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If you've been searching for a Brainspotting therapist in Austin, you probably want a plain answer to a simple question: what actually happens in a session? Brainspotting can sound mysterious from the outside, especially if you've tried talking therapy and still feel stuck in your body, your reactions or your old patterns. This guide explains what Brainspotting is, how a session usually feels, who it may help, and how it compares to other trauma approaches. It's general educa

If you grew up in an unsafe or unpredictable home, or spent years in a relationship where you never felt settled, you may be carrying something that doesn't fit neatly into one "bad event." Many people searching for a complex trauma therapist in Austin describe a lingering sense that something is wrong with them, even when they can't point to a single moment that caused it. This guide explains what complex relational trauma is, how it can show up in adult life, and how it hea

The brain and body often have difficulty processing a traumatic event. The process can be painful, and it's tempting to find ways to bury...

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a common but serious mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences a...

One of the most important relationships that occur in life is that between a child and their parent or primary caregiver.

Connection is a human essential and necessity. It is just as important for a person as food, water, and shelter. People crave forming and ma

When a person feels at risk or in danger, they will experience a stress response.

Becoming a parent can be an incredibly joyful yet difficult journey, that brings about feelings of love and fulfillment. However, when estrangement or rocky relationships with your own parents brings complex feelings to this experience, it can become overwhelming to think about and to know how to feel about it. Navigating the territory of becoming a parent while being estranged from your own parents is a delicate dance. It is an experience that may require an immense amount o

Whether you have yet to acknowledge it or maybe you are aware of frequent, recurring patterns, all of us will experience dysregulating emotions at some point in our lives; most of us more than once. Early in our lives, this may look like what many of us call a “tantrum” and can occur from being disappointed, not getting our needs met, feeling unheard, and many other factors. When a young child has a temper tantrum, it may look like screaming, crying, or physical outbursts. As

As children, we learn from our parents about how to interact with ourselves, others, and the world around us. This can be a gift when our parents are emotionally mature and speak of themselves and others in ways that are uplifting, encouraging, and accurate. Unfortunately, not everyone is equipped to be a proper parent. A common misconception is that parenting is innate, but parenting is deeply influenced by what we have received ourselves. Looking for support? Our Downtown A

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) can both arise after experiencing a traumatic event, or multiple traumatic events. While there is often an overlap in symptoms, there are key differences between these two experiences that are important to understand. PTSD can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a tornado, an accident, or an assault. Symptoms of PTSD may vary in individuals, though common one

Finding gratitude or hope after difficult life circumstances can be tough - but it is a powerful force that will help you in your healing journey. When we've gone through something traumatic, or even a period of grief due to recent losses, it can be hard to see through the fog. We may be experiencing symptoms of depression, anger, anxiety, or vacillating through the stages of grief. All of these experiences are quite normal when we've gone through something heavy. Whether you

When you think about healing from trauma, you might think about attending therapy, taking medications, joining a group, or attending an outpatient program. While all of these are oftentimes necessary building blocks in our healing journey, not one of these will be complete without daily tangible tasks and routine to support our healing. Looking for support? Our Downtown Austin therapists are accepting new clients, in person or virtually across Texas. Book a free 15-minute con

The transition from childhood to adulthood, especially the shifts in relationship dynamics between a parent and child, is incredibly unique. Your child is establishing independence and differentiating from you, and learning about themselves. What you may not expect is when your adult child tries to talk about their childhood with you, how it may have been difficult for them, and your role in it. It can be very shocking when your adult child has a different perspective than yo

Life is busy and you’re having trouble finding room to breathe. You’re overwhelmed, overworked, and stay in a state of stress. As human beings it’s normal for our brains to gravitate towards worst case scenarios because our brains are designed to keep us safe rather than to keep us happy. This means that when we are in a state of stress or overwhelm we have less capacity to look for the good, and instead are on high alert searching for signs of danger. We then are engaged in

Maybe you've heard about dissociation from a friend, a TikTok, or possibly even your therapist. Depending on how it is used, it may mean many different things. Dissociation is one of the most complex responses to trauma that we may experience. In Dr. Jamie Marich's book Dissociation Made Simple she explains the Latin root of dissociation, which simply means to sever or to separate. This separation can happen to varying degrees depending on the level of separation one may be e

Social media has been great in raising awareness to mental health struggles and providing insight into what it's like to experience some of these things. It also has been quite detrimental in leading everyone to incorrectly using words like "gaslighting," "narcissist," "dissociation," and even "anxiety & panic." This can be really confusing when someone might be saying they are anxious, when in reality they are experiencing normal nervousness. This can also take place in the

If the terminology “complex trauma” or “CPTSD” is familiar to you, there most likely have been significant boundary violations in your life. If you are reading this post, then maybe you have been pondering the thought of going to the doctor, or you’re seeking out answers on whether or not your experience was normal. Completing what are considered “normal” self care activities, like going to the doctor, can feel really confusing. If you grew up in chaos and abuse, wellness vis

We’ve all been there. It has been a hectic day already after managing chaos at work or school, and you come home and your child senses that you’re overwhelmed. Somehow, our kids know just what buttons to push when we are already distressed… but how and why? Looking for support? Our Downtown Austin therapists are accepting new clients, in person or virtually across Texas. Book a free 15-minute consult. Maybe it isn’t even that you’ve had an overwhelming day, but your child kee

What is Reparenting? Looking for support? Our Downtown Austin therapists are accepting new clients, in person or virtually across Texas. Book a free 15-minute consult. To reparent is to give your inner child what they needed at each developmental stage. To acknowledge their hurts, pains, and concerns. To give voice to them for the times that their voice was ignored. Reparenting your inner child means being the parent to your younger self that you always needed and deserved. W