Polyvagal Theory: Your Body Will Tell You If You Feel Safe

Our brains and bodies are clever things. They are really good at looking at experiences together and storing them away as memories for future reference. One time, when I was little, a loose dog bit me hard, and that memory got an alarm mechanism attached to it when it was filed away. This alarm, by […]

Why So Many People Are Choosing EMDR Therapy

An Intervention, Psychotherapy, or Both?  So often, clients have asked me, “Can we do EMDR next week?”  Umm, always yes!  First and foremost, I am always encouraged when clients advocate for themselves. After all, this is your time, and a distant second is the thoughts that activate the clinical networks of my brain (I often […]

What Does Integrative Psychiatry Mean  

What does receiving integrative psychiatric care encompass?  Seeking treatment for your mental health via integrative psychiatry involves many different factors. When we describe the phrase “Integrative Psychiatry” (whether it is here in Austin, in the state of Texas, or in other places in the world), typically we think of a few main characteristics, all of […]

Physician Assistant (PA) as a Psychiatric Specialist

I recently emailed a friend and colleague letting her know that our new Physician Assistant, specializing in psychiatric medication management at our outpatient group therapy practice in Austin, had openings and was ready to see clients!  I sent many details her way only to be met with the question, “Can a PA see clients independently […]

What’s the f(x)?

Children or adults diagnosed with autism are often described as either “low” or “high” functioning, or worse, a more judgment-based “he/she is autistic but is high functioning” or “he/she is low-functioning,” which ends up being a way to communicate and identify the innate ability to succeed in this world.   The world of neurodiversity support both […]