Sleep or Insomnia Therapists in Travis County, TX

I provide therapy using empirically supported treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. I believe emotional pain must be allowed and accepted in order to be fully felt and heard. I believe that often times, people seek therapy when their pattern of responding to pain has become overwhelming and they are unable to consistently find meaning in their lives. I work to help others accept their current experiences and emotions in order to choose to respond in a way that is no longer dictated by past narratives and/or automatic reactions.

At the heart of my work, I approach therapy from a relational, psychodynamic therapy model, which means I believe the relationship between the client and therapist can be a transformative component in the growth process. I am a LPC combining modern neurobiology with holistic somatic healing, the psychodynamic therapeutic relationship, and body-based practices to create an experiential awakening on a bodily, psychological and emotional level. I work from a somatic-centered therapeutic approach, meaning that I believe that the body tells the stories and narratives. For more information, my website is: www.kellypastori.com

First instinct: "I do not like the limits of a 'personal statement." That may be a statement in and out itself. And if I must...my professional motivation is to focus on increasing quality of life for people. This can look VERY different for every person. Walking along the "soul journey" to help people cultivate and create intuitive ways to deal with some of life's most vulnerable, and sometimes generally stigmatized challenges, is my passion. Shame (compassionately confronting this lens of life), co-dependency, abandonment, polyvagal exercises to create safety in the body to make space for breakthroughs, mindfully.

Working with me delivers therapy tailored specifically to you. I accomplish this by creating a safe environment in which we can explore underlying issues, then develop achievable mental health goals. Each session is a collaboration where I approach your concerns with values of caring, curiosity, compassion, and collaboration resulting in an individualized approach specific to your needs. I find that most clients often want more than just simple coping skills, they want to understand themselves further. I have the skills to help clients explore deep-seated issues in a non-threatening manner.

As a parent, you might have some concerns about your adolescent. They may be having a hard time making and keeping relationships with positive peers. They may be engaging in conflict with you about academics and rules in your home. The may not be able to regulate their negative emotions in a healthy way. Your attempts to provide advice and support may not seem like enough.

I've been a therapist for almost 15 years and have experience helping people with everything from everyday life anxieties and mild depression to severe traumas and Bipolar Disorders. My focus is to help people "stand up on the inside". To not only exhibit confidence in all areas of their life but to actually feel it.

My regard for my clients is always unconditional and it is always positive. I want to help those who have problems with depression, anxiety, addiction, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or many other mental health crises, these things that disconnect a person from himself or herself. More than ever, we have a duty to take ownership and redefine ourselves. Sometimes this requires much work, reflection, pain, courage, and sometimes maybe even a rebirth. I believe I can provide help with these things.

Our goal is to help you reach your goals and to get you to see your life from all angles. Many of our providers take the holistic approach and like to examine the mind body connection with those they work with. At the end of the day, it’s all about making you feel better! We will give you helpful coping tools and guide you in the direction of cultivating the life, success, and relationships that you deserve.

In a session with me as your counselor, what you see is what you get. I model authenticity by being present with my clients. You’ll find me to be compassionate, empathetic, perseverant, and even silly at times. I’m a strong believer in the power of talk therapy to ‘get the poison out’ – poison in the form of fear, anxiety, depression, worry, and feeling stuck. I will help you improve your self-esteem, enhance your communication skills, and manage your emotions more effectively. I am also a couples therapist and I am currently finishing my AASECT certification as a Sex Therapist.

I specialize in empowering individual people to take charge of their lives and create the life they want to have both internally and in their relationships with the significant people in their lives.

My goal is to help individuals and couples achieve peace and contentment by increasing self-awareness and recognizing behaviors that no longer serve them. I make it my aim to partner with clients on their journey, identify their strengths, help distinguish areas for growth, and provide clients with non-judgmental support along the way. I believe that strong and fulfilling relationships with other individuals can help people maintain emotional well-being. I have 20+ years of experience in mental health, including individual, marriage, group counseling, crisis intervention, and substance abuse assessments.

Are you struggling with anxiety, panic, worry, trauma, or intrusive thoughts? Do you find yourself avoiding situations, activities, or thoughts to manage anxiety? I specialize in treating anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and trauma-related disorders. Using an empathetic and warm style, and evidence-based treatments including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Exposure with Response Prevention, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, I can help you overcome your struggle with anxiety. Please feel free to call or email me at the Anxiety Treatment Center of Austin to see if my approach would be a good fit for you.

If you are experiencing difficulties with anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or related conditions, I am passionate about helping you to change your life. I received my PhD & MA in clinical psychology from UT Austin, specializing in anxiety disorder research and treatment. I seek to provide a safe, warm, and affirming environment where your individual experience is validated. However, I do not believe that warmth alone is enough for competent treatment. When finding a doctor to treat a broken arm you certainly want a provider who is kind, but unfortunately even the most empathetic doctor will be ineffective if they do not know how to cast an arm!

Are you struggling with recent personal or societal events, past or present traumas or losses, life transitions, or general life stressors? Do you need help navigating how to deal with these things in a productive, meaningful, or healthy way? Then you have come to the right place and I am happy you are here. We can expect to experience at least one or all of the above issues at some point in our lives, but we are not expected to endure them alone. I enjoy helping people who are struggling with grief, anxiety, boundaries, life transitions, & illness to name a few; while providing a warm, safe space for you to be authentic and heard.

Lack of Motivation, Addiction, & Relationship Issues - The 3 most common presenting problems in my practice today. Whether you’re dealing with any combination of the 3, or something else entirely, actualizing your potential is the way forward. I don't believe rehashing past experiences to no end is helpful. While talking about past experiences may be an important part of our work, growth manifests through present integration. Being as honest and direct as possible is the best way to demonstrate how I'm not here to waste your time. If we share this value, my style of therapy may be right for you.

The ideal client is one who is a collaborative individual wanting to tackle issues pertaining to motivation, anxiety control, overthinking, and feeling in control, this may involve existential questioning (LGBTQIA+). I imagine the clients goals to be more in control of themselves and to understand how their specific situation affects their day-to-day lives. This ideal client would want to collaboratively work together to tackle their various issues because they find it difficult to find time and focus on the here and now.

I have experience working with diverse clients with a variety of needs. The bulk of my career has been working with LGBTQ+ teens, adults with chronic illnesses, and people who use drugs in harm reduction outreach settings. A through-line in these experiences is recognizing the impact biology as well as its interactions with our social environment has on mental & physical health. As such, I apply a systems approach to understand the factors impacting a client and then leverage client strengths to achieve their goals. I welcome conversations about how structural factors impact health and how therapy can be one tool toward healing.

Sometimes life can be hard. Experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, the loss of a loved one or even a life’s transition (like job or relationship changes) can make you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or simply “frozen” without the ability to move forward. This can get in the way of your feeling happy, satisfied, having healthy relationships, or even reaching your full potential. If the above sounds like you, we should talk. Reach out to me to explore ways in how we can work together to help you move forward. I will provide you with a safe and confidential space to discuss your struggles without judgment.

Has your sense of safety and security been compromised by trauma or adverse childhood experiences? Or perhaps lately you have been feeling “off” and are unsure what is wrong. Whether the issue you are experiencing is big or small, my objective is to create a safe space where we can collaborate to resolve any obstacles in the way of living the life you want. I specialize in working with individuals who have lived through traumatic experiences and/or struggle with depression, anxiety, stress or chronic pain that affects their well-being.