Frequently Asked Questions

About Therapy Sessions

  • Yes. We provide in-person counseling sessions at our Round Rock, Texas office for individuals, couples, and families seeking face-to-face therapy. We also offer secure, HIPAA-compliant online therapy (telehealth counseling) so you can access care from anywhere in Texas, whether you live locally or elsewhere in the state.

  • Yes, we offer a free 15‑minute initial consultation so you can ask questions, discuss your counseling needs, and see whether we are a good fit before scheduling a full session. To request your free consultation, you can call or text us at (512) 265‑6411, email jenniferhicks@streamsinthevalley.com, or complete the contact form on our Home or Contact page so we can follow up with available appointment times.

  • Our standard fee is $150 per session for individual, couple, or family counseling. We understand that affordability is important and offer reduced rates when possible, based on financial circumstances or background.

    While we are not in-network with insurance plans, many people are able to use their out-of-network benefits to significantly reduce the cost of sessions. We’re happy to check your benefits and handle claim submissions for you through Thrizer, so you don’t have to manage the insurance paperwork yourself.

  • Yes, counseling is confidential, and your therapist follows professional ethics, HIPAA, and Texas state laws to protect your privacy, records, and the information you share in session. There are a few specific situations where therapists are required by law to break confidentiality, such as concerns about serious harm or abuse, and these limits will be reviewed with you so you know how your information is protected.

  • Your first session is a safe, welcoming space to share your story, what you have been struggling with, and what you hope will be different. During this intake session, your therapist will review paperwork and confidentiality, ask questions about your history and current concerns, and invite you to talk about your counseling goals. Together, you will discuss a possible treatment plan, answer any questions you have about the counseling process, and decide on next steps so you can begin moving toward healing and hope.

  • Feeling nervous or anxious about beginning counseling is completely normal, especially if this is your first time meeting with a therapist or talking about difficult experiences. In our work together, we will move at your pace, explain what to expect, and create a warm, welcoming environment so you can feel more comfortable opening up over time.

  • Most counseling sessions last about 50 minutes, which gives us enough time to check in, explore what you are facing, and work through your concerns in a focused way. This standard session length helps provide a consistent rhythm for therapy while still allowing space to reflect, process emotions, and plan practical next steps together.

About Christian Counseling

  • Christian counseling is professional therapy that integrates a Christian worldview with evidence-based mental health care, prayer, and biblical truth. It provides compassionate support for emotional, relational, and spiritual concerns while honoring your faith, values, and personal goals. Christian counseling may include Scripture-based wisdom, Christ-centered hope, and clinically sound counseling approaches to support healing, growth, and emotional well-being. Rather than imposing faith, the counselor creates space for it when it is clinically appropriate and when you are open to it, offering spiritual support with care, respect, and ethical boundaries.

  • Not at all. We welcome individuals, couples, and families from any or no faith background, and you are never required to share beliefs you do not hold. While our approach is grounded in Christian faith for those who desire it, we always respect your values and tailor each counseling session to your goals, comfort level, and cultural or spiritual background.

  • In Christian counseling, Scripture and prayer are integrated as sources of encouragement, wisdom, and hope, and can be woven into sessions through reflection on Bible verses, faith-based perspectives, and praying together when requested. If you would like prayer or more explicit use of Scripture during your session, we are honored to include it, and if you prefer a more traditional counseling approach, we will fully respect your spiritual background and tailor each session to your preferences.

  • Yes, we integrate proven psychological methods — like cognitive behavioral techniques and evidence-based therapies — with biblical wisdom and Scripture to address emotional, mental, and spiritual growth in a balanced way. This faith-integrated approach helps you process challenges, build resilience, and find hope tailored to your beliefs and goals.

About Streams in the Valley Counseling

  • Streams in the Valley Counseling is led by Jennifer Hicks, LPC, a Texas-licensed professional counselor with more than 25 years of experience in Christian counseling, specializing in faith-integrated care for women, men, children, couples, and families. As the founder of this nonprofit 501(c)(3) center in Round Rock, Jennifer combines clinical expertise from her M.Ed. at Texas Tech University with compassion, biblical wisdom, and approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to support emotional, relational, and spiritual healing.

  • Yes, we support children (ages 5+), teens, adults, couples, and families navigating anxiety, grief, relationship challenges, spiritual wounds, life transitions, and more through compassionate, Christian counseling. Our approach, led by Jennifer Hicks, LPC, tailors sessions to each age group and family dynamic, using evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside biblical wisdom for emotional and relational healing.​

  • Yes, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian counseling center committed to providing accessible, grace-filled care to the Central Texas community, including Round Rock and surrounding areas. We are also a member of the Good Works Community, a membership community and an equipping network for Christian nonprofits in the greater Austin area. Our mission focuses on service rather than profit, offering Christ-centered counseling and support to individuals, families, couples, children (ages 5+), teens, and ministry leaders throughout Texas.

  • A 501(c)(3) organization is a nonprofit recognized by the IRS as operating exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or similar public purposes — rather than for private gain. This status makes all donor contributions tax-deductible and ensures the organization is accountable to serve the community. Streams in the Valley Counseling holds this designation because we provide faith-based counseling to individuals and families in Round Rock and the greater Central Texas area, and we gratefully accept donations that help make care accessible for those with limited resources.

  • Donations allow Streams in the Valley Counseling to continue offering compassionate, professional Christian mental health care to individuals and families seeking healing and growth. Every tax-deductible gift directly supports counseling sessions and essential ministry operations, making it possible for us to serve those who might otherwise go without care.

    Your generosity helps us:

    • Provide individual, family, and couples counseling at reduced cost

    • Expand community outreach and partnerships

    • Promote mental health awareness and Christ-centered resources in our community

    Each gift restores hope and strengthens families across Central Texas — ensuring no one has to walk through life’s challenges alone.

    Examples of how monthly support makes a difference:

    • $25/month: Helps cover reduced-fee therapy sessions

    • $50/month: Supports a woman or child in crisis

    • $100/month: Extends our services to underserved families

    Every donation — large or small — is deeply appreciated and plays a vital role in bringing healing and hope to our community.

  • Yes, Streams in the Valley Counseling provides faith-integrated Christian counseling in Round Rock, Texas, creating a safe, compassionate space for individuals, couples, teens (ages 13+), children (ages 5+), and families addressing anxiety, grief, relationships, spiritual concerns, and life transitions. Led by Jennifer Hicks, LPC, our nonprofit center combines biblical wisdom with evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to support emotional, relational, and spiritual healing.

  • We welcome clients from Round Rock, Pflugerville, Hutto, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Leander, North Austin, Brushy Creek, Jollyville, Wells Branch, Anderson Mill, Taylor, Manor, Jonestown, Windemere, Liberty Hill, Lakeway, Kyle, Belton, Killeen, Harker Heights, Temple, and surrounding Central Texas communities for in-person and telehealth Christian counseling. Our Round Rock office and secure online sessions make faith-integrated therapy accessible no matter where you live in the region.

  • You can request a copy of your or your child’s health records at any time through the patient portal or by emailing our counselor, Jennifer Hicks. Your request should include what you need (for example, “full record” or “last 12 months”) and where the records should be sent if you are sharing them with another provider. Once your request is received, your records will be processed within the legally required time frame and can be provided electronically or as paper copies. A small administrative fee may apply for copying and mailing your records.

  • Streams in the Valley provides counseling services through a counselor who is licensed in the state of Texas as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Under this license, she practices under the authority of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), which oversees the Texas LPC licensing board and regulates the practice of professional counseling in Texas.

    Streams in the Valley Counseling is also a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization guided by a dedicated board of directors committed to serving our mission with integrity and faith. Rather than focusing on profit, we focus on people — offering Christ-centered counseling and emotional support for individuals, families, and ministry leaders throughout Texas. As a faith-based nonprofit, we gratefully accept donations to help make professional Christian counseling more affordable and accessible in our community. All contributions are tax-deductible under current IRS guidelines and directly support our mission of hope and healing.

  • You have a right to have your complaints heard and resolved in a timely manner. If we cannot work things out to your satisfaction, you may file a complaint with our licensing board:

    Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council
    1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 7.300
    Austin, TX 78701
    Telephone: 1-800-821-3205
    Link to Complaint Website: https://bhec.texas.gov/tbhec/discipline-and-complaints/

    If you have a complaint concerning the HIPAA Privacy Regulations, you may contact the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at: OCRMail@hhs.gov

    If you believe that you have a Consumer Complaint regarding the privacy and security of your health information, you may contact the Texas Office of the Attorney General and file a consumer complaint by clicking this link:
    https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/health-care/patient-privacy