Dissociative Disorders (DID) Therapists in Austin, TX

I offer depth oriented therapy, meaning transformation through felt experience, getting in touch and being curious with the most complex parts of ourselves, examining wishes, fears, and possible traumas, and creating safety both relationally and internally for the exploration of these things. I place emotional safety at the forefront of my work as I believe that most psychological injuries are the result of being afraid, neglected or humiliated during states of emotional distress or need in the past. I work well with creative and deeply feeling and thinking people and those who have an authentic desire toward growth and healing.

Finding the right therapist in itself can be overwhelming. I provide free consultations so that you can get an idea if we are a good fit. It's been my passion the last 17 years to help people after experiencing traumatic events. I am trained in EMDR which is also known as "no talk therapy". You can share as much or as little as you like making it a preferable type of therapy for those struggling with trauma but not comfortable talking about it. I have also worked closely with first responders for the last 10 years making me familiar with the culture.

I have 10 years' clinical experience providing individual and couples therapy to adults. Every step we take has its mirror in the brain; in therapy you have a chance to re-write important parts of your story and support to move in new directions. I have extensive experience as a generalist mental health provider, working with anxiety, depression, major life changes, and relationship struggles. My clinical work has specialized in the LGBTQ+ community and I am comfortable with diverse sexual, gender, and relationship presentations.

I'm JoAnn Ponder, psychologist in private practice. I earned my Ph.D. in educational psychology in 1998, but started practicing with my M.A. in 1977. I have over 30 years of experience in working with children and adults in inpatient and outpatient treatment. I've had postgraduate training in play therapy, sandplay, infant-parent intervention, family/couples therapy, and child/adult psychoanalysis. Research has demonstrated that early experiences with significant others affect brain structure; foster individuation, self-esteem, and emotional regulation; and serve as templates for subsequent interpersonal relationships.

We all have a need to tell our story. Finding a therapist to help you through this journey called life is an important decision. Now more than ever you may be struggling with uncertainty, anxiety and depression. At its best, psychotherapy is a process of mutual discovery and a relationship that unfolds over time.

Have you struggled with self identity or making meaning of your experiences? Have you experienced trauma based on your race, gender, or other intersectional identities? Have you struggled to find spaces where you feel empowered or a sense of belonging? If so, I want to say that you are not alone in your struggles and I am proud of you for making the first step in seeking help! Often times, when you have experienced trauma, it can be difficult to find spaces where you are able to shift through your emotions safely, explore your lived experiences, or feel connected to others.

Pain exists to make us pay attention. Trying desperately not to hurt, we compromise our integrity, our hearts and our sense of self, on some misguided mission to be invulnerable, to please, to care-take, or just to belong...Somewhere along the way, our vision of ourselves loses focus. Therapy can help create a new template for living. Research shows us that the brain can actually re-wire itself in the context of a secure relationship, developing new capacities for self-soothing, obtaining perspective, and being intimate. I believe that all suffering bears embedded gifts, if we look hard enough.

I am a licensed social worker and contemplative psychotherapist practicing in Texas. I specialize in helping people return to themselves through understanding and attuning to their nervous systems, while rediscovering the wisdom inherent in their own bodies so that they may fully realize their own purpose and have a better sense of belonging. My philosophy centers around the understanding that a client is always the expert of their own life. It emphasizes the importance of witnessing and supporting the client's personal journey, with the overall aim to assist you in improving the quality of your life and your relationships.

Welcome! My name is Danielle McGowan and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 18 years of clinical experience working with young adults, individuals, and families in their crisis, trauma, or desire for change. I specialize in adjustment, trauma, grief, anxiety, and understanding behavior patterns that are set from childhood and family systems. My most common practices include cognitive behavioral therapy, emotional-focused therapy, solution-focused, motivational interviewing, and grief work. I believe that the most memorable therapy connections are with the most hesitant or unsure individuals.

I believe that people change when we feel safe.  Through a genuine and trust-centered therapy relationship, my job is to create room for exploration and self-acceptance so that my clients’ lives can improve. Many of my clients have difficult family relationships, struggle with boundaries, and are working on finding love from within, rather than externally. I help them discover how to create a life with more love, patience, and peace.

Do you want to grow and self-actualize? My modalities are experiential/insight oriented, so I like to work with people who look into themselves for healthier, fulfilled lives. Do you have depression/anxiety, bipolar? Looking for a career change, have gender identity questions, or want to maximize your potential? Need learning disability advocacy? Then call me today. We bring our past and decisions into every situation. Knowing what those decisions are, and that the past does not define us, is the first step in successful therapy. I use re-decision, Gestalt, NLP, hypnosis, and mindfulness to find answers and peace within.

I believe therapy is a process helps people to fully participate in their lives. I use several therapeutic styles and a collaborative approach. Together, we identify "the problem," then explore obstacles that block the process. The goal is wholeness and healing and you, as the client, decide what that looks like. Building a safe, respectful and trusting relationship is essential for success ---- as the client defines "success." I also believe that even in the most dire of circumstances, we can find joy, hope and even laughter. I enjoy playing a part in that with my clients.

I believe that therapy should be a supportive, collaborative and challenging experience of self-discovery and self-acceptance where all emotions, ideas and issues can be explored and new patterns can unfold. Primarily working with adults, I specialize in working with individuals who may have had difficult childhoods and are wondering how those past experiences may be contributing to their current struggles, conflicts, stagnation or chaos.

We are in this together! My intent as your therapist is to reinforce that you are not alone on your journey while we work together towards identifying your goals and utilizing the best tools for you to accomplish them. I believe that mental health counseling is not only needed when feeling that things are going wrong, but can also be useful in maintaining and striving towards your best self. Whether it's exploring stability in your mental health, overcoming barriers to accomplishing your goals, or even identifying what your goals might be, I am here to help!

I am an advanced clinician in Imago Therapy. When relationships aren't working very well or are on the brink of ending, it really feels bad; like the rug is being pulled out from under you. Often there are solvable reasons for why these things happen. I am motivated by those methods such as Imago therapy and EFT which have worked so well for so many in the past to help couples develop a high degree of safe attachment in their relationships. Something, that once they have learned how to do it, they can take with them because it is portable.

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.

Are you having difficulty managing barriers that are keeping you from living life as completely as you would like? Working on agreed upon goals, I help clients with skills that offer movement towards change. Are you experiencing high anxiety, panic, thoughts of suicide, or relationship problems that seem impossible to change?

Feelings and sensations are housed in our bodies. This is why the body in motion is our best tool to process life experiences, relieve stress, gain clarity and connect to your authentic self. If you are looking to develop a relationship with yourself and understand your own patterns as they show up in your life, I can help. Our bodies are wise and through movement, one can access parts of themselves that simply cannot be accessed verbally alone.

I seek to provide a safe, encouraging, non-judgmental, Christian atmosphere where people can heal and feel empowered. I believe that God designed people to heal and live in harmony, but sometimes life's problems and past experiences get in the way. Traumatic experiences and/or destructive attitudes, addictions, or behaviors can have a detrimental impact on all aspects of life. I use EMDR, a remarkably effective and proven treatment for quickly healing old wounds and helping people embrace their own spiritual and emotional strengths.