Psychosis Treatment & Evaluation in Austin and Surrounding Areas
Living with psychosis can feel like reality keeps flickering. A thought lands with absolute certainty even when another part of you isn’t sure. Voices sound like they’re coming from outside your head. Ordinary sights, sounds, and coincidences suddenly carry heavy, personal meaning. You replay moments to check what was real, avoid places that seem to “set it off,” and work hard to keep up at work or school while privately trying to hold the world together.
What most people miss: psychosis isn’t a character flaw or “losing who you are.” It’s a brain-body state where perception and certainty get rewired—vivid, convincing, and often scary while it’s happening. If this rings true, you’re not alone. When you reach out, I’ll meet you without judgment, help you steady the ground under your feet, and walk with you step-by-step toward feeling safe, clear, and in control again.
Understanding Psychosis
Plain-English definition: Psychosis is a mental health condition where you experience disruptions in thinking, perception, or beliefs that make it difficult to tell what’s real from what’s not.
Beyond stereotypes: It isn’t always constant or extreme. Some people experience occasional symptoms like hearing voices, feeling watched, or believing something others say isn’t true. Others may have ongoing challenges that affect relationships, work, and daily life.
Common symptoms include:
Hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or sensing things others don’t)
Delusions (fixed beliefs that aren’t based in reality)
Disorganized speech or behavior
Difficulty concentrating or following a conversation
Why it’s often misunderstood: Psychosis is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It can be part of conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or even result from medical issues or trauma.
My Diagnostic Process
Comprehensive intake — full review of symptoms, health history, and life context.
Evidence-based assessments — structured tools to clarify diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis — ruling out medical, neurological, or substance-related causes.
Personalized plan — treatment that addresses both symptom relief and underlying causes.
Treatment Tailored to You
Medication: Antipsychotic medications selected for effectiveness and tolerability.
Therapy: Supportive or cognitive-behavioral approaches to strengthen coping skills.
Lifestyle adjustments: Sleep, stress management, and routines to stabilize mood and thinking.
Relapse prevention: Identifying early warning signs and building a crisis plan.
Treatment adapts over time as symptoms improve, life changes, or your goals shift.
Why My Practice is Different
Most online information about psychosis is either too clinical or fear-based. I believe in giving you practical, usable knowledge upfront so you:
Understand what’s happening without jargon.
Know the full range of treatment options available.
Have clarity before you even book your first session.
Actionable Steps You Can Take Today — Psychosis
Start with immediate safety
If you feel at risk of harming yourself/others or hearing “command” voices: call your local emergency number or go to the nearest ER. In the U.S., you can also call/text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Make your space safer right now: remove or lock up sharp objects, medications you don’t need immediate access to, and anything else that could be used impulsively.
Lower the volume on symptoms (fast resets)
Grounding (5–4–3–2–1): name 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste. Repeat until the intensity drops.
Temperature reset: splash cool water on your face or hold an ice pack wrapped in cloth for 15–30 seconds to break spirals.
Reduce stimulation: dim lights, turn off extra screens, silence notifications, close extra tabs, and move to a quieter room.
Breathing cadence (4–6): inhale 4 seconds, exhale 6 seconds, 10–20 cycles.
Sleep protects thinking
Guard tonight’s sleep: aim for the same bedtime/wake time, no naps >30 minutes, and turn off screens 60 minutes before bed.
Wind-down routine (20–20–20): 20 minutes light chores, 20 minutes hygiene, 20 minutes calming (shower, stretch, reading).
If you can’t sleep after 20–30 minutes: get up, do something low-stim (paper book, puzzle), then return to bed when drowsy.
Medication reliability (if prescribed)
Take exactly as directed. Do not stop or change dose on your own.
Pillbox + two reminders: one at dose time, one 30 minutes later as a check.
Refill buffer: reorder when you have 7–10 days left.
Note effects daily: sleep hours, energy (0–10), distress (0–10), and any side effects.
Handle voices, unusual beliefs, and paranoia
Name it: “This feels like a symptom; I don’t have to obey it.”
Delay responding: set a 10–15 minute timer before acting on a thought/urge.
Reality testing with a trusted person: share the thought and ask for a neutral check (“What else could explain this?”).
Containment: agree with yourself to revisit the belief at a specific time and park it until then; write it down so your brain can let it wait.
Selective engagement with voices: acknowledge (“I hear you”), then redirect attention (music, podcast, gentle task). Headphones or white noise can help.
Safety rule: never act on instructions from voices—treat them like pop-ups you don’t click.
Cut known accelerants
Avoid or reduce: cannabis, stimulants, psychedelics, and heavy alcohol—these can intensify symptoms.
Watch caffeine/nicotine: cut back after noon; both can worsen sleep and jitters.
Hydrate and eat regularly: long gaps without food can spike anxiety and confusion.
Create structure that steadies your day
Three anchors: set fixed times for wake-up, a short walk/light movement, and first meal.
Light + movement early: 5–10 minutes outdoor light or bright window; a brief walk can settle the system.
One-page day plan: 3 tiny tasks you will finish (e.g., shower, 10-minute tidy, text a friend). Done > perfect.
Build an early-warning system
List your early signs: poor sleep, racing or sticky thoughts, feeling watched, withdrawing, sudden agitation. Keep the list on your phone.
Trigger map: note places/situations that spike symptoms; plan alternatives (different route, buddy system, shorter exposure).
Traffic-light plan:
Green (steady): keep routines, meds, sleep.
Yellow (early signs): reduce commitments 20–30%, add extra grounding, prioritize sleep.
Red (crisis signs): enact crisis plan (see below) and seek urgent support.
Make a simple crisis plan (write it down)
Contacts: 2–3 trusted people + how to reach them; your prescriber’s number; local urgent care/ER address. In the U.S., add 988.
Preferences: hospital preference, allergy list, current meds, and any cultural/communication needs.
Home safety: who can hold onto extra meds or secure items during flare-ups.
Reduce digital and environmental stressors
Mute/limit triggering feeds: unfollow accounts that spike paranoia or agitation; use website blockers after 8 pm.
Soothing kit: headphones, a weighted blanket, calming playlist, fidget item, and a short grounding script on a card.
Communicate for support
One clear ask: “When I’m struggling, please help me check reality—not argue. A quick ‘let’s look at the facts together’ helps.”
Buddy check-ins: schedule a 5-minute daily text with a friend just to rate sleep (0–10) and distress (0–10).
Prepare for appointments (or the next check-in)
Bring a one-page snapshot: symptoms timeline, meds, sleep graph, three biggest questions.
Track what changed: “Since last week: sleep ↓, voices ↑ in evenings, stressor = work conflict.”
Gentle note
If you notice rapid worsening, strong commands from voices, new dangerous ideas, inability to sleep for >24 hours, or thoughts of self-harm, treat it as urgent: use your crisis plan, contact your clinician, call your local emergency number,
Psychosis Often Comes with Company
Psychosis can occur alongside depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or anxiety disorders. Treating it effectively means addressing the full picture—not just one symptom.
Serving Austin and Beyond
I provide psychosis treatment for clients in:
Austin, Barton Creek, Bastrop, Bee Cave, Bertram, Blanco, Briarcliff, Brushy Creek, Buda, Burnet, Cedar Park, Circle C, Creedmoor, Dripping Springs, Elgin, Florence, Georgetown, Granger, Great Hills, Hays, Hutto, Jarrell, Johnson City, Jonestown, Jollyville, Kyle, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Leander, Liberty Hill, Lockhart, Luling, Manor, Marble Falls, Martindale, Meadowlakes, Mountain City, Mustang Ridge, New Braunfels, Niederwald, Pflugerville, Point Venture, River Place, Rollingwood, Round Rock, San Marcos, Smithville, Steiner Ranch, Sunset Valley, Taylor, The Domain, The Hills, Thrall, Volente, Webberville, Weir, West Lake Hills, Wimberley, Woodcreek, Zilker, and throughout all of Texas!