Nice to meet you!

Nice to meet you!

A woman sitting on a sofa smiling while holding a small dog, with a vase of purple flowers on a table nearby.

Hi! I’m Caylin Center.

I am an LPC-Associate, supervised by Gina Rodriguez, LPC-S, LMFT-S. I’m based in Austin, Texas, a city I’ve called home since 2003. After an 8 year career in the tech industry (not to mention a surplus of odd jobs in the years prior), I made the transition to my original “Plan A” of being a therapist. I graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2025 with my Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling.

Close-up of purple flowers budding in the sunlight at sunset or sunrise.

Who I Work With

I work with individuals of all walks of life: folks who are experiencing big life changes, carrying grief, dealing with chronic illness, low self-esteem, depression, or anxiety, navigating interpersonal relationships, exploring and embracing their identities, building careers, and so much more. My clients are motivated to dig into and examine their own patterns and beliefs, identify what is no longer serving them, then collaborate together on building a path forward so they can truly thrive. No matter what you’re coming to therapy for, my goal is to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental space for you to find clarity and feel supported.

Austin by renowned American artist Ellsworth Kelly at the Blanton in Austin, TX

How I work

I do my best to be inclusive and affirming of all identities. In our sessions, you can expect me to be approachable, collaborative, and open, and our work to be centered on what’s top of mind and heart for you. I love to bring in humor and levity as a means to connect to one another. Our work together will always progress at your pace.

I find great joy in being a cheerleader for your personal growth; it’s why I became a therapist. If you’re looking for a therapist who will be in your corner, operating curiously from both the head and the heart, let's set up a 15 minute consultation call to chat!

A young woman wearing a blue and white striped shirt, blue jeans, and pink loafers sitting on an outdoor sofa, smiling and relaxing in a garden setting.

Who I am personally

Outside of being a therapist, I love traveling, doing house projects with my husband, cooking fun gluten-free meals, going for long walks (especially to see our neighborhood deer!), trying out workout classes all over the city, and spending time with my wonderful family and gal pals. I’m a Virgo through and through, an Enneagram 3, and an INFJ on the Myers-Briggs. My main goal in life is to squeeze as much joy out of every day as possible, and to help you do the same.

Think we’d click? Book a free 15-minute consultation with me today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Expect

  • First of all, I’m so glad you’re here! Once we have our 15 minute consultation call and decide we’re a good fit to start working together, you’ll get a bunch of paperwork sent to you, including documents outlining my policies, payment info, and a few assessments to fill out so we can establish a baseline from which to begin our work. You will also gain access to a telehealth portal which you will use to access our sessions. All paperwork must be completed in advance of our first session.

  • You can access the link to our telehealth appointment via your Sessions Health portal.

  • There really is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. For the most part, our work together will be at your pace. In our first couple of sessions together, we will be focused on understanding your goals and what you’re hoping to work on in sessions. After that, our work will focus on these goals, but will also leave room for diversions for when “life” comes up and other topics become more top of mind and heart. Once we reach your first goals, we can talk about new ones. Often this happens organically; secondary goals can emerge in the process of addressing our initial goals, and goal “achievement” isn’t on a set timeline.

  • Establishing a relationship based in mutual trust and respect is my first priority. I aim to create a space where you can show up fully as yourself. I’m not into the idea that therapy should be stuffy or overly formal; I like to keep it professional, but also bring in humor and the occasional pop-culture reference. You and I will be collaborators in your mental and emotional healthcare, so I’ll check in often with you to offer opportunities for your honest feedback.

Cost & Payment

  • Each 50-minute individual session is $150

    Where possible, I offer a handful of lower-cost therapy sessions per week at a negotiated, mutually-agreeable rate.

  • At this time, I do not take insurance. If you have a HSA or FSA card, you are able to pay for therapy using those payment methods. I can offer superbills which may offer some reimbursement from your insurance, however you should check with your insurance provider first to figure out their out-of-network policies.

Practice Policies

  • I require at least 24 hours advance notice to cancel appointments. If you notify me less than 24 hours before the appointment, you are required to pay the full cost of the session.

    You can cancel via email, phone call, or text, or via your Sessions Health portal. If canceling via phone call and I don’t answer, please send a message as well just in case.

  • I aim to respond to all communication within 24-48 hours, Monday through Thursday. If you find yourself in a mental health crisis, please dial 988 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or you may go to your nearest emergency room.

  • To maintain confidentiality, requests for connection on social media will be declined. Heart Center Therapy does have an Instagram you are welcome to follow, but HCT won’t follow clients back or reply to DMs in the interest of privacy.

  • 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 Form

    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.

  • Texas law requires that requests for mental health records be made in writing.

    To obtain your records, please follow the steps below:

    Submit a written request

    Choose one of the following options:

    • Via Patient Portal Complete the HIPAA-compliant Authorization form and submit it through the Sessions Health patient portal.

      • Subject line “REQUEST FOR RECORDS”

      • Include:

        • The specific records you are requesting

        • The name, address, and/or email address of the intended recipient

    • Via Email (if you do not have portal access) Email your written request and completed Authorization form to caylin@heartcentertherapy.co

      • Subject line: “REQUEST FOR RECORDS”

    Additional requirements (if applicable):

    • Litigation-related records If records are requested for use in litigation, please include:

      • Cause number

      • Case title

      • Court where the case is pending

    • Business Records Affidavit

      • If you require a Business Records Affidavit, indicate this in your request

      • Fee: $15

      • Affidavits will not be provided until payment is received

    • Records fee

      • Fee for providing records: $25 for electronic records

      • Accepted payment methods: credit cards, or cash.

      • Texas law does not require records to be released until fees are paid

    • Couples, family, or third-party records If you are requesting:

      • Couples counseling records

      • Family counseling records

      • Records for anyone other than yourself or your child

      State and federal law require either:

      • A valid Court Order, or

      • An Authorization signed by the individual

      Relevant law: 45 C.F.R. §164.512(e); Texas Health & Safety Code §§611.004, 611.0045, 611.008

    Instructions for Attorneys and Document Companies

    A subpoena alone is not sufficient to compel disclosure of confidential counseling or billing records, or other Protected Health Information (PHI), under HIPAA (45 C.F.R. Chapter 164).

    For mental health or medical records requested or subpoenaed in litigation (including testimony), HIPAA permits disclosure only under the following circumstances:

    1. In response to a valid court or administrative tribunal order, or

    2. When the individual:

      • Is a party to the proceeding

      • Has notice that the PHI has been requested

      • Does not object to the disclosure

      An Authorization from the individual satisfies this requirement.

    Relevant law: 45 C.F.R. §164.512(e)

    Important Note

    If the client has indicated that they do not consent to release of records:

    • A “Statement of Assurance” will not be accepted

    • A valid Authorization or Court Order will be required

  • To review this website’s Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions, and general disclaimers, please refer to my Website Policies page.