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157 licensed therapists & providers in Texas—1 in Austin. Available as soon as today, in person and online
Our providers work with individuals, couples, families, & teens for anxiety, depression, grief, & more
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94% of patients feel truly understood by their provider. 3 out of 4 see improvement in depression & anxiety symptoms within 3 months
Discover how starting LGBTQIA+ counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
Sometimes you just need a break from doing ALL. THE. THINGS. If you’re the type of person that feels like you're drowning and gets...
About
Sometimes you just need a break from doing ALL. THE. THINGS. If you’re the type of person that feels like you're drowning and gets anxiety about being anxious, you’re not alone.
Alejandra Hayden is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Texas with 9 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families. Alejandra has worked with clients to help them navigate their trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and much more.
After graduating from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology in New York City, Alejandra decided to continue her education in Texas. Alejandra graduated with her Master of Arts in Family Therapy from the University of Houston - Clear Lake.
When it comes to therapy, Alejandra utilizes ART (accelerated resolution therapy) relational, collaborative, strength-based, cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavioral, trauma-informed, solution-focused, and Gottman approach to assist her clients in meeting their goals. Alejandra tailors her sessions based on the client’s needs by remaining consistent in her flexibility, creativity, and awareness as she helps individuals and couples discover and utilize their unique strengths.
Alejandra understands that therapy can be intimidating at times. As such, she makes certain that she finds the right balance between listening and helping clients expand beyond their comfort zones by creating a safe, caring, and trusting relationship with each person. Alejandra ensures that she collaborates with you so that you are not only meeting your goals but also discovering your personal strengths, values, and desires to live your life to the fullest.
Education and training
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As a career-oriented woman living with lifelong anxiety and attention issues, I understand the unique issues encountered in overco...
As a career-oriented woman living with lifelong anxiety and attention issues, I understand the unique issues encountered in overcoming the day-to-day stress involved in managing the many roles associated with fulfilling personal, family, and career obligations.
Brandy Messiah is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with a mission to deliver quality mental health care to individuals and their families by providing a safe, nonjudgmental environment to foster a strong therapeutic alliance with the patient and/or family. Brandy began a nursing career in 2009 as a Registered Nurse (RN) and spent the next 10 years as a bedside nurse in emergency medicine, psychiatry (outpatient programs & inpatient hospitals), long-term intensive care units (ICU), step-down ICU/cardiac/telemetry, home-health, and hospice.
Throughout her nursing career Brandy witnessed the many disparities in the delivery and approach to mental health issues. This led her to develop an intense passion for the mental health population. Her personal goal is to enhance the delivery of the mental health care to assist patients to better outcomes associated with mental health conditions.
Brandy thoroughly enjoys direct patient care and values the therapeutic relationship between patient/family and provider as the foundation to success in outpatient psychiatry. In this relationship, she will be able to provide you with the relevant education and resources, and better assist you in your own, unique journey in the recovery and healing process.
As a woman with a plethora of experiences, including loss, trauma, and adjustments, I have an in-depth understanding of how varied...
As a woman with a plethora of experiences, including loss, trauma, and adjustments, I have an in-depth understanding of how varied circumstances in life can affect our well-being.
I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) with 9 years of experience supporting clients across all ages. I provide evidence-based care for autism, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, mood disorders, and adjustment disorders. I integrate psychotherapy, medication management, and personalized treatment planning to help each client strengthen daily functioning and move toward a healthier, more balanced life.
I earned my master's degree in nursing from Walden University. My approach is nonjudgmental, collaborative, and grounded in compassion. I focus on creating a safe, respectful environment where clients feel welcomed, heard, and supported. I pay close attention to details, honor each person’s strengths, and work to build trust throughout the treatment process.
I believe mental health impacts every part of life, and I am committed to helping clients create meaningful, lasting change. I support people from all backgrounds and encourage you to share your concerns openly. Together, we can explore your needs, build healthier coping skills, and take the next steps on your treatment journey.
As a young adult, I understand the overwhelming feeling of life stressors and transitions as pressures of the past, present, and f...
As a young adult, I understand the overwhelming feeling of life stressors and transitions as pressures of the past, present, and future build.
Chloe Gibson is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 2 years of experience. She enjoys assisting adolescents and adults with a range of concerns such as depression, anxiety, anger, academic stress, low self-esteem, grief/loss, trauma, and life transitions. Before joining Thriveworks, Chloe worked in settings including university, partial hospitalization, crisis intervention, and community outreach. With an empathic listening ear, Chloe provides a safe place for clients to tell their stories. She focuses on strengths, not flaws, and how to use them to cultivate resilience.
Chloe received her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Angelo State University. She takes an eclectic approach to therapy and uses a variety of modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, emotion-focused therapy, narrative therapy, and positive psychology.
Many people equate themselves with their issues, but Chloe encourages you to externalize the problem and write a new story. She views you as the expert and guides you through challenges while instilling confidence. If you are ready to better your mental health, reach out to Chloe today!
I am deeply dedicated to building connections and embracing diverse cultures. My goal is to help you empower yourself by assisting...
I am deeply dedicated to building connections and embracing diverse cultures. My goal is to help you empower yourself by assisting in setting meaningful objectives and supporting you every step of the way as you work towards achieving them.
Bernave Vega, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor, has a year of dedicated experience in mental health. His passion lies in supporting couples, adolescents, and adults in navigating life's obstacles. Bernave specializes in depression, anxiety, gender/sexuality identity conflicts, trauma, grief, and relationship challenges. He has a close connection to the LGBTQIA+ community, offering compassionate support to individuals facing challenges related to gender and sexual identity. This, combined with his professional background, equips him to offer the guidance and assistance his clients seek.
Bernave earned his Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at St. Mary's University. Bernave employs a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and play therapy. PLEASE NOTE: CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS WILL ONLY BE SEEN FOR IN OFFICE SESSIONS.
Dealing with life's challenges and changes can be overwhelming. At times, all we need is a compassionate listener who understands without judgment. Bernave provides a caring ear and fresh insights to help you see things differently. If you're ready to take positive steps forward, schedule an appointment with him today!
¡Hola! Aunque tengo un nombre hispano, no hablo español lo suficientemente bien como para asesorar competentemente a hablantes de español.
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My go-to approach for helping people in LQBTQ+ counseling is to affirm them with out any judgement and empower them to live fully authentic lives.
I teach the following tools in LGBTQ+ counseling:
I know a client is making meaningful progress in LGBTQ+ counseling when they are able to come out to people they trust and are fully accepting of living their lives authentically.
Client can supplement their time in LGBTQ+ counseling by being advocates in the local community and by supporting organizations like The Trevor Project or Human Rights Campaign Fund.
To prepare for their first LGBTQ+ counseling session an individual can contact their provider and ask them any questions or look at their profile on the Thriveworks website or Psychology Today.
LGBTQIA+ counseling is a type of queer affirmative counseling dedicated to assisting individuals and couples in navigating the intricate intersections of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and mental health, with a primary goal of fostering well-being, self-acceptance, and affirming a client’s life experiences as a queer individual. Although not all LGBTQ+ individuals seek specialized counseling, a substantial number discover vital support and empathy within these inclusive and affirming therapeutic settings.
Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Austin, TX typically begins with an initial assessment to understand your specific needs. LGBTQ+ counselors aim to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for anyone within the LGBTQ+ community by encouraging self-acceptance and offering an understanding of your identity and experiences. LGBTQ+ therapy addresses issues like coming out, discrimination, mental health challenges, and gender transition, and provides support for LGBTQ+ relationships.
LGBTQ+ counseling is incredibly important because it can help queer individuals accept their identity, learn self-love, and give them important tools for facing the challenges of being a queer person in today’s society, among many other benefits. LGBTQ+-affirming therapists can understand the unique perspective and experiences of queer individuals as they help them process past trauma, address family conflicts, treat issues with anxiety, and more.
Thriveworks LGBTQ+ counseling in Austin, TX is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
The number of sessions for LGBTQ+ counseling depends on the specific needs and goals of the individual. It could encompass a relatively limited series of sessions or extend into a longer counseling plan. The precise quantity and duration of sessions typically emerge through collaborative discussion with the counselor, taking into account the client’s progress and their therapeutic objectives.
Working with a supportive therapist to identify the negative patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors is paramount in helping the LGBT population to achieve a greater understanding of themselves, their relationships and the world.”
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) community has faced social stigma for years. Although the field of counseling and psychology determined several decades ago that homosexuality is not a mental illness, society as a whole has still not adopted this attitude.
When someone’s outward expression of his/her identity differs from society’s expectations of their behavior due to a variance in gender, gender identity and/or sexual orientation, this person may be ridiculed, harassed or teased by others.
Therefore, many choose to remain “closeted” (not expressing or revealing themselves as LGBT) for fear of offensive treatment (anti-gay jokes/teasing, bullying, violence, etc).
Such harsh treatment may continue through adolescence and even persist into adulthood, resulting in mental health problems and emotional distress for those who are questioning their identity or who may already identify as LGBT. Heterosexual bias and homophobic prejudice can affect LGBT individuals as children, adolescents, and adults. This is why it is important for the LGBT community to have a strong support system (consisting of family, friends, and healthcare providers) for improved psychological health and emotional stability.
An LGBT client may seek therapy for various issues related to his/her sexual orientation, which may include, but is not limited to:
In extreme cases, these individuals may be the targets of hate crimes, including emotional torment and physical violence that results in trauma. Each of these situations may take a tremendous toll on a person’s self-esteem, which may lead to increased depression, anxiety, or even suicidal behaviors because he or she may feel alone and unsupported.
Sometimes it may be necessary for the person to seek the help of a trained professional to help resolve their feelings.
Whatever the client’s reason is for seeking therapeutic support, it is also just as important for the therapist to be knowledgeable, yet sensitive and show respect, to these aforementioned issues.
Clinicians who are knowledgeable of these stressors and the oppressive attitudes of a heterosexist society will be more effective in treating the LGBT population. In addition to following the ethical guidelines for mental health providers, it is just as important for clinicians to take an affirmative approach to therapy, free of heterosexist bias and homophobic prejudice, when counseling this population. Clinicians shall accept a client’s diversity, empathize with the client and continue to educate themselves about this population as society continues to change.
Seeking such a therapist will help a client receive the emotional support needed to cope with such stressors. Services may be aimed at the individual client or may be part of relationship or family counseling. An effective therapist will provide the client (and the family, if necessary and when appropriate) with tools and resources to help improve the client’s mental health and emotional well-being.
The insight gained in therapy can be highly effective for clients who are looking to receive understanding and support from loved ones. Working with a supportive therapist to identify the negative patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors is paramount in helping the LGBT population to achieve a greater understanding of themselves, their relationships and the world.
Looking for someone to talk to? Call to schedule an appointment with a LGBT therapist today!
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Austin is located near Bee Caves Road and Edgegrove Drive, off Capital of Texas Highway. It is right by the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and close to Hill Country Animal Hospital
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