Austin Family Counseling

02/24/2026

Our newest blog "You Can Be Right, or You Can Be Married" by Mia Mattingly, LPC-Associate supervised by Lauren Masciarelli, LPC-S, LMFT-S discusses why it is important to remember to speak to your partner from your own emotional experience, and the importance of being able to validate your own reality when in a partnership.

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/you-can-be-right-or-you-can-be-married/

02/06/2026

Caring for two generations at once is a profound act of love—and an often invisible weight. In this blog post, "Bridging Generations: The Invisible Load of Dual Caregiving", Janet Mize, LPC, explores the constant pull experienced by those in the sandwich generation. She highlights the realities of dual caregiving, offers simple practices to help you care for yourself while caring for others, and shares local resources to help you find additional support.

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/bridging-generations-the-invisible-load-of-dual-caregiving/

People in the “sandwich generation” report higher levels of role overload, emotional strain, and financial stress compared to non-caregivers.

01/07/2026

🌟Job Posting🌟

Full-Time Licensed Mental Health Therapist Positions Available!

Are you a licensed professional in the field of clinical counseling? Austin Family Counseling (AFC) is actively seeking diverse candidates for full-time Licensed Mental Health Therapist positions. We welcome applicants with various licenses in the state of Texas, including LCSW, LMSW, LPC, LPC-A, LMFT, and LMFT-A. If you’re passionate about providing exceptional counseling services and ready to take the next step in your career, we want to hear from you!

🔍Position Summary:

We are hiring for the following positions:
Full-Time Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Full-Time Licensed Child and Play Therapist
Full-Time Licensed Couples Therapist

As a Clinical Contractor with AFC, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by providing counseling services to a diverse range of clients. Whether you specialize in working with children, adolescents, families, individuals, or couples, we have a place for you. As a contractor, you’ll maintain the freedom to set your own hours and practice independently within a contract capacity.

AFC supports your clinical work and private practice development by providing essential resources, including a secure teletherapy platform, fully furnished office space for in-person sessions, advertising and marketing through our website, and forms and supplies. You’ll also have opportunities to participate in trainings, as well as staff meetings and private-practice development meetings designed to help you grow and strengthen your practice.

✍️How to Apply:

To apply for this exciting opportunity, please submit one email containing the following documents in PDF format: a letter of interest, your CV/Resume reflecting your full training, professional and educational background, and three professional references. Please send your application to hiring@austinfamilycounseling.com. The submission deadline is January 9th, 2026.

To apply or for more information, please visit https://austinfamilycounseling.com/employment/ or reach out to hiring@austinfamilycounseling.com

12/15/2025

Our latest blog, “How Do You Stop Yelling at Your Kids, Especially About Screen Time?” by Catherine Mok, LCSW, offers a compassionate, practical look at why yelling happens and what parents can do instead. It normalizes overwhelm and shares supportive strategies for building calmer, more connected family relationships — read the full blog to learn more.

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/how-do-you-stop-yelling-at-your-kids/

09/11/2025

When we think about disordered eating, we don’t always picture high school boys, yet many are quietly struggling with body image and pressure to look a certain way. This thoughtful blog by AFC clinician, Mike Rothschild explores how these challenges often go unnoticed, why they matter, and what healing can look like. It’s a reminder that boys deserve compassion, support, and space to talk about their experiences too. 🍽️💗

Read more here:

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/disordered-eating-in-high-school-boys/

09/04/2025

Sometimes it feels like life is on autopilot, or maybe you’re stuck repeating patterns you can’t quite explain. 📍

In our latest blog post, AFC clinician, Catherine Mok explores how deeply unseen beliefs, fears, and stories from our past shape us, often without our awareness. Grounded in the compassionate practices of therapy and informed by the gentle approach of Compassionate Inquiry, it offers a safe space to bring hidden emotions and patterns into the light. The result? Less confusion, more clarity and the freedom to make more conscious choices.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, this read might just be the spark you need to reclaim your story and chart a new direction. 🧭🗺️

Read it here:

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/getting-to-know-your-unconscious/

08/28/2025

Back-to-school season doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. If mornings are rushed, homework turns into battles, or sibling conflicts leave everyone stressed, you’re not alone and there are ways to make the transition smoother.

In our latest blog, AFC clinician, Geetha Pokala shares practical strategies like holding family meetings to solve problems together, using reflective listening to help kids feel heard, staying calm during meltdowns to avoid power struggles, and focusing on encouragement instead of criticism. With the right tools, families can create more cooperation, connection, and calm—not just in August, but all year long. 🛠️💞

Read the full blog here:

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/making-back-to-school-smoother-and-easier-at-home/

08/26/2025

🎬🎬🎬

Families often find themselves craving something meaningful but light-hearted as they ease back into routine and that’s where movies can work their magic. In our latest blog post, AFC clinician, Geetha Pokala has curated 20 animated film favorites that aren’t just entertaining, but also rich in heart and values. From Mitchells vs. the Machines (embracing uniqueness and working together) to Coco (honoring family legacy), each movie comes with a short synopsis, a thoughtful life lesson, and a family discussion prompt to spark deeper connection.

Whether it’s setting up cozy Friday movie nights or encouraging conversations that bring everyone closer, this collection invites families to laugh, reflect, and grow together.
Grab the popcorn and dive in! 🍿

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/for-the-family-20-heartfelt-movies-with-a-meaning/

08/20/2025

After the recent Hill Country flooding, many are left carrying invisible wounds.

AFC clinician, Beth Cortez-Neavel, MA, LPC, LMFT Associate (Supervised by Michelle Silva Segura, LPC-S, LMFT-S, SEP), shares how EMDR therapy — specifically EMDR PRECI — can support healing after natural disasters. This approach helps process trauma, ease overwhelming emotions, and prevent long-term effects like PTSD. You don’t have to move through it alone. 💛

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/intake-form/

08/14/2025

The new school year can feel like a fresh start, but for many kids (and parents), it can also feel like grief. It’s common to feel the ache of endings. Goodbyes to long, sunny days, loosened routines, or hard-earned healing that felt possible over summer. And this year, for families in our community, grief might run even deeper after the Hill Country floods.

In our latest blog by AFC clinician, Busola Akinniranye invites us to name what’s hard and hold space for both sorrow and excitement. Recognizing what’s being lost doesn’t dim joy, it deepens connection.

Let’s offer empathy, build gentle rituals, and open honest conversations so children and parents alike can feel seen. It’s okay to acknowledge the ache and lean into hope too. ❤️‍🩹

Read more at the link below:

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/when-going-back-to-school-feels-like-grief/

08/12/2025

Crying isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s one of the ways our bodies help us process emotions, release stress, and connect more deeply with ourselves and others. Yet, for many of us, tears can feel uncomfortable or something to hide.

This blog by AFC clinician, Geetha Pokala invites you to see crying in a new light: as a form of self-care and emotional release that can bring comfort, clarity, and healing. It also shares gentle ways to encourage tears when you have the time and capacity to truly feel your feelings, reminding us that giving ourselves permission to cry can be a powerful act of compassion.

Tap the link in our bio to read the full post and explore how embracing your tears can support your mental and emotional well-being. 💧✨

https://austinfamilycounseling.com/crying-can-be-healing/