Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all. Many of the women who come to us don't have a formal diagnosis — and don't need one. They come because something feels off. Because they are exhausted in a way they can't fully explain. Because the life they are living doesn't feel like the one they want. You don't need a label to deserve support. If you want more from your life, your relationships, or your sense of self, you are in the right place.
Not at all. Many of the women who come to us don't have a formal diagnosis — and don't need one. They come because something feels off. Because they are exhausted in a way they can't fully explain. Because the life they are living doesn't feel like the one they want. You don't need a label to deserve support. If you want more from your life, your relationships, or your sense of self, you are in the right place.

ACT is an advanced, evidence-based approach that goes well beyond talking about your problems. Rather than trying to eliminate difficult thoughts or feelings — which rarely works — it helps you change your relationship with them, so they no longer control your choices. You get clear on what matters most to you. You learn to take meaningful action in that direction, even when fear and self-doubt are present. ACT doesn't just reduce symptoms. It builds a life worth living.

ACT is our clinical foundation, but our therapists are trained in a range of specialized, evidence-based methods depending on what you are navigating. These include EMDR for trauma processing, Internal Family Systems (IFS) for parts-based healing, Prepare & Enrich for pre-marital work, and specialized Perinatal Mental Health and Eating Disorder treatment. Every approach we use has been rigorously studied and proven to work — because you deserve more than talking in circles.

We offer specialized therapy for anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma and PTSD, eating disorders, body image, perfectionism, postpartum and perinatal mood disorders, infertility and pregnancy loss, and major life transitions. We also work with high-achieving professionals, attorneys, college students, women in their twenties and thirties, and teenagers. If you have been carrying something alone for a long time — whatever it is — there is a therapist on this team who understands it.

Empower is a women-centered practice, and our deepest expertise is in the challenges women face across every stage of life. Reach out and we'll have an honest conversation about whether we are the right fit for your specific situation.

Both are available. We offer in-person sessions at our Birmingham office and online therapy for women throughout Alabama and Tennessee. Many of our clients prefer the flexibility of online therapy — it is equally effective and often much easier to fit into a full life. The hardest part should be deciding to start, not figuring out the logistics.

Your first session is not a test. It is not an intake form brought to life. It is a conversation. Your therapist will want to understand what has been hard, what brought you to this point, and what you are hoping for — even if what you are hoping for is simply to feel less alone in it. There is no pressure to share more than you are ready to share. The pace is entirely yours.

This is genuinely different for every person. Some clients notice a shift within the first few sessions — simply having a space to say what is true, without filtering it, can bring immediate relief. Deeper, lasting change typically unfolds over several months. We will be honest with you about your progress every step of the way. You will never be kept guessing about where things stand.

Empower does not bill insurance directly. We will provide you with a detailed receipt — called a superbill — that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement according to your plan's out-of-network benefits. We encourage you to think of therapy as one of the most meaningful investments you can make — one that changes how you show up in every other area of your life.

Campus counseling serves an important role — but it has real limitations in capacity, continuity, and specialization. At Empower, your student works with the same therapist, using a proven method, for as long as she needs. ACT is especially effective for young women in college because it builds genuine self-confidence, helps clarify values and identity, and equips her with tools she will carry long after graduation. We work with college students at schools including Samford, Birmingham-Southern, Auburn, and the University of Alabama — both in person and online.

You don't need the right words or a clear sense of what to say. A free consultation is simply a conversation — a chance to tell us what has been hard and find the right fit. From there, we match you with a therapist who truly understands where you are. Then the real work begins.