Therapists in Austin, TX

Practice is based on client needs. Experience helping people with trauma and Complex PTSD, anxiety and marital issues. Certified in telehealth treatment. Have provided clinical consultation and have provided clinical supervision for clinicians for three decades.

Are you looking for an inclusive and culturally conscious therapist? Many of the concerns that clients bring up in therapy often involve challenges related to their identities (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, body size, etc.) and/or moving through a world that oppresses them. When describing their previous experiences in therapy, many clients have expressed things to me like, “my therapist just didn’t get me", and as a result, have been unintentionally harmed by assumptions or comments made by previous therapists. As part of my practice, it’s important to me that I hold a deep respect for your worldview and experiences.

There are moments in life when we feel stressed, lost, or overwhelmed. Feeling alone in our struggles can be disheartening. Whether you’ve come to this place because life circumstances have shifted, the day-to-day feels too strenuous to manage, or you’re hurting in some way, we all have unique strengths that can help us navigate these challenges. Therapy is one way to foster those strengths, and when we are given a warm and trusting therapeutic space, we can often find harmony and solutions to our struggles. I focus on helping individuals with anxiety, depression, stress, shame, grief, life transitions, or relationship struggles.

I offer an attuned, flexible form of evidence-based therapy that treats you as a unique person--not just a set of symptoms. Surprising though it may sound, your emotional distress is meaningful. It contains patterns and also clues that allow you to better know yourself and overcome obstacles to your goals. As an experienced psychologist, I'll help you to pinpoint these patterns and decipher these clues.

Are you feeling lost or alone? Perhaps you have tried to use food, sex, drugs to fill up something empty inside and found relief fleeting. But now you are ready to look inside, to do some deeper work. How brave you are and how scary this is, and that's where I can help. We will create a safe, judgement free space to explore and make sense of your experiences, feelings, relationships and behaviors. Together, we will make a path into the sacred place of healing.

Being a parent is hard and you don’t have to do it alone! The journey of pregnancy through motherhood can be joyous, overwhelming, fun and draining; it is emotionally and physically exhausting and everyone needs help or support at times. Are you experiencing infertility, pregnancy loss or complications, a NICU stay, or postpartum mood and anxiety disorders? Focusing on your own needs and healing for a short time each week can help improve your ability to care for yourself, your children and family.

My name is: Kelly Michael Hays a LCSW-S, (Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Supervisor) in the State of Texas. In Social Work since 1989 after graduation from Our Lady of The Lake University of San Antonio, TX. I am a Retired Navy (Hospital Corpsman) /Army (Social Work Officer) Veteran and have served in Family Advocacy, Hospice, Outpatient Mental Health, Juvenile Probation, Inpatient Mental Health, Physical Rehabilitation, Veteran Services over the past 30 plus years. I've served as a "Life-After-Loss" facilitator for the American Cancer Society as well as a "Stephen-Ministry Leader" in Two Lutheran Congregations in the past.

I specialize in helping people navigate life’s twists and turns. You may be struggling with issues related to relationships, confidence, anxiety or major life changes. Or perhaps, there's an experience you are having difficulty moving past. Imagine feeling less burdened by life's circumstances, more resilient to challenges and having more gratifying relationships with your self and/or loved ones. Imagine feeling comfortable being authentically you, believing in your abilities and being witness to your own personal growth. Together, through a collaborative process, we can make this a reality.

Has your most significant relationship been suffering to where you're wondering if you'll ever get the love and respect back that you once had? I enjoy helping couples find ways to communicate with each other more effectively to feel close again. This involves learning to discuss rather than argue, learning to express your feelings, desires and needs and to hear the same from your partner, and practicing rising above criticism and defensiveness. Rather than "in your head" talk therapy, it is all about getting out of your head and opening up on a deeper emotional level.

You have worked hard to get where you are. Career, relationships, "success." On paper you have it all, but it still feels like something is missing. You feel unsupported, unfulfilled, or held back from your full potential due to anxiety, stress, depression, alcohol or drugs, or unexpected life changes. You can see where you want to go in life, but still feel stuck. It doesn't have to be this way. It is possible to have the balance in life you crave. You can be successful AND happy. Make yourself a priority in this busy life you lead. Let me help you thrive.

All day you hear the critical voice of the eating disorder in your head, dictating your what you can eat, how you should feel and what your allowed to do that day. It feels like a continuous battle that consumes your day and takes you away from what really matters to you. The committee in your head occupies your every thought and judges your every move. To make matters worse we live in a society that feeds the committee through diet culture. You struggle to take up space and letting others in to help you when you need it most. Your struggle is real and valid! This daily battle is exhausting and leaves you questioning reality.

I am currently offering a sliding scale, as we all deal with these extraordinary times. Living a human life can be hard. Each of us is likely to encounter problems or dilemmas that leave us feeling depressed, anxious or overwhelmed. We may have been hurt a while ago but still unable to get past it. We may seek relief yet not find resolution. Often we are caught between wanting to get through something, yet enacting ineffective behaviors meant to keep us safe. This is when it can be helpful to have someone help us face what life is asking from us.

Does your life feel out of control? Are you stretched too thin? Does each day seem to feel more difficult than the last? Sometimes we feel broken beyond repair. Megan works with adolescents, young adults, and adults to begin piecing their lives back together. In a society that makes us feel powerless and overlooked, Megan helps clients reclaim their voice, create healthy boundaries, and establish control and meaning over their lives. She offers a compassionate, friendly, and non-judgmental space for clients to bring forth their problems while helping them develop skills that promote healing, change, and resilience.

I strive to create a warm and trusting relationship with my clients as a base from which to explore their emotions, thought processes, and relationships that are contributing to their current distress. I then act as a guide in helping clients move toward the change they want to see in their lives. My approach to therapy is relational, integrative, and collaborative. I weave mindfulness and self-compassion into explorations of past and current relationships and the building of new coping skills to help clients better manage their current difficulties and change underlying patterns.

Congratulations on taking a step towards healing! I have experience working with concerns around sex and sexuality (LGBTQIA+ welcomed), substance use/addiction, anxiety, depression, trauma, family of origin, support with work/life balance, medical professionals with vicarious trauma, isolation and loneliness, support with healthy attachment. The most important variable in successful therapy is the individual's feelings of trust and safety with the therapist. My first goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable to be yourself.

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." -Confucius. My philosophy is this; you already know the answers to your problems, you just don't know that you know them yet. My job is to help you unlock the secrets to your own happiness and productivity. I work with adults, adolescents, couples, and families, and get tremendous fulfillment in seeing my clients succeed. No problem is unsolvable. Working with me will grant you greater stress tolerance and emotional resilience, as well as "mind-hacks" that will change how you deal with normal day-to-day life.

You deserve to be seen, heard, and valued. I am passionate about working collaboratively with children, adolescents, teens, and adults. My goal is to create a safe and supportive space where clients feel seen and understood during their journey towards healing and mental wellness. I value working with diverse clients navigating a wide range of difficult life experiences and issues.