Mike McCabe Jr., LCSW — Couples therapist in Westlake Austin
About

Mike McCabe Jr., LCSW

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in West Lake Hills, Austin, specializing in couples who are in crisis — or headed there. The couples I work with aren't here because they stopped caring. They're here because everything they've tried on their own hasn't worked, and they're running out of patience with each other.

My approach draws primarily from Terry Real's Relational Life Therapy (RLT), combined with Gottman research. RLT is different from traditional therapy — it's direct, it holds both partners accountable, and it focuses on changing behavior, not just gaining insight. I don't do passive therapy where you vent for 50 minutes and hope things improve. I interrupt the destructive patterns in real time, name what's actually happening underneath the surface argument, and give you a concrete framework for communicating differently — starting that week.

I also offer marriage intensives for couples who need more than weekly sessions can provide. When separation is on the table or trust has been shattered, sometimes you need concentrated, focused work — not a slow drip of one hour a week.

Why I work this way

Most couples wait too long to get help. By the time they walk into a therapist's office, they've been suffering for an average of six years. At that point, a gentle, slow approach isn't just ineffective — it's dangerous. The clock is ticking, resentment is compounding, and you need someone who will get in the middle of it and actually do something.

That's what I do. I'm not the therapist who nods and asks "how does that make you feel?" I'm the one who stops the conversation, points out the pattern you're trapped in, and teaches you how to break it. It's uncomfortable sometimes. It's also what works.

I built my practice around the couples other therapists find "difficult" — the ones in real crisis, the ones who've tried therapy before and it didn't work, the ones who are one bad conversation away from calling a lawyer. That's where I do my best work.

Training & credentials

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Texas. Trained in Terry Real's Relational Life Therapy (RLT) and Gottman Method. My office is at 5524 Bee Caves Road in West Lake Hills — serving couples from Westlake, Bee Cave, Lakeway, and greater Austin.

Want to see if we're a good fit?

Fill out the form on the couples page and I'll be in touch within 24 hours. We'll set up a free 20-minute consultation to talk about what's going on.

Get in touch

or call/text (512) 270-9864