We work with individuals on a broad range of issues including anxiety, stress, depression, dating, existential questions and crises, interpersonal skill, confidence, self-esteem, and relationship/family issues. We offer groups and have the expertise to determine when group therapy is most appropriate to the goals you’re bringing to therapy. We also help individuals prepare for romantic partnership through an intensive 3-month individual program that helps clients through the dating and courtship process.
Individual psychotherapy is helpful in a number of ways. It affords the client dedicated attention each session on the issues of his/her choice. Individuals benefit from a therapeutic relationship that is both compassionate and challenging in order to stimulate growth in a safe and trusted environment. As the therapy relationship deepens, more material rises to the surface to be explored and ultimately transformed. Individual therapy can be targeted and very practical (I want to get out of depression quickly), or more exploratory (I want to build relationship and communication skills in a group for a few years).
At Austin Professional Counseling, we like to use a mix of talk therapy, in-depth exploration of issues, and experiential work such as mindfulness, body awareness, and role playing in order to help our clients reach their goals. We believe in having a fair, genuine, caring and authentic relationship with you. Our approach is informed by interpersonal, humanistic, attachment-based and emotion-focused perspectives. We integrate neuroscience, somatic strategies, and the most-advanced approaches to couples therapy.
While we believe in the innate healing power and resilience of people, we understand that at times it can be important to integrate medical consults and treatment with our counseling. While we generally advise lifestyle modifications first, we work closely with Austin’s top psychiatrists should medication be needed. Such collaboration and coordination between the medical and counseling aspects of treatment is invaluable and accelerates healing and growth.
We are not averse to honest discussions surrounding mental health issues. When appropriate, we believe in discussing mental health diagnoses and their effective treatment in a collaborative fashion with clients. Some issues, such as active addiction, eating disorders, and acute unresolved trauma can benefit greatly from the specific attention of topic specialists. Depending on the issues present and the treatment plan we develop together, we occasionally work in conjunction with or refer to specialists in certain areas in order to ensure the most effective care for each client. We put you and your needs, health, and optimum life first, and support you in all the ways that we can.
