Therapists in Austin, TX

Immediate Availability- Successful therapy depends on the therapist's ability to connect with the client, understand their goals, adapt to their needs, and cultivate a safe, secure space in which to foster emotional awareness and personal growth. I strive to tailor every aspect of my integrative therapeutic approach to provide the individual, couple, or family with an experience that fully embraces these principles.

I understand that finding a therapist who you can trust and feel comfortable with is important. I am easy to talk to and offer a warm, relaxed, and non judgmental environment where you can speak honestly and confidentially about any issues you may be having in your life. My role as a therapist is to help you both explore opportunities for growth and change and to look for barriers that might be getting in the way.

I believe the counseling process needs to be tailored to the needs of each individual and the client-counselor relationship is very important in effectively addressing life situations and emotional pain. My education and experience has prepared me to counsel individuals, couples, and families. I have spent several years gaining expertise providing mindfulness based counseling (Hakomi) to clients interested in this person-centered approach. EMDR and PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy - Stan Tatkin's work) trained. Certified mediator.

I work alongside individuals who are looking to move beyond feelings of being "stuck" and alone in their pain. I work collaboratively with clients to navigate healing recurring relational patterns, inner conflict, social isolation, anxiety, dissociation, complex trauma, depression, self-esteem issues, racial and cultural issues, family stress, loss, and grief. I also find joy in helping those who are going through life transitions and seeking a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in their life path. Together, we can explore and understand the root causes of your challenges to reach deeper healing.

I have over 25 years of experience helping people address issues that block them from reaching their full potential in life. Understanding the source of problems is vital to making effective changes. I will help you identify what is causing you trouble and how to effectively improve it. Over the years, I have come to understand how important it is to not only connect with what one is experiencing psychologically but also connecting with how our emotions are stored and experienced in our body. I specialize in improving relationships with important people in your life and especially your relationship with yourself.

Are you struggling with recent life transitions? Not sure how to break the cycle of yo-yo dieting or how to manage frequent, anxious thoughts? At Autonomy Therapy, we provide high quality, evidence-based care to support our clients in learning how to strengthen their mind-body connection and become the most authentic, resilient versions of themselves. The therapy that our clinicians provide empowers our clients to develop increased trust with their own thoughts, emotions, and decisions, and supports them in identifying what an intentional, autonomous, and values-based life truly looks and feels like.

My approach is rooted in compassion, recognizing the courage it takes to seek support and the vulnerability inherent in sharing one's story. I am committed to creating a safe and nurturing space where you can freely express yourself, knowing that you are met with empathy and non-judgment. Together, we can navigate the complexities of your emotions and experiences, fostering resilience and empowering you to lead a more fulfilling life.

I work with clients who are struggling with anxiety, grief, or wanting to improve their relationships with themselves or others. You may find it difficult to offer yourself kindness in the same way you would towards a friend or family member. Many of my clients have felt stuck in the same narrative and patterns, leading them to feel more alone and isolated. I see individuals in a holistic perspective and hope to empower them to change their lives in a way that aligns with their personal values. I approach counseling through the lens of an attachment and nervous system perspective.

I incorporate my experience at Meridell Achievement Center, which includes working with high-risk individuals that struggled with suicidal ideation/ self-harm/ aggression/ severe depression and anxiety/ and family and social conflict, into my therapeutic technique. Yet, I will work with your unique story by exploring your struggles and unhealthy coping mechanisms to find the turning point that can be reversed using cognitive behavioral therapy and solution focus therapy techniques. I use my unique observation techniques to help them discover both healthy and mal-adaptive sub-conscious patterns.

I hope you take a moment to recognize how much work you’ve done to get to this place. You’ve survived this long, and you should be proud. For most folks, surviving on its own doesn’t cut it anymore. We need to make some adjustments to sustain a more grounded and full life. I want you to experience collaborative healing that is safe, free of judgment, occasionally humorous, and rooted in kindness and gratitude. I currently practice under Therapy Austin and Central Austin Psychotherapy offering in-person and telehealth services.

Being vulnerable with someone new can be a very intimidating process, so I’m grateful that you have reached my page. Let me let you in on a secret…you can laugh in therapy. I know it sounds crazy right?! But I’m being completely candid. Some of my favorite moments in my career have been when we can find humor even while carrying our heavy burdens.

Lisa Thaler, LCSW moved to Austin in October, 2019 after maintaining a private practice in New York City for the past 28 years. She received her BA from Amherst College and her MSW from New York University. She completed her psychoanalytic training at The Women’s Therapy Centre Institute, which is specifically known for its attention to feminism, gender and social justice, as well as contemporary psychoanalytic thinking.

I work with Clients who seek change. I use many approaches to helping clients gain a greater understanding of self and the world at large.

You're feeling lost, frustrated, & exhausted amidst the challenges of communication breakdowns, boundary struggles, or the heartache of navigating painful things like infidelity, betrayal, grief, or loss, along with the trauma of it all. You feel like you've been separated from yourself somehow. You get the sense there must be another way, yet you've been overwhelmed by the pain & ashamed of what got you into this place. You want help to see a way out & into a life you love. Know this: you're not alone. I get it. Let's navigate these challenges together, while finding meaning & approaching life's hurdles with renewed grit & grace.

Are you suffering from persistent stress, depression, or anxiety? Feeling overwhelmed by changes in your life, job, or school? Going through a big transition or crisis right now? Using detrimental or unhealthy coping mechanisms? You should feel free to discuss it because you're not the only one. I assist teenagers, adults, and families who need help adjusting to life changes, controlling psychological and emotional discomfort, and dealing with troublesome habits and unhelpful thought patterns. My mission is to provide you the tools you need to reclaim your sense of mental equilibrium and take charge of your wellness needs.

We learn how to think about our thinking, and know about our knowing. We can learn how to be aware of our awareness, and explore our wiring and making a motion to rewire, if needed. I believe that we must learn to be vulnerable. Practicing vulnerability isn't about doing something for others. You're creating a soil, rich soil for you and your growth. You are raising your potential. You are positioning yourself. You are building a better, stronger you. I also believe that it is important in therapy that the client begin to look inward of themselves.

As an autistic person, my treatment is embedded in a philosophy of affirming care that respects neurodiversity and differences. I have an affinity for providing services to LGBTQ+ teens. I work collaboratively to figure out each individual's goals and treatment needs. My clients have often felt misunderstood, unseen, marginalized, and/or have experienced challenges with substance use. In our work together, I seek to provide clients with an experience of repair: if I don't understand, I will clarify and try harder. If I mess up, I will apologize. More than anything, I will always do my best to see the person in front of me.

Welcome! I look forward to getting to know you. I want to start by validating your willingness and strength to come forward and look into seeking help for yourself. You’ve already started your mental wellness journey by acknowledging that there are areas in your life that you would like to make some changes in, and that is exactly what I am here for. My goal is to give you the tools that you need to live a fully balanced life with healthy and fulfilling relationships by learning the balance between acceptance and change. My passion for therapy comes from my own positive experiences and the change that therapy has brought to my life.

I enjoy working with individuals and couples navigating difficult periods in their lives. I take a collaborative approach that is grounded in a curious and compassionate inquiry into the areas that get us all stuck. I work with individuals to move through these places in the context of a safe and trusting relationship. Within that relationship an individual can harness their own innate drive towards health and well-being. My work is grounded in my own mindfulness practice and I encourage clients to experiment with mindfulness as a path to transformation and wellness.