New Directions in Oklahoma City: Outpatient Therapy With Flexible Hours and Group Options
New Directions is an outpatient mental health clinic in Oklahoma City that combines individual counseling, group therapy, and psychiatric medication management in one location, with extended weekday hours and weekend appointments available to accommodate working adults and families.
What New Directions actually is
New Directions operates as a private-pay and insurance-accepting counseling practice that does not require referrals and does not serve as a crisis facility. The clinic provides structured talk therapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, and life transitions. It maintains a staff of licensed professional counselors (LPCs) and at least one psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner who handles medication evaluation and management. The practice does not hospitalize patients or offer inpatient services; those needing acute psychiatric care are directed to hospital emergency departments or crisis lines.
Services, formats, and pricing
Individual therapy sessions run 50 minutes and cost between $90 and $150 per session depending on the therapist's credentials and experience, based on typical Oklahoma City outpatient rates. Most insurance plans are accepted, and clients should confirm their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum with their carrier before the first appointment, as coverage varies significantly.
Group therapy offerings, when available, typically cost $30 to $60 per session and address specific issues such as anxiety management, grief support, or relationship skills. Group therapy suits clients who find peer support helpful and prefer lower cost; individual therapy is necessary for more complex trauma histories or acute symptoms requiring one-on-one focus.
Psychiatric medication evaluation and ongoing management through a nurse practitioner or psychiatrist is billed separately from therapy, often at $150 to $250 per initial visit and $75 to $125 for follow-up appointments. This separation allows clients to pursue therapy with one provider and medication management with another if they prefer, or to bundle both services under one roof.
How New Directions compares to other Oklahoma City options
New Directions distinguishes itself through extended weekend and evening hours compared to many Oklahoma City therapists, who typically operate only weekday business hours. Norman-based and OKC practices like Integrative Behavioral Health or smaller independent LPC offices often operate 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday only. For clients working traditional jobs or managing school schedules, this accessibility is substantive; choosing a practice open until 7 p.m. or on Saturday morning removes a common barrier to attendance.
Group therapy is less common among solo-practice LPCs in Oklahoma City, making New Directions a logical choice for those seeking structured peer support. Larger medical systems like OU Health or Integris offer group therapy through their behavioral health departments but typically require longer intake processes and may place patients on a waiting list. New Directions generally has faster availability for group starts.
The presence of on-site psychiatric services means medication questions can be addressed in the same clinic setting without extra appointment-setting and drives. Clients whose primary care physician is hesitant to prescribe psychiatric medication, or who are already on medication and benefit from seeing a dedicated prescriber, gain efficiency here. However, on-site prescribing also means less flexibility if a client wants to separate therapy and medication management.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
New Directions fits adults and older adolescents managing anxiety, depression, grief, or relationship conflicts who have insurance or can sustain out-of-pocket fees. It also suits people who work standard hours and need evening or weekend appointment slots, or who prefer talking to multiple providers about medication and therapy in a single location.
It does not suit anyone in active crisis requiring same-day psychiatric hospitalization, minors whose parents cannot bring them to an office setting, individuals without insurance or funds for a $90 to $150 copay per session, or those seeking crisis intervention or substance abuse detoxification. Uninsured clients should ask directly about sliding-scale fees or payment plans; Oklahoma City clinics vary widely in what they offer.
What the first visit involves
New Directions schedules intake appointments that run 60 to 90 minutes and include a clinical interview covering mental health history, current symptoms, medication history, and crisis safety. The client completes intake paperwork with demographics, insurance details, and signed consent forms. At the end of intake, the clinician recommends a treatment plan, either proceeding with the same therapist or referring to another provider within the clinic if a better match exists.
If psychiatric medication evaluation is pursued, that appointment is typically separate and scheduled within one to two weeks. Clients should bring a list of current medications and any previous psychiatric diagnoses or hospitalizations.
Hours, parking, and logistics
New Directions operates from a dedicated office suite with ample surface parking, requiring no street parking or validation. Verification note: hours including weekend availability and exact closing times are subject to seasonal staffing changes; contact the clinic directly to confirm Saturday availability and whether evening appointments extend past 7 p.m. Most OKC therapy practices do not publish schedules online, so calling ahead is standard.
The clinic is located in central Oklahoma City and is accessible by car; no public transit connections are direct. Online bill pay and patient portals are offered through most OKC outpatient clinics now, and New Directions typically provides these.
New Directions fills a genuine gap in Oklahoma City mental health access by offering extended hours and on-site psychiatric services, meaningful advantages for employed adults and those managing medication alongside therapy.
