializes in trauma therapy in Houston, EMDR Therapy, Neurofeedback Therapy, and integrative Individual Therapy in Houston — providing world-class care for clients who value privacy, choice, and clinical excellence.

Below are nine of the top private pay therapists in Houston, all part of the Connect Clinical Services team. Each therapist offers unique specialties and therapeutic approaches — united by one goal: helping you heal and thrive.

1. Guy Bender, LPC

CEO & Clinical Director

Expertise: EMDR Therapy, Brainspotting, Neurofeedback, Trauma Recovery, Treatment Placement

With over 16 years of experience, Guy Bender is the visionary behind Connect Clinical Services. As a trauma specialist, EMDR therapist, and Neurofeedback practitioner, Guy integrates neuroscience, somatic healing, and evidence-based care to address trauma at its root.

He has trained under thought leaders like Richard Schwartz (Internal Family Systems) and Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing), and previously served as Clinical Director at Heights Treatment in Houston. Guy’s leadership ensures that every client receives comprehensive, trauma-informed care delivered by a team of Houston’s top private pay therapists.

Learn more about EMDR Therapy in Houston.

2. Shannon Tantillo, LCSW, LCDC, LCSW-S

Expertise: CBT, DBT, EMDR, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Recovery & Harm Reduction

With over 30 years in the mental health field, Shannon Tantillo brings unmatched experience and compassion to her private practice work in Houston. She integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), EMDR Therapy, and motivational interviewing to help clients achieve stability and growth.

Shannon’s diverse background — spanning research, detox, IOP, and private practice — makes her especially skilled in supporting individuals and families navigating trauma, recovery, and identity. She also supervises associate clinicians, shaping the next generation of trauma-informed Houston therapists.

If you’re seeking a seasoned private pay therapist with deep trauma and recovery expertise, Shannon is an ideal fit.

3. Marina Erbstoesser, LMFT-S, LCDC, CSAT, CMAT-Tech

Expertise: Trauma & Addiction Recovery, Family Systems, CBT, DBT, ACT

Marina Erbstoesser is a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex addiction therapist who has helped Houston clients overcome addiction, trauma, and relationship challenges for more than a decade.

Marina integrates DBT, CBT, and ACT to guide clients and families through the healing process. She has served as Program Director at The Menninger Clinic and is a member of the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals (IITAP).

Her private pay therapy services provide compassionate, systems-oriented healing for both individuals and families, often in coordination with individual therapy and trauma therapy in Houston.

4. Vanessa Green, LPC, NCC

Expertise: EMDR, DBT, Trauma Therapy, Multicultural Counseling

Vanessa Green offers a warm, culturally attuned approach to therapy. She specializes in EMDR Therapy for trauma, DBT, and solution-focused methods to help clients manage anxiety, grief, and self-esteem challenges.

Vanessa’s clients describe her as deeply empathetic and empowering. She works with adults and adolescents across Houston to process trauma, strengthen boundaries, and build emotional resilience. Her background in nutrition and health psychology also supports a holistic approach to mental wellness.

Explore more about Individual Therapy in Houston.

5. Sarah McGinnis, LPC

Expertise: Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, Narrative Therapy

Sarah McGinnis helps clients re-author their life stories. She combines Narrative Therapy with Somatic Experiencing and EMDR Therapy to help clients process physical, sexual, and relational trauma.

Sarah’s compassionate yet challenging style encourages deep emotional growth. Her work is rooted in the belief that healing involves not only psychological integration but also a spiritual connection to something greater.

Clients describe Sarah’s sessions as transformative — a space where old narratives are rewritten and new hope is born. For survivors of complex trauma seeking a private pay therapist, Sarah offers both depth and safety.

6. Tyler Lemmons, LMSW

(Supervised by Shannon Tantillo, LCSW-S)

Expertise: EMDR, Grief Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care

Tyler Lemmons brings a deeply relational and body-based approach to therapy. She integrates EMDR, mindfulness, and somatic grounding to help clients process grief, loss, and complex trauma.

With experience supporting underserved communities, Tyler creates inclusive, culturally humble therapy spaces. She helps clients explore early life experiences, religious trauma, and family dynamics — fostering self-compassion and resilience.

Her calm and empathetic presence makes her one of Houston’s rising trauma-informed private pay therapists, especially for clients seeking trauma therapy in Houston.

7. Ryan Bruce, LMSW

Expertise: Addictions, Psychodynamic Therapy, Mentalization-Based Therapy

Ryan Bruce helps clients build insight into unconscious motivations and emotional patterns. His psychodynamic approach goes beyond symptom relief — guiding clients toward sustainable change and self-understanding.

Ryan has extensive experience working with addiction, depression, and crisis intervention. Before joining Connect Clinical Services, he worked at The Menninger Clinic and The Council on Recovery.

Clients who feel “stuck” despite previous therapy often find Ryan’s reflective, depth-oriented approach to be the breakthrough they’ve been seeking. For those navigating addiction and co-occurring trauma, Ryan’s work can be paired with addiction or substance use support through the broader Connect Clinical Services team.

8. Shannon Lewis, LPC-Associate

Expertise: Neurofeedback Therapy, RelateStrong, Prepare/Enrich

Shannon Lewis bridges counseling and neuroscience as one of Connect Clinical Services’ dedicated Neurofeedback Therapy providers. She combines brain-based tools with compassionate support to help clients regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve focus.

Trained in multiple modalities, Shannon helps clients strengthen the mind-body connection and achieve greater calm and clarity. Her passion for trauma-informed care extends globally — she volunteers abroad providing trauma care for women in underserved communities.

Learn more about Neurofeedback Therapy in Houston.

9. Briana Dergent, LCSW

Expertise: EMDR, CBT, TFCBT (Trauma-Focused CBT), ADHD, Bipolar Disorder

Briana Dergent is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in treating trauma, anxiety, and mood disorders in both adults and adolescents. She integrates EMDR with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Focused CBT to help clients build emotional resilience and long-term coping skills.

Briana’s warm, client-centered approach empowers clients to define their own healing path. She helps clients gain practical tools to navigate life’s challenges and achieve emotional freedom — especially those navigating ADHD, bipolar disorder, and complex trauma who benefit from an integrated, private pay model.

Why Choose Private Pay Therapy in Houston?

Private pay therapy allows you to take full control of your mental health care — without insurance restrictions on session length, frequency, or type of therapy.

At Connect Clinical Services, private pay clients benefit from:

• Complete confidentiality – No insurance records or diagnoses required.

• Flexible scheduling – Evening, weekend, and telehealth sessions available.

• Custom-tailored treatment – Integrative care that adapts to your goals, from EMDR Therapy and Brainspotting to Somatic Experiencing and Neurofeedback.

• Advanced trauma care – A team specializing in trauma therapy in Houston, PTSD, anxiety, and nervous system regulation.

If you value privacy, long-term growth, and clinically advanced care, our private pay therapists in Houston provide unmatched depth and quality.

FAQs About Private Pay Therapists in Houston

Do private pay therapists in Houston take insurance at all?

Private pay therapists at Connect Clinical Services do not bill insurance directly. Instead, you pay the session fee out of pocket, and our team can provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

This model allows your therapist to tailor care based on your needs rather than on what an insurance company will authorize. If you’d like help understanding out-of-network options, you can ask about this during your initial consultation.

Is private pay therapy more expensive than using insurance?

Up front, private pay therapy usually feels more expensive because you’re not just paying a copay — you’re covering the full session fee. However, many clients find that private pay therapy is more efficient and flexible because they can:

• Work with highly specialized clinicians (trauma, EMDR, Neurofeedback, Brainspotting).

• Schedule longer or more intensive sessions when needed.

• Stay in therapy long enough to address root causes, not just short-term symptom relief.

If you have out-of-network benefits, your plan may reimburse a percentage of each session, bringing your effective cost closer to an in-network rate over time.

Can I use HSA or FSA funds for private pay therapy?

In most cases, yes. Many Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) allow you to use pre-tax funds to pay for therapy with licensed clinicians.

You would pay Connect Clinical Services directly and then keep your receipts or superbills as documentation for your HSA/FSA records. If you’re unsure, check with your plan administrator for specific rules.

Will I still get a diagnosis if I pay privately?

A diagnosis is not required to work with a private pay therapist.

If it is clinically appropriate and helpful for your care, your therapist may discuss a diagnosis such as PTSD, generalized anxiety, or ADHD with you. But you’re not forced into a diagnosis just to access treatment or have your sessions covered, the way you might be with an insurance-based model.

If you plan to submit superbills for reimbursement, your insurance carrier may require a diagnosis code — your therapist can help you understand what that means and how it is documented.

How do I know which private pay therapist at Connect Clinical Services is right for me?

Start by asking yourself:

• What am I struggling with most right now (trauma, anxiety, panic, grief, addiction, ADHD, burnout)?

• Do I want a more skills-based therapist (CBT, DBT), a body-based therapist (Somatic Experiencing, Neurofeedback, Brainspotting), a depth-oriented therapist (psychodynamic, IFS, narrative work), or a blend?

• Am I looking for individual trauma work, relationship support, or both?

From there, you can:

• Read about our different services like Trauma Therapy, EMDR Therapy, Neurofeedback Therapy, and Therapy for Working Professionals.

• Request a free 15-minute consultation and let our intake team help match you with the best-fit therapist based on your goals, personality, and schedule.

Is private pay therapy a good fit if I am a high-functioning professional?

Yes. Many high-functioning professionals in Houston — including attorneys, physicians, executives, and entrepreneurs — prefer private pay therapy because it offers:

• Greater confidentiality and separation from employer-sponsored insurance plans.

• Flexible scheduling that can work around demanding workweeks.

• Access to brain-based and trauma-informed modalities that support performance, resilience, and nervous system regulation.

If you are navigating chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, or trauma while maintaining a high level of responsibility, you can explore options like Therapy in Houston for Professionals and brain-based approaches such as Neurofeedback or Brainspotting Therapy.

Take the Next Step Toward Healing

Whether you’re seeking trauma recovery, anxiety relief, nervous system regulation, or deeper emotional clarity, our private pay therapists in Houston are here to help you create meaningful, lasting change.

You can begin with a general overview of Therapy in Houston, explore specific specialties like EMDR or Neurofeedback, or go straight to booking a consult.

Schedule your consultation with Connect Clinical Services today and meet the therapist who’s right for you.

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