Find a therapist, counselor or psychologist in Austin, TX

"I passionately believe that every person has individual needs and challenges, and it's vital to develop a treatment focus and treatment plan in collaboration with the individual that meets those needs. "

Dr. Chris Hansen is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Clinical Supervisor, and Nationally Certified Counselor (LPC-CS-NCC). Chris has experience working with teens, adults, and seniors who are coping with severe psychological psychotic disorders, abuse, trauma, PTSD, addiction, domestic violence, and more. Given his extensive military experience, Chris has a passion for and specializes in treating military members and their families.

Dr. Hansen Served 24 years in the United States Navy, is a disabled veteran, and is a member of several veteran's mental health groups and associations. Chris obtained his Master's Degree from Texas A&M and his Doctorate from St. Mary’s University and graduated with honors from both programs. Chris has a very wide range of clinical experience ranging from inpatient, outpatient programs such as IOP/PHP, the Veterans Administration, Private Practice as well as clinical research and contract mental health work.

Partner together with Chris to start addressing the obstacles that you're encountering in your personal life. He'll work together to craft a personalized treatment plan that addresses your needs and concerns with expert guidance and compassion. 

Sue Wendelin is a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist (LMFT) who has over 36 years of professional experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families with a wide variety of treatment needs. She specializes in assisting clients who are struggling with career-related issues, coping skills, family conflict, grief, mental stress, parenting, academic issues, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, ADHD, anger issues, behavioral issues, bipolar disorder, and more.

Sue has an eclectic approach with a variety of techniques, including cognitive behavioral methods (CBT), family systems techniques, parent-child interaction (PCIT) approaches, person-centered methods, play therapy, sandplay, and solutions-focused brief therapy (SFBT). 

Sue will listen and create a safe space to help unburden the load of pain and struggles that are holding you down. The simplicity of having a warm, understanding, and actively listening ear can be healing during times of great stress. She wants to provide that outlet, and help you work towards emotional freedom. 

"As a new multi-cultural professional, Cassandra Cantu believes in the holistic approach to health and personal transformation. It is a great joy for Cassandra to work with individuals, couples, and families in an atmosphere of safety, deep compassion, and non-judgement to bring about real change, healing, and growth."

Cassandra Cantu is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate (LPCA), being supervised by Asha Johnson LPC-S, who has worked with adolescents and adults in different settings (e.g., community, collegiate, and prison) addressing various issues including, but not limited to: anxiety, depression, social anxiety, life transitions, self-compassion and mindfulness, identity, human sexuality, grief and loss, relationship and family communication issues, substance abuse and addiction, disordered eating, technology use-related issues, and others.

Cassandra completed her Master of Education (M.Ed) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Texas Tech University. She is a member of the Texas Counseling Association, and a lifelong member of the Girl Scouts of America. Cassandra's expertise in stress, anxiety, depression, imposter syndrome, people pleasing, and relationship issues come from personal experience and the experiences of people around her. Her counseling skills provide her the tools required to help her clients gain awareness and understanding about their personal experiences in different stages of life. Furthermore, Cassandra helps guide her clients toward awareness of how that might be influencing their present and preventing themselves from moving in a direction of progress.

Cassandra prefers to work through a collaborative therapy lens. She views the client as an expert on their life and allows both client/counselor to work together towards a common goal identified by the client. Moreover, Cassandra accompanies her clients as a support and a guide in their journey to empowerment and a deeper positive connection with themselves and others. Along with Cassandra's skills and techniques that her training provides, she brings an understanding and experience to her work that is unique to her. Although human change is complex, Cassandra believes in people and their desire to be in harmony. If you would like to work with Cassandra Cantu and explore how your personal experiences may be influencing your present and/or impacting your ability to move in a direction of progress, Cassandra can work with you to learn how to adapt and overcome.

Erin Schovanec is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), dance/movement therapist, and certified Yoga Therapist who has 16 years of experience as an expressive and creative mental health professional. Erin’s clinical experience has ranged in various treatment settings including outpatient therapy, Treatment Foster Care, and residential treatment. She has served children, adolescents, and adults experiencing symptoms related to attachment, anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance abuse. 

Erin completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance Education magna cum laude at the University of Central Oklahoma and her Master of Arts (MA) in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling Psychology at Antioch New England Graduate School. Erin’s personal hobbies include dancing, teaching group exercise, and running.

Erin's clinical approach is solution-focused, person-centered, with the utilization of positive psychology and cognitive behavioral techniques. In addition, as a movement therapist, Erin’s therapeutic approach stems from a mind-body perspective, in that there is an inner relationship between the physical body and our thoughts and emotions. In order to heal, one has to “move through” challenging barriers with open awareness and self-compassion to develop a deeper understanding of one’s self. This healing process contributes to more meaningful relationships and greater connection to self and others.

"My family, friends, and I have had decades grappling with ADHD, the autism spectrum, and that balance between others and ourselves."

Abe Clabby is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who specializes in treating relationship issues, workaholism, trauma, codependency, depression, anxiety, autism, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Abe spent the last 6 years at the Love Is Respect hotline and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, where he has seen the best and the worst that family and relationships have to offer. He is the author of "Cool Off the Burnout: Feel Better at High-Pressure Jobs".

Abe completed his master's degree in Counseling at St. Edward's University, where he earned a 3.7 GPA and spent an extra semester taking courses in marriage and family therapy. In postgraduate training like the Gottman method, Abe found what some couples do that makes them thrive. There are things that help with a partner, but they also help with our parents, our jobs, and our friends. Abe uses motivational interviewing in a client-centered way, empowering people to change the narrative and find an existential purpose for what they do and using the tools of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to get around the obstacles where people feel stuck.

Abe works with a lot of good-hearted people. They're compassionate and want to do good in the world and to help people they love. Caring people can be taken for granted, taken advantage of, and even hurt and used. They can be left feeling empty, unfulfilled, and unloved. But with the right mindset, boundaries, and self-care, they can be respected, appreciated, and live a life that they're proud of. Abe helps people care for others and in turn, care for themselves. With therapy, people can troubleshoot their troubles in jobs and relationships. Everyone has more options than they realize.

"I look forward to building a meaningful therapeutic relationship with all my clients and always putting my client's needs first."

Audrey N. Gordon, M.S., LPC, LCDC.

Audrey N. Gordon is a compassionate and dedicated therapist who specializes in helping adults overcome alcohol and substance abuse, anxiety, PTSD, and military-related issues. With her extensive healthcare background and commitment to providing exceptional care, Audrey strives to create a safe and nurturing environment for her clients.

As a military veteran with a 17-year career as a USAF Medical Technician, Audrey has firsthand experience working in various settings, including hospitals, aircraft, and ground operations. This unique background has given her valuable insights into the challenges faced by individuals in the military community and a deep understanding of the psychological impact of trauma.

Audrey holds a Master of Science in Addiction Counseling from the Texas Tech University Health Science Center, where she gained comprehensive knowledge and expertise in treating addiction-related issues. Additionally, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, focusing on Pre-Med, from Bowie State University, an esteemed Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

With her training as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A) and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), Audrey possesses the necessary skills to provide effective therapy for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health concerns. She is dedicated to continuous learning and professional development to stay up-to-date with the latest research and therapeutic approaches.

One of Audrey's valuable tools in her therapeutic toolkit is her certification as a Basic Certified Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) practitioner. Using rapid eye movement, ART helps clients process traumatic or disturbing memories and images by reducing their physiological responses. This evidence-based technique allows Audrey to support her clients in quickly and effectively addressing trauma and finding resolution.

Audrey believes in building a strong therapeutic relationship with her clients by prioritizing their needs and creating a warm, empathetic space for healing and growth. She understands that each person is unique and tailors her approach to suit individual circumstances. Additionally, she regularly checks in with her clients' therapeutic goals to assess progress and ensure a good fit. When necessary, Audrey may refer clients to other specialists to provide comprehensive care.

With her unwavering dedication to her clients' well-being and passion for helping them overcome challenges, Audrey looks forward to meeting individuals seeking support and embarking on their therapeutic journey.

Kelly Pedersen is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor who specializes in redefining perception: assisting individuals with trauma recovery and couples with intimacy-rebuilding with insight and useful techniques for bypassing roadblocks. She helps people hone their anger management skills and address the flip side of the coin: initiating the healing process after someone has endured physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. In addition, she helps people with trauma, life transitions, LGBTQ-related challenges, mood disorders, and geriatric issues.

Kelly is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as a technique to treat PTSD, and she assesses trauma through the dual lenses of spirituality and culture. She also uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) in her therapeutic processes.

"Stuck" situations require creative solutions! Solving a problem in isolation isn't easy, which is why collaboration with an experienced counselor can prove invaluable. The details of each person’s thinking may be varied and unique in every case, but Kelly believes that what is really important is the sense of being enough, sufficient, responsible, capable as yourself on top of the situation. When the work goes well (which certainly is the intention) the outcome will be the same: an increase in the sense of one’s own ability to manage life, and a feeling of growth and empowerment.

Kelly has a clear approach to counseling with people and it relates to what she sees as the ideal outcome of such work. The highest goal, the gold standard of good counseling, is an increase in client morale, significant growth of feeling competent and confident to work with the feelings and situations that brought you to counseling in the first place. A good counseling relationship has worked when one hears, “You know, I think I can handle this now. I feel a lot better and think I know what to work on and what to do.”

As a counselor, Kelly strives to encourage a therapeutic connection that serves as a "secure base", enabling you to challenge your misconceptions about yourself and refocus on your strengths. She believes that accessing new experiences in the context of a therapeutic relationship can help us rewire our brains and our lives.