Therapists in Old West Austin, Austin, TX

Are you grappling with the impacts of a loss, medical diagnosis, or trauma? Loss is common to the human experience, but when it stems from the death of a loved one or a cancer diagnosis, it can be especially isolating and overwhelming. You’re asking big questions: Will I always feel like this? Is this normal? When will my suffering end? And despite trying therapy in the past or talking to your friends and family, it’s felt like no one has truly understood your experience. You’re craving warmth, safety, and radical unconditional regard—somewhere all of your emotions, questions, and fears can be freely shared and expressed.

"Why is this so hard? We love each other, but we can't stop fighting." I understand the hopelessness of living in a cycle of conflict. I became a couples therapist because I believe deeply in the importance of having a supportive and loving relationship--with yourself and with your partner. I will help you learn how to stop when anger, fear and hurt cause you to react in defensive and aggressive ways toward your partner. By slowing down and taking care of yourself first, you will gradually learn how to connect from a more vulnerable and honest place, creating a more satisfying and peaceful relationship together.

I am a career counselor and psychotherapist. My approach is to collaboratively explore your thoughts, beliefs and life experiences to help you gain greater self-knowledge and enable you to live a more satisfying life. Whether you are in the midst of a life struggle or not necessarily in crisis but looking to improve your general quality of life and well being, I believe our work together will empower you to cope with life difficulties in a productive way as you break negative patterns and have a deeper connection to yourself and others.

Whether one seeks relief from anxiety, trauma, relational impasses, or life disillusionment, therapy can help. It is unfortunate that insufficiently engaged approaches to therapy, prohibitive rates, and the unconscionable reluctance of most clinicians to accept insurance fail so many clients, who in good faith seek to discover a healing of heart and mind. As a psychodynamic therapist, I view my role as an empathic change agent employed to help bring about a fuller knowledge of self and a more liberated experience of life and relationship. I also supervise highly promising interns from NWU available for as low as $15-30 per session.

I am currently accepting new clients - Perhaps you're reaching out because life's stressors have become overwhelming, relationships are challenging, or symptoms are too intense to handle alone. I specialize in depth-oriented therapy for adults facing personal, professional, or family challenges. I also work with people who feel generally resilient and successful but are navigating significant or acute levels of stress.

As a therapist with 25 years of experience and extensive training, I understand the complexities of suffering and the healing process. Professional peers have described me as "exceptionally attuned," "warmly down to earth" and "to the point." I offer a compassionate, accepting, and wise presence to the therapy relationship. Because this relationship is paramount to your therapy experience, I offer a free initial consultation so that we can meet. I believe that human beings have an amazing ability to gain insight and create change in their lives and am dedicated to this process for clients, myself and all beings.

Deciding to take those initial first steps toward seeking help through psychotherapy can be challenging. Some initial concerns may include, "How will I know if the therapist is competent?" "What if they judge me?" "Will I feel comfortable telling them what I am really feeling and thinking?" These concerns are extremely common in trying to find the right therapist for you. The key phrase is "the right therapist for YOU..." Everyone is different with different needs. I encourage you to read about my experience and the services I provide in to see if I may be the right therapist for you.

Don't let TikTok be your only therapist. It's easy to fall into a rabbit hole trying to figure out "what's wrong" with us, when in reality, we just need to better understand our individual needs, limits, and desires. There's nothing wrong with you, I promise. Therapy can offer new tools, support, and accountability to find peace and understanding, and help you feel like yourself again. Whether you've been to therapy before or not, we can always benefit from added support and connection while navigating life's biggest stressors.

No matter the stories you bring in or the identities that you hold, my aim is to create a safe space for you to find healing. I have experience with clients of all ages, from littles to the more-seasoned. I have worked with interpersonal violence survivors, borderline personality disorder, complex PTSD, LGBTQ+ populations, empty-nesters, neurodivergent folk, and those experiencing faith deconstruction or spiritual abuse. I am now taking virtual clients from all over Texas!

We all go through periods in our lives that challenge us. Perhaps you are going through a significant life change, like starting college or grad school, moving, grieving the loss of a loved one, or relationship changes. Perhaps you are in a period of intense emotions that overwhelm you. Perhaps you just want to get to know yourself better. As a therapist, I am here to help support you through these difficult times. I offer a warm, judgment-free space that allows for exploration, healing, and growth. My style is engaging, kind, and curious. I hope to make the process comfortable for you.

Why is this coming up now? Why can't I just get over it? As we move through life, and especially at times of transition or loss, old wounds can create new pain. Symptoms like critical self-talk, painful anxiety, persistent sadness, recurring difficulties in love and work, can become overwhelming, making trouble in our relationships and getting in the way of living our best life. Working together, we can make sense of what's happened and understand its effect on your present experience, opening up the opportunity for true healing and building capacity for deeper connections with others.

I use a strength-based collaborative and active approach and believe in treating the whole person from a biopsychosocial perspective. I integrate research from various sources including: neuroscience and its impact on overall health, individual and relational functioning; the importance of authenticity, emotionality, resiliency and humor, and values identification across personal and professional contexts. Specific resources include: Psychobiological Approach to Couples Counseling, The Daring Way, and Contemplative Based Trauma Resiliency Training (The Portable Calm).