Trauma Focused Therapists in Austin, TX

I believe in providing a safe environment and building a strong and great relationship with all clients. Through my experience as a professional counselor, I have gained a strong understanding of anxiety, depression, PTSD, dissociation, and trauma related to mental health. Previously, I was working in a university mental health clinic, as well as for a non- profit organization that helps individuals relating to trauma and PTSD. Most of my experience has focused on working with adults ranging in age from 18-65, but I welcome all age ranges into counseling.

I have worked with children and their families for the past 12 years in childcare, educational, and therapeutic environments. I know that we can work together to help your child express and communicate their feelings in a way that everyone can understand. I want to work with you and your family to find the best way to help all of you be happy and successful. I work with children and families with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Personality Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, sexual abuse, sex trade survivors, children in the foster care system, and children with their adoptive families.

Has distress, trauma, or a major transition disrupted your nervous system, or caused anxiety or depression. Is emotional dysregulation negatively impacting the relationships you care about the most? If you're experiencing PTSD, relationship challenges, grief, depression, caregiver fatigue, or anxiety of what lies ahead for you and your loved ones, I can help you settle emotional distress, restore equilibrium, and learn beneficial coping skills to support personal well-being and healthier relationships. I really believe that help begins by reaching out, and I'm glad you're here. Call or text me for a free consultation.

You may feel, broken, abandoned, or alone in your journey right now. I am proud of you for making it this far. My connection with you is a deep relationship that I do not take for granted. As children, many of us had to learn to make ourselves smaller in order to feel loved or worthy. These early life experiences often shape how we view ourselves and our relationships with others. I work with adult individuals who struggle to find their own voice and identity through a collaborative approach. Together, we will rediscover your voice and reclaim your space. You deserve to take up space in every single room that you are in.

Welcome to my page! What brings you to therapy today? Are you feeling stuck, lost, overwhelmed, or not yourself lately? Do you need some help working through past experiences which are interfering with your life? Are you trying to navigate who you are? Whatever your reason is, I am here for you. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas and Colorado with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver. I graduated in 2013 and have been in the counseling field since. My experience involves working with adolescents, families and adults for the past 7 years.

Are you facing challenges in your personal life that's impacting your relationships? Do you often feel these challenges leave you feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or confused? I work collaboratively with clients, to help identify and achieve their goals. I sincerely strive to be a source of strength, hope, and empowerment for my clients. I have experience and enjoy working with a broad and diverse group of people; children, adolescents, individual adults, couples, and families. Issues I am passionate about are; trauma, grief, family/romantic relationships, anxiety, effective communication skills, depression, and life transitions.

My areas of focus are: traumatic experiences and PTSD, adoption & foster care, couple & family life challenges, Depression, drug and alcohol problems, LGBT youth and families, ADHD, parenting enhancement, Learning Disabilities, Anxiety Disorders, adolescent issues, subtle neuropsychological issues, Mood Disorders, youth and the criminal justice system, and CPS involvement with families. In April of 2017, I was honored with the Heart of the Home award for my career working with the abused children of Texas.

As we navigate life, we have experiences that shape how we view ourselves and others. Sometimes these experiences and our circumstances become overwhelming and we need help straightening things out to see things clearly. As a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, I support and empower my individual, couple, and family clients by embarking with them on a journey of discovery to explore how small changes in patterns of thought and behaviors may be helpful in alleviating them from their feelings of being "stuck".

*accepting wait list only* Life can be complicated, overwhelming and stressful at times. It can feel as though nothing is going as planned or things are spinning out of control. Therapy can be a powerful tool utilized to lessen the roadblocks of life. I truly believe therapy is best with a holistic approach. Therapy begins with the mind, but is connected to our body & overall health. I believe the therapeutic process begins & flourishes with the individual. My role is to provide guidance & support through individual’s life challenges. I take pride in the work I do. I enjoy the ability to assist others in their journeys through life.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and psychotherapist, my approach is a client-centered in order to provide a welcoming, collaborative and empathic environment for clients to gain skills to enjoy their life. I specialize in Radically Open DBT (RODBT), an evidenced-based treatment targeting over-control coping that is linked to social isolation, poor interpersonal functioning, hyper-perfectionism, rigidity, risk aversion, lack of emotional expression, and difficult to treat mental health problems such as obsessive compulsive disorder, restrictive eating disorders, and treatment resistant anxiety and/or depression.

*Accepting adults and couples* A trauma-focused, relational Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in the depth and existential tradition. I work together with clients to create and reach goals and commit to them inquisitively. We will employ myriad methods in ways that enhance coping skills, provide meaning, create and foster change-- all with a gentle, open approach. I work well with persons undergoing stress, anxiety, depression, existential concerns, and unease. We will together build a compassionate and curious container to undertake this work. It is an honor to work with you to reveal a more vibrant, resilient self.

Occasionally, our path through life appears filled with potholes, blind curves, and dead-ends. This can be overwhelming if we lack the tools to surmount these obstacles. Do you occasionally feel you were absent on the day the instruction manual for life was being handed out? If the answer is yes, then you are most definitely not alone. The decision to seek therapeutic counsel, guidance and support is not always a simple one. I feel honored when someone allows me to be a part of their journey towards wellness and greater satisfaction with life.

Are you having trouble letting go of painful and unhelpful thinking patterns? Feeling a sense of ‘now what’? What about debilitating anxious feelings? Are you ready to explore/process how past trauma(s) may be impacting your life? Perhaps you are experiencing stress or difficult transitions. Whether you’re battling depression, feeling anxious, experiencing conflict, or dealing with symptoms from trauma, Damaris will provide a safe space to help support and guide you toward your personal goals.

"Defeat the bad behavior, not the kid" & "Play is the natural language of the child" and "Rules without relationship=REBELLION" are terms I have followed throughout my clinical career. Parents..remember, the behaviors didn't take overnight to appear, nor will they disappear overnight. But with empathy+compassion+consistency=CHANGE. OCFS specializes in children from 3 to 13 yo. Mobile--Office--Telehealth services available. [Insurance accepted] OCFS is also a proud provider of BCBS Medicaid and Superior Health Medicaid. Cruise OCFS blog! https://overlandchildrenfamilyservices.com/blog

My counseling approach centers around attuning to wisdom to uncover your internal healing and growth. I love working with truth-seekers and those who are looking to break free from old cycles. My method, rather than relying solely on talk therapy which can often keep us spinning in a circle, focuses on using the mind-body connection to deepen your own awareness. I combine spiritual teachings, yogic and meditative knowledge, somatic and trauma focused therapies, and mindfulness to help you heal and find joy rather than just analyze your pain.

Clients that seek my expertise report anxiety (including performance anxiety in the workplace), depression, or grief. As one of my clients stated: "We do not become awesome, highly intelligent, compassionate, and interesting human beings if we have not been through something". Some of the signs of being affected by traumatic events are overreacting (triggered) in present situations, and feeling stuck in false belief systems i.e “I’m not good enough”, “I have to be perfect”, and “I am powerless”. My focus is to help my clients develop a strong sense of self, the ability to set healthy boundaries and to live optimally in the present.

As a therapist, I strive to always be honest with my clients, open to feedback and to work in a collaborative manner. It is my focus to assist you in reaching the goals that YOU want to achieve. We will work in a collaborative manner to create goals and to design a pathway to change. I will challenge you to enact this change, and guide you through the process in a supportive manner. For Parents of Children and Teens: Trauma, ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression can play havoc with your child's ability to thrive and be happy, but also can negatively affect their grades, cognitive abilities and emotional regulation. I am here to help.

I love helping people find their way, whether through traumatic experiences from the past or through current life stressors. For adolescents and adults who have experienced emotional trauma, I utilize trauma-focused approaches, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). There are a variety of approaches to therapy and together, we will explore which would be most beneficial to you as the client. I find that most people really enjoy the therapeutic experience and come out of it more self-assured and confident.

Are you are struggling with depression, trauma, anxiety, or the effects of family dysfunction? If so, you have come to the right place. Working through these issues on your own can feel daunting and overwhelming. It's ok, I can help you create a roadmap for your healing. I know you are probably tired of trying to do the hard work on your own. That is why therapy is essential and for many, it's a fast track to healing and restoration. As a seasoned professional with over 10 years of helping people heal, I am committed to your process.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Registered Play Therapist and a National Certified Counselor. I work with families, couples and individuals needing support with stressors, relationships, adolescent transitions and other issues that may be affecting the quality of life. My work focuses on understanding the issues and creating constructive changes in a safe and supportive environment. The process is a collaboration, and it is both challenging and highly rewarding.