Today we’d like to introduce you to Sally Lineback.
Hi Sally, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After finishing undergrad, I spent five years working in education in Mississippi—first as an elementary school teacher, and later doing fundraising for an educational nonprofit. Outside of work, life felt full. I was in a loving relationship with the woman I would later marry, and surrounded by a strong circle of friends. But professionally, something was missing. I felt unfulfilled, and honestly a little stuck.
That’s when I decided to seek out career counseling. I visited the career services office back in college, but this time felt different. After spending a few years in the workforce, I was able to approach the process with more clarity and a better sense of myself. It ended up being a turning point—one that eventually led me to apply to doctoral programs in counseling psychology.
I moved to Austin to start grad school at UT, initially imagining a future that included both clinical work and academia. But as I got deeper into training, it became clear that I was most energized and inspired by the clinical side of the work. I loved being with clients, building relationships, and engaging in the long-term therapeutic process. Meanwhile, research and publishing started to feel like a chore—something I could do, but didn’t enjoy.
During my predoctoral internship, I had the incredible opportunity to work at a university counseling center that still offered some clients the chance to engage in long-term therapy. That experience solidified my passion for depth work. Thanks to established relationships between the center and a small group private practice in Austin, I was able to step into my first private practice role as a postdoc. There, I really dove into long-term therapy, received excellent supervision and training, and began shaping my approach.
All along the way, I had the guidance of amazing supervisors and mentors who encouraged me to focus on working with queer and trans clients—work that felt deeply aligned with both my personal values and professional mission. When the small group practice I was part of started to grow and shift in ways that no longer felt like the right fit, I decided to branch out and open my own practice.
Starting my own business gave me the chance to build something that felt like me—a space that reflects my commitment to authenticity, inclusivity, and deep, meaningful therapeutic work. Today, I feel grateful every day to do work I love, with people I respect, in a practice built around care that truly honors the whole person.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Looking back, there were two main challenges I faced in opening my own therapy practice: adjusting to working independently and learning the business side of running a practice.
Starting a private practice wasn’t originally in my plans. I had been working at a group practice until a private equity firm invested in and began to grow the company. That transition pushed me to reevaluate what I wanted in my professional life, and ultimately, I decided to work for myself. But as someone who thrives in community, the idea of being in solo practice felt daunting at first. I was concerned about feeling isolated, so it became a priority to intentionally build connection and support into my professional life.
To stay grounded in community, I’ve joined both peer-led and mentor-led consultation groups, and I regularly connect with colleagues for case consultation and support. I’ve also built strong relationships with other providers—psychiatric nurse practitioners, anti-diet dietitians, and couples therapists—which have been invaluable. These relationships not only support me clinically but also reduce the sense of being on my own. Ironically, because of these strong connections, I don’t do much marketing—word-of-mouth referrals have kept my caseload full.
The second major challenge was the steep learning curve that comes with suddenly becoming a small business owner. I’m a therapist, not a businessperson, so diving into bookkeeping, taxes, insurance credentialing, and billing was overwhelming at first. Thankfully, I leaned on colleagues who had already gone through the process and were generous in sharing their knowledge and time. I am incredibly lucky to have benefited from strong relationships with other women who own therapy practices. I would not have known where to start, and would not be where I am today without them. To help with the business side, I found a bookkeeping and accounting firm that works with other therapists, which has allowed me to shift my focus back to clinical work, knowing the financial side is in good hands.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a licensed psychologist and psychotherapist in private practice, where I provide both individual and group therapy for adults. While I maintain a generalist approach—supporting clients across a wide range of mental health concerns—I specialize in a few key areas that reflect my clinical passions and personal commitments.
One of my areas of focus is providing affirming, inclusive therapy for the queer, trans, and gender-expansive community. As a queer therapist myself, I’m dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space where LGBTQIA+ clients can explore identity, heal from trauma, and grow into their fullest selves—whether or not their therapeutic goals are directly related to gender or sexual identity. I also offer evaluations and letters of support for clients seeking gender-affirming surgeries as part of their transition process.
Another specialization of mine is working with individuals who have experienced emotional neglect, invalidation, or trauma during childhood. Together, we explore the long-term impact of those early experiences and work toward healing and building more fulfilling lives in adulthood.
I am also committed to integrating anti-racist principles into my practice. I focus on this in my work with white clients especially, where we dig into the ways white supremacy culture and internalized racism—especially individualism, feelings of superiority and entitlement, and prioritizing thinking over feeling—harms both BIPOC and white communities and individuals. I believe this work is essential to healing mental health concerns, and is important for both personal and collective liberation. I approach this work with humility, recognizing that I’m forever learning from my mistakes and growing myself, which is why I participate in an anti-racist consultation and process group for therapists.
What I’m most proud of in my clinical work is being able to offer a space that feels deeply affirming, healing, and real for people—especially those who haven’t always had that in their lives.
How do you think about luck?
The biggest stroke of luck came when starting my business. The office space I use really fell into my lap. A therapist friend was moving away, right at the time I opened my practice, and her office was in the perfect location. She connected me with her landlord, and I have been in the space for almost three years. It is close to the Zilker Park and the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and is just off Mopac, making it easily accessible for clients. I also purchased most of my friend’s office furniture, so I furnished the office fairly inexpensively, and without having to do a lot of heavy lifting. The space is cozy, quiet, and comfortable for a therapy practice.
Another area where luck has played a significant role is in the relationships I’ve formed with other women in the field. From supervisors and mentors to colleagues at internship sites, these connections have opened doors I never could’ve anticipated. Often, one relationship would lead to another — a recommendation here, an introduction there — and slowly over time, these relationships helped me form my own path that felt like the right fit for me. Many of these women offered me guidance, encouragement, and support when I needed it most, and over time, some of them have become dear friends. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found such a strong sense of community in what can sometimes be a very solitary profession.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sallylinebackphd.com/
