About
Dr. Stephanie Vertrees is a board-certified headache specialist and the Medical Director of Vertrees Headache Center in Austin, TX. She holds dual board certifications: one in Neurology from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and one in Headache Medicine from the United Council for Neurological Subspecialties. Her clinical focus covers migraine, cluster headache, medication overuse headache, neuralgias, hemicrania continua, paroxysmal hemicrania, SUNCT, SUNA, myofascial pain, and facial pain conditions.
Dr. Vertrees built the practice she wanted when she was seeking her own migraine treatment. As a migraine patient herself, she understands firsthand what it costs to feel dismissed. She pairs current evidence with 60-minute appointment slots, giving each patient time to share their history, review prior treatments, and ask questions. Her approach rejects opioid prescribing for headache conditions, relying instead on evidence-based treatment plans she explains in plain language. Patient reviews describe her as extremely knowledgeable, personable, and highly professional. She has earned recognition as both a Rising Star and a Top Doctor in Headache Medicine and Neurology.
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Vertrees right for?
Dr. Vertrees is a strong fit for adults and teens living with migraine, cluster headache, or other complex headache disorders. Patients who have cycled through treatments without success, or who feel their history has never received a thorough review, often find her approach well-suited to their needs. She also works with patients managing medication overuse headache and rare conditions like hemicrania continua, paroxysmal hemicrania, SUNCT, and SUNA. Patients who travel from outside Central Texas for specialist care regularly choose her practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Vertrees treats a wide range of headache disorders. Her clinical focus includes migraine, cluster headache, medication overuse headache, hemicrania continua, paroxysmal hemicrania, SUNCT, SUNA, occipital neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, myofascial pain, and facial pain. She focuses exclusively on headache medicine rather than general neurology.
Yes. Dr. Vertrees holds board certification in Neurology from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and board certification in Headache Medicine from the United Council for Neurological Subspecialties (UCNS). Both certifications reflect subspecialty-level expertise in her field.
No. Dr. Vertrees does not prescribe narcotic or opioid medications for headache conditions. Research shows that chronic opioid use can increase brain sensitivity and worsen headache disorders, making other treatments less effective. Her approach relies on evidence-based therapies specific to each patient's diagnosis.
An initial consultation with Dr. Vertrees runs 60 minutes and takes place in person. She reviews your medical history and symptoms, performs a neurological examination, and goes through your previous treatments in detail. By the end of the visit, you leave with an individualized treatment plan explained in plain language.
Dr. Vertrees combines current headache medicine evidence with enough appointment time to understand each patient's full story. She explains the reasoning behind every recommendation and adjusts the plan over time as care progresses. Her guiding principle: build an evidence-based plan, explain it plainly, and keep refining it.
Yes. Dr. Vertrees has earned recognition as both a Rising Star and a Top Doctor in Headache Medicine and Neurology. Patient reviews consistently describe her as extremely knowledgeable, personable, and highly professional.
It depends on the patient's situation. Dr. Vertrees may accept patients currently on narcotic regimens if they are willing to wean off those medications. When needed, she coordinates with a pain management specialist to support that process.
Dr. Vertrees focuses exclusively on headache disorders, not the full breadth of general neurology. Every patient she sees comes specifically for headache care. That singular focus means she brings depth of experience to conditions that general neurologists may see less frequently.
Doctor profile last updated August 17, 2026