Therapy and Counseling Services
GirlTalk Therapy is a fun and engaging way to help tween and teen girls build confidence, create healthy relationships, and navigate life changes. Experienced psychotherapists conduct group and family therapy, parenting workshops, and community outreach, as well as advocating for girls and women to thrive in academics, relationships, careers and life.
We believe in the power of women and girls to learn from and support each other, and to be strong, successful, unique and independent. GirlTalk Therapy can provide tween and teen girls with the tools they need to have lasting friendships and strong family relationships, make healthy choices and develop an appreciation for their inherent self-worth and individuality. Each GirlTalk Therapy group is filled with creativity, laughter, self-reflection and experiential activities, and we give girls the opportunity to talk with their peers in a safe, nurturing environment about the things that matter to them.
GirlTalk Therapy: Helping girls grow up without all the growing pains.
ABA Connect was founded in 2013 as an early intervention, applied behavior analysis (ABA) service provider and learning center for children with autism. We have grown over the years and we are fortunate to offer psychological services that include autism diagnostic assessments, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), parent management training, and parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT).
We serve Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Buda, Cedar Park, Leander, and Round Rock, Texas. We have three centers: in South Austin, in Cedar Park, and in Pflugerville. Our centers offer both part-day and full-day options for children.
Our commitment is to provide evidence-based services that will enhance your child and your family’s quality of life. We provide applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, using Natural Environment Teaching and Discrete Trial Training instructional methods, along with parent support services, to help you and your child accomplish behavioral goals.
We specialize in early intervention, from 1-14 years of age, because this enables us to focus our attention on the very specific needs of young children and families. The lives of children who are on the autism spectrum and their families can improve enormously with early, evidence-based intervention. Early intervention increases the opportunities for success.
Since 1951, Austin Child Guidance Center has been dedicated to improving the mental health of children and their families. A multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors provides individual, family, and group therapy; psychiatric and psychological services; parent education; community presentations and consultations; and training to current and future mental health professionals. Walk-in counseling services are available Fridays 2:00-4:00pm.
Shayna Barksdale, LCSW has over 20 years post master’s experience working with children and adolescents. Shayna’s passion for facilitating growth in others came at an early age at Westlake High School when asked to volunteer at a nursing home. Shayna went on to get her Bachelors in Social Work at TCU and Master’s at Our Lady of the Lake, Worden School of Social Work, in San Antonio, Texas. She offers individual, group, and family counseling at Austin Therapy for Girls. Shayna is also a Certified Daring Way Facilitator and holds The Daring Way™ Women’s Intensive Retreats based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown.
Individual and Family therapy, Behavioral therapy, Social Skills Groups, Frequent workshops offering training for parents, teachers, and therapists on issues such as Anger and Children, Anxiety and Children, Behavior Management, Social Thinking, Teaching Social Skills Through Play. Workshop information is accessable via my website, and they range from 2 hours to 2 days in duration. Mostly I work with parents and their children when kids have trouble organizing their behavior and emotional responses. I have over 20 years of experience and am a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, Licensed Psychological Associate, and I am in private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
We offer home and community-based training in applied behavior analysis (ABA) to families of children with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities ages 1.5-6. ABA is the science of changing behavior and can be used to prevent and reduce problem behavior as well as to teach new skills including language, communication, social, play, academic, and self-help skills. Using the principles of ABA, we teach families how to improve their child’s communication skills, prevent and reduce problem behaviors, teach self-help skills (e.g., independent eating, dressing, grooming, and toileting), and develop in-home therapy programs. Our services are different in that we transfer control to families through teaching them the same effective, research-based strategies used by therapists so they can teach their children throughout daily routines. Our mission is to empower and educate exceptional families as they support their children in achieving maximum independence.
Iektje Stephens, Ph.D., LSSP is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. She earned her M.A. in Education from the University of Amsterdam, and her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Stephens has over fifteen years experience working with children, teens, families, and schools. She completed her Pre-Doctoral Psychology Internship and Post-Doctoral Psychology Residency at the ApaCenter.
Dr. Stephens provides individual therapy to people of all ages, family therapy, parent consultation, and couples therapy. She also has extensive experience with psychological assessment and the diagnosis of ADHD, learning disabilities, emotional difficulties (e.g. anxiety and depression), and autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Stephens has expertise in the treatment of anxiety, stress management, depression, ADHD, and challenging behavior. She provides school consultation in order to facilitate collaboration between families and schools, and optimize the way students’ needs are met in the home and school environments.
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/iektjestephens
individual, couple, family and group therapy
children, adolescents and adults
Description of services: Individuals, couples, and group counseling , consultation, and workshops. Some of my professional interests include mindfulness-based counseling, grief and loss, and assistance with medical decision-making.
I am a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Austin, TX, specializing in work with children, adolescents and their families. I work with clients with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues, including depression, anxiety, family conflict, autism spectrum, bipolar, learning disabilities, conflict difficulties, attention deficit disorders, griefwork and adjustment to life changes. I provide individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy and parent and school consultation services. I’ve been working with children and families for over 20 years, and I have school district experience as well.
I believe that each person holds within them unique strengths and capacity to grow, heal from past hurts and bring positive experiences into their lives. My goal as a therapist is to help clients find the tools they already possess and put them into action to reach their goals. With children, this often happens through the creative arts or art of play. Overall, I believe that what happens to us does not determine how we feel; how we respond to it determines how we feel. Our challenges do not define us, but rather give us opportunities to grow.
I use techniques from a variety of therapeutic modalities, including interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, play therapy, narrative, solution focused and family systems orientations. When working with children, I believe that it is crucial to work with the various systems and adults in a child’s life (parents, school, etc.) on a regular basis. Above all, I believe that the relationship between the therapist and client is the most powerful agent to effect change. Within this relationship, I act as guide and witness to help clients reach their goals or cope with difficult circumstances.