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Mindful Connections Counseling, PLLC

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Austin, TX
Mindful Connections Counseling, PLLC

A place to share mental health resources and support �

02/04/2026

Happy day 4 of International Play Therapy week!

Today, we’re answering a question many of us have ben asked when becoming therapists - “why play therapy?” 🎨🧸
Our therapists each have their own answer, but the why behind our mission is simple- play is a child’s natural language. At our practice, we know that play therapy is rooted in a child’s natural form of communication, connections, healing, and growth 🌱. And in a way, play is a way for us all to feel connected!

Swipe to read why our team chooses play therapy 🌈

02/03/2026

It’s International Play Therapy Week 🎉.

This week, play therapists near and far are celebrating and sharing all about the healing powers of play. At MCC, we know that children learn, grow, communicate, and yes even heal through play. Play is the most developmentally appropriate form of therapy for children- and it’s backed by research!

These are just a few reasons why we love play therapy ✨. This week, as we celebrate all the wonderful aspects of play therapy, we also want to honor children who communicate through play everyday! 🤸🏽🌈

12/05/2025

In trauma therapy, we always prioritize safety and connection with our clients. While there’s not a specific time frame for the rapport-building stage of therapy, we know that it often takes longer than 1 or 2 sessions. It can take several weeks to even begin establishing a sense of trust, and this process continues to evolve throughout the entire therapeutic journey.

Our practice is called Mindful Connections Counseling because we deeply the importance of connection and being mindful with our approach, our space, and interventions. 💓

12/03/2025

We’re excited to share our newest blog post, written by our wonderful therapist, Hannah 💗. As a client-centered play therapist, Hannah brings her passion for child development and play into everything she writes. We can’t wait for you to check out her blog!

Click on the link in our bio ✨

11/29/2025

It's timeee! Holiday time. And while it brings joy, especially to children, as a parent we have to admit it can be stressful. Here are some of our holiday tips this season:

✨ Share plans and changes in routine. There are so many changes in routine for children at school and at home. While these changes are most likely celebrations and fun activities, it can be overwhelming for kids. Not to mention bedtimes may shift, there's more socializing, and the excitement can be overwhelming. We recommend sharing with children when there will be a shift in the schedule and informing them on what to expect.

✨ Use connection before correction. When those overwhelming feelings arise, remember to connect with your child through naming their feelings, keeping a calm tone, and keeping your responses brief. This is a form of co-regulating with your child before bringing in corrective responses.

✨Avoid comparisons to others on social media. There are so many fun trends popping up on our feed everyday and truthfully, it can leave parents feeling like we need to do more. Avoid comparing yourself to others and focus on the small family traditions that strengthen your family connection this season.

✨Honor authentic responses to gifts- even if it isn't the ideal response. As a parent, I know the reactions I hope for when my kids open gifts. And I also know children experience these moments in their own way, and that can be enough.

✨Between the shopping and planning, take some time for you. Enough said 😉

✨Prioritize experiences over expectations. Even if those holiday photos or the holiday gathering does not turn out exactly as you planned, having fun in the moment and connecting with your child is what they'll remember the most.

11/27/2025

We’re grateful for so many parts of being therapists—from the big things, like body-based approaches that support deep healing, to the little comforts like a warm cup of tea or coffee ☕️ 😌 Wishing our community a Happy Thanksgiving and a season filled with meaningful moments of gratitude.

11/21/2025

✨Meet Carolyn! ✨ Carolyn is a deeply compassionate and seasoned bilingual therapist with over 20 years of experience supporting children and families. Carolyn specializes in helping children and parents navigate challenges related to anxiety, stress, family dynamics, divorce, trauma, adoption, school concerns, and more!

Carolyn’s therapeutic approaches are grounded in developmentally responsive, evidenced-based principles, including Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), play based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Theraplay-informed techniques. She even just returned from a 3 day trip to Chicago to complete a Level 1 Theraplay & MIM training!

Carolyn is truly a gem of a therapist and we are so grateful to work alongside her. Fun fact: Carolyn also volunteers as a team leader for an educational trip for 5th grade Guatemalan children 💗🇬🇹

To learn more about Carolyn or schedule a consultation with her, visit the link in our bio today!

10/11/2025

When beginning therapy, we find that several people wonder:

🧠 “What coping skills can help me now?”
⏳ “How long will this take?”
💬 “Will therapy just be talking?”

These questions are incredibly common — and valid — questions. Unfortunately, the answers aren’t always immediate.

Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Therapists use different approaches, and each client brings their own unique history, needs, and goals. It often takes 4–5 sessions for a therapist to fully understand what’s going on beneath the surface and create a treatment plan that’s truly tailored to you.

✨ Here's what you can expect early on:
✔️ A personalized treatment plan designed around your goals
✔️ Clear insight into your therapist’s approach and how it can support you
✔️ A safe, collaborative space where the relationship itself is a key part of healing
✔️ Room to go at your pace — no pressure, no rush

Therapy is a process — and it unfolds in layers. You’re allowed to bring your questions, your hesitations, and your hope. And a good therapist will meet you right where you are.

10/10/2025

✨ Meet Gina! ✨ Gina is a compassionate and experienced therapist who works with children, teens, and adults to support growth and healing around anxiety, depression, self-esteem, stress, and more. Her warm, motivating presence naturally welcomes a sense of empowerment and comfort with her clients.

Gina draws from a range of evidence-based approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Focused Play Therapy, Child-Centered Play Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy — all tailored to meet each client’s unique needs and goals.

With a background as both a school counselor and teacher, Gina brings deep insight and understanding to her work with children, parents, and families. She currently has availability for both in-person and virtual sessions, and offers limited sliding scale spots. If you would like to learn more or schedule a phone consultation with Gina, visit the link in our bio today!

10/09/2025

As caregivers, the words we choose can shape how children see themselves, their internalized messages, how they handle emotions, and their sense of safety and confidence. Saying "I love you" is a natural, common form of connection and love that we often share with our children. But what if we can continue to provide unique and special opportunities through our words that reinforce a sense of connection, love, and acceptance to our children?

These simple, powerful phrases help children build emotional resilience, feel deeply seen and heard, and strengthen their bond with us. They aren’t just kind words — they’re anchors. They teach children that emotions are safe to feel, that love isn’t conditional, and that growth takes time. They remind kids that their relationship with us is a safe space where they’re accepted exactly as they are.

Let’s keep these words close and repeat them often, even (especially) when it’s hard. Because over time, this is how trust is built, how emotional intelligence grows, and how lifelong connection is nurtured. ✨

10/05/2025

In trauma therapy, therapists often incorporate parts work which involves exploring various aspects of yourself, especially younger parts that carry painful past memories. This type of approach in trauma therapy can be so powerful, as we take the time to heal younger parts that developed protective responses that may no longer be helpful as an adult (more on this later).

One part that your therapist may explore with you is your inner child. In therapy, supporting your inner child involves reconnecting with the younger parts of yourself—especially those that didn’t get the safety, love, or validation they needed. By offering those parts compassion and understanding, we begin to heal old wounds and create space for growth. 🌱

These gentle reminders are a way to start that process. By thinking about younger (child) you and repeating these gentle reminders, you begin to make small shifts in building safety within your nervous system, changing harmful core beliefs, and creating new and healthy neural pathways in the brain.

Address

8700 Manchaca Road, Suite 706
Austin, TX
78748

Opening Hours

Monday	12pm - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+17372979110

Website

http://mindfulconnectionstx.com/, https://mindfulconnectionstx.com/groups/

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