Attachment-based Therapists in San Antonio, TX

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." This quote by Helen Keller represents my belief that hope and healing is available to all. I enjoy working with adults who are seeking deep healing.

Alyssa enjoys supporting children, adolescents, and young adults ages 18 months to 21 years to reach their potential with emotional regulation (identifying body sensations, labeling emotions, healthy coping strategies, etc.), communication (expressing wants and needs, responding to others, etc.), social (shared enjoyment, self-advocacy, initiating and/or responding to others, etc.), executive functioning (impulse control, planning, problem solving, flexible thinking, etc.), while reducing behavioral challenges that interfere in daily life.

Imagine that you are holding a bottle of soda. Now imagine yourself shaking that bottle. What happens if you open the top? It explodes everywhere! Now, if you take that same shaken up bottle and carefully turn the lid to let a little amount of air out at a time, it will settle. This is how I view therapy, with each shake representing a negative experience, relationship, and/or trauma. Good therapy demands being careful with and sensitive to those shakes, and eventually walking out of the door with a mind, a relationship, and a life...settled.

Could we be upfront? You're here because you want to feel differently. Maybe you're unsure about the problem. Or you know what it is but can't seem to fix it. Anxiety, traumatic experiences, relationship issues...it could be the same old pattern, or something out of the blue. You're in a great place to start. There is a pattern to the pain, and we can look at it together. I take a very direct and engaged position in helping you explore yourself, your strengths and your challenges. Through this process you will become more self confident. We'll create a collaborative relationship in which you can be open and honest without judgment.

I specialize in working with clients processing trauma, depression, anxiety, infidelity, divorce, and divorce recovery.

Because you’ve experienced difficult life circumstances—traumas, transitions, emotional and behavioral difficulties or dysregulation, perhaps painful relationships; you may feel weary, hopeless, helpless, anxious or afraid. You may not acknowledge your resiliency or recognize the courage and strength within you to overcome your challenges because stress has blurred your vision and depleted your hope and confidence. Through the process of identifying, expanding, and utilizing one’s personal strengths and skills, life-enhancing change and confidence is within reach.

I believe that a person is a whole being, with a mind, a body, and a spirit, and that often we are challenged in the balance and wellness of these parts of us. Every one of us encounters challenges and endures hardships throughout our lives that may upend the different parts of us that make us feel well and whole. Although we share this fundamental human experience, no one person’s journey to find this balance again is exactly the same and in therapy we will gently and compassionately work towards you rediscovering your own footing.

I enjoy working with clients of all ages. I am often referred adolescents who are involved in the Juvenile Justice System. I am qualified to provide sexual education and guidance to all ages within the framework of their family, community, and religious beliefs. I give parents guidance in helping them to navigate through the courts and their children's schools while offering advice and additional resources. I provide psychotherapy for people struggling with family or personal issues. I am available daytime and early evening hours.

My intent within my practice is create a safe space for all of your experiences. I have been dedicated to providing community mental health interventions for the past 10 years. I have extensive training and experience in cognitive-behavioral therapy, stage-based trauma therapy, LGBTQIA-affirmative therapy, and couples and family therapy. I provide an integrative theoretical approach and I believe in utilizing creative modalities for my clients. For those in the San Antonio area, I do offer walk and talk in person sessions. Please feel free to email me for a consult to learn more about this modality.

Welcome! The word trauma can sound scary and feel intense and overwhelming. I specialize in working with complex trauma and dissociation, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, and personality disorders. As an IFS, EMDR, and Somatic practitioner, I work with clients on helping all of their parts to find peace, return to the state of Self-Leadership, and find healing!

Making the decision to go to therapy is hard enough. Finding a therapist that you feel comfortable talking with about all the things in life that brought you to the office shouldn't be so hard. At Ellie Mental Health-San Antonio we understand these struggles. Do you know why? We know because therapists are just like everybody else. Being a therapist doesn't give us a "free pass" from all the struggles that can occur in life. That being said, we have the compassion, authenticity, and a sprinkle of humor to sit with you along your journey. No matter how big or small the situations, we have a therapist that will be your "Ellie Match" in your journey.

Are you feeling lost, stuck, anxious, or depressed? Are you struggling with traumatic memories, low self-confidence, problems in your relationships, or need improvements in social and communication skills? Are you ready to start changing unhealthy patterns, or habits and make progress toward your goals? I am ready to help you. Together we can work to untangle your ruminating thoughts and overwhelming emotions. I have helped individuals find understanding and healing in difficult situations, I specialize in areas of trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and relationship issues.

Life can be overwhelming. Do you experience anxiety, depression, low self esteem or relationship issues and need guidance to move forward? Together, we will identify and explore these issues. We will create goals so you can better understand the changes needed to make a difference in your life.

I provide therapy to children, adolescents, adults, elders, and couples. I am passionate about cultivating a collaborative, trauma informed, and safe therapeutic space that is culturally responsive. I have experience working with individuals who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, sexual abuse survivors, disabled, and sex workers. I use a person-centered, humanistic approach to explore experiences of oppression and ancestral trauma.

Healing begins with you, but you don't have to do it alone. I'm here for you during this journey. I have 17 years experience in the mental health field and 15 years experience in treatment. I am EMDR trained, and love helping clients heal from trauma, depression, and anxiety. Trauma is a lot more common than you realize, and includes any experience that has affected your self worth and/or wellbeing. If you feel different or like you don't belong, come see me. I'm real, compassionate, empathic, and transparent.

Trauma and loss can leave you feeling disconnected and alone. You may struggle with anger, depression, and self-blame. You may question who you are or your life's purpose. In therapy, I can help you rediscover your strengths and begin to reconnect. I will compassionately guide you through your most difficult experiences to achieve a new sense of self, strength, and peace.

In-person sessions are available! Aren’t you tired of reading profiles? Well, hello there; I'm Shaun, supervised by Abbey Pelosi, LCSW-S, CST! Finding a therapist can be challenging; it took me almost a year to find the person I felt comfortable with enough to be my therapist. I looked through profile after profile, and they all gave me the same basic information; what type of therapy they practiced, where they went to school, and how long they've been working. They had great resumes, but all I wanted to know was who they were as a person. Am I able to trust this person with my deepest secrets? Do we vibe? Do we connect?

You may have been experiencing yourself feel disconnected from yourself, your priorities, or relationships and perhaps even embarrassed that so many important parts of you are slipping through your hands. The constant struggle of wanting to feel at ease, calm and present, yet not knowing how to do that is making you feel defeated. You have found yourself here because you know that you cannot give up now, and that your life and relationships are your number one priority. Whether you are experiencing anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, or just "off," I know that you are ready for this change and you are so brave.

I specialize in supporting women, LGBTQIA+ folks, young adults, and mothers, ages 18-35 who may be having difficulties with anxiety or simply need a safe space to talk about their experiences and their lives. My goal is to provide a welcoming, warm, and affirming place for you to process through not only your daily stressors, but to unpack some of your childhood experiences that may be manifesting in the present moment. I believe you are the expert on yourself and my role is to listen, validate, and work in collaboration with you to establish short-term and long-term healing goals.