Welcome

Chances are you are here because you’re considering taking the bold step of asking for help with feelings or circumstances that have become overwhelming in your life. Or perhaps you simply wish to gain more fulfillment from your pursuits and relationships. I admire you for this, and I can help!

Just being a person can be hard sometimes. Struggles in our early family lives, harmful relationships, and aspects of living in our contemporary culture leave some of us feeling anxious, disconnected from our emotions, or stuck in dissatisfying relationships. A successful psychotherapy experience can help with all of this by reawakening our capacity to truly connect with ourselves and with others.

Therapy can be a catalyst for achieving peace within ourselves and deep connectedness with others in our lives. It helps us to build the engaged and genuine relationships that bring us meaning and joy and that give us comfort in difficult times.

I seek to know my clients deeply and without judgment, to welcome all parts of them, especially the scarier and less well-liked parts. This experience of being truly seen and accepted can lead to greater self-understanding and can help you to pursue experiences that lead you to feel more truly alive.

I work with clients who are facing a range of issues. The most common include depression and anxiety; trauma history; peer and family relationship struggles; personal growth and identity exploration; partner and family relationship issues; and challenges of living as or with an artist.

About Gianna (she/her)

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Group Psychotherapist, and I have been providing counseling and psychotherapy to many different types of people in the Austin area for 25 years. In 1998, I received my master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin, and I have been in private practice since 2003. I am also a board-approved clinical supervisor for social workers in Texas. I have recently begun to split my time between Texas and Massachusetts, and I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts.

I believe that the best therapists are those who actively pursue personal and professional growth. I regularly pursue training and consultation in the theoretical areas that most inform my clinical practice, including contemporary psychoanalytic thought, attachment theory, and interpersonal neurobiology. I am a student at the Center for Group Studies in New York City.

I have served on the board of directors for the Austin Group Psychotherapy Society and the SIMS Foundation's clinical advisory panel, and I am an active member of several other professional organizations, including Austin IN Connection, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, and Austin Psychoanalytic. I have presented on various topics related to clinical work and supervision, including through the University of Texas Steve Hicks School of Social Work, the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the Austin Group Psychotherapy Society and Therapy Austin.

Individual Therapy

The safety and intimacy that are a part of individual therapy provide an excellent atmosphere for self-exploration and support during difficult times. If you are experiencing overwhelming symptoms of anxiety or depression or struggling to hold on to a sense of self in intimate relationships, one-on-one therapy is an excellent option so you can have best relationships and friends which you can get in a Chat online. It can also be a great way to obtain support if your life is going generally well but you're having trouble navigating a particular transition or relationship. I work with adults in individual therapy, and I usually recommend at least weekly sessions, especially at the beginning.

Couples Therapy

At their best, partner relationships provide us feelings of security, joy, and deep fulfillment. But there can be barriers from both inside and outside of the relationship that complicate our pursuit of those rewards. Trying to work around these barriers often gets us stuck in destructive patterns that leave us feeling hurt, isolated, or misunderstood. Therapy can help couples to transcend these patterns by giving partners insight into how the patterns are created, and by providing a safe space in which to explore new strategies for realizing the benefits of a thriving relationship.

Consultation/Training

As engaged clinicians who regard the therapy relationship itself as the main tool for healing and growth, we need the support of secure professional relationships behind us throughout our careers. I offer one-on-one and group consultation aimed at fostering therapists' professional growth and wellness. This work helps therapists to contain, metabolize and make sense of all that the clinical work evokes and to manage the intersection of that work with the maintenance of a thriving psychotherapy practice.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a uniquely effective venue for exploring ourselves in relationships. It provides the opportunity for members to better understand their emotional responses in relationships with others, to obtain feedback from multiple perspectives, and to feel less alone with their particular struggles. I am a Certified Group Psychotherapist, and I offer weekly open-ended mixed-gender therapy groups.

Clinical Supervision

I provide group and individual clinical social work supervision as a vital and valued part of my practice. Being a supervisor for social workers seeking their advanced licensure gives me the opportunity to contribute to the high level of ethical, professional, and clinically-skilled practice of our profession. I love being a part of helping other social workers find ever-increasing satisfaction in their work. I use a relational supervision model informed by a psychoanalytic perspective, attachment theory, and general social work principles.

Contact

Please contact me if you'd like inquire about setting up an appointment or if you have any questions. I am currently offering in-office sessions as well as teletherapy sessions.

If you are in crisis, please call the local mental health hotline at 512.472.4357, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Hours

I offer appointments on days and evenings during the week.

Rates

• Individual or couple therapy session (50 minutes): $200

• Therapy, consultation or training group session (75 minutes): $75

• Monthly supervision rates range from $400-$600 depending on the package.

Insurance

I am not an in-network provider with insurance companies. My clients sometimes opt to seek reimbursement for my services through their insurance plans' out-of-network coverage. If you have such coverage and you'd like to use it, I will provide you with the appropriate paperwork to file.

Office

4412 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756

I office in a house in the Rosedale neighborhood of central Austin. It is the third building south of 45th Street on the west side of Burnet Road, and there is a large oak tree in the front yard. There is parking on site, several bus lines stop nearby, and the building is wheelchair accessible.

See a notice of my privacy practices.

See the Texas social work code of conduct.

Notice of Privacy Practices

Gianna Viola, LCSW-S (TX), LICSW (MA), LCSWC (MD), CGP
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION: I understand that information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. This notice will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you, and describe certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. I am required by law to:Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.
Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.
Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.
I can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website.II. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU: The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information. For each category of uses or disclosures I will explain what I mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways I am permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.For Treatment Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your person health information, which is otherwise confidential, in order to assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.
Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard. Because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or full and complete information in order to provide quality care. The word “treatment” includes, among other things, the coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers and referrals of a patient for health care from one health care provider to another.Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information about your child in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:
1. Psychotherapy Notes. I sometimes keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is: a. For my use in treating you. b. For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy. c. For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you. d. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA. e. Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law. f. Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes. g. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law. h. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.
2. Marketing Purposes. As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes. 3. Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not ever sell your PHI.IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION. Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:
1. When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.
2. For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.
3. For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.
4. For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing so.
5. For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.
6. To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.
7. For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.
8. Specialized government functions, including, ensuring the proper execution of military missions; protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or counter-intelligence operations; or, helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.
9. For workers' compensation purposes. Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers' compensation laws.
10. Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. I may use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with me. I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that I offer.V. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT.
1. Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.VI. YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PHI:
1. The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no” if I believe it would affect your health care.
2. The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.
3. The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address, and I will agree to all reasonable requests.
4. The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that I have about you. I will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable, cost based fee for doing so.
5. The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made.You have the right to request a list of instances in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an Authorization. I will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I will give you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter time. I will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, I will charge you a reasonable cost based fee for each additional request.
6. The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that I correct the existing information or add the missing information. I may say “no” to your request, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.
7. The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right get a paper copy of this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by e-mail. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE
This notice was revised effective 5/29/2025
Acknowledgement of Receipt of Privacy Notice
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information. By checking the box below, you are acknowledging that you have received a copy of HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.By clicking on the checkbox below, you indicate that you have read, understand and agree to the items contained in this document.

TEXAS STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORKER EXAMINERS

Subchapter B. Rules of Practice

781.301. Code of Conduct. A social worker must observe and comply with the code of conduct and standards of practice set forth in this subchapter. Any violation of the code of conduct or standards of practice will constitute unethical conduct or conduct that discredits or tends to discredit the profession of social work and is grounds for disciplinary action.(1) A social worker shall not refuse to perform any act or service for which the person is licensed solely on the basis of a client's age; gender; race; color; religion; national origin; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity and expression; or political affiliation.
(2) A social worker shall truthfully report her or his services, professional credentials and qualifications to clients or potential clients.
(3) A social worker shall only offer those services that are within his or her professional competency, and shall provide services within accepted professional standards of practice, appropriate to the client's needs. (4) A social worker shall strive to maintain and improve her or his professional knowledge, skills and abilities. (5) A social worker shall base all services on an assessment, evaluation or diagnosis of the client. (6) A social worker shall provide the client with a clear description of services, schedules, fees and billing at the initiation of services.
(7) A social worker shall safeguard the client's rights to confidentiality within the limits of the law. (8) A social worker shall be responsible for setting and maintaining professional boundaries. (9) A social worker shall not have sexual contact with a client or a person who has been a client. (10) A social worker shall refrain from providing services while impaired by physical health, mental health, medical condition, or by medication, drugs or alcohol.
(11) A social worker shall not exploit his or her position of trust with a client or former client. (12) A social worker shall evaluate a client's progress on a continuing basis to guide service delivery and will make use of supervision and consultation as indicated by the client's needs.
(13) A social worker shall refer a client for those services that the social worker is unable to meet, and shall terminate services to a client when continuing to provide services is no longer in the client's best interest.Adopted to be effective: November 19, 2020

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