The Annex Mental Health

05/01/2026

Personality Disorders & Empathy 🍃 An interview with Jen Shotwell, MS, MBA, LPC, LCDC, CS, EMDR Trainer, NCC - Clinical Director
"Another reason why I love working with these clients is they don't get a lot of empathy because their coping skills hurt people. But I love coming in with empathy and being like, hey, you can't hurt people just 'cause you have this disorder, but like, I actually see it being really tough for you." - Jen
Learn more about how The Annex approaches treating personality disorders at https://bit.ly/4t63Zvi or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

04/24/2026

HIGH STRUCTURE & DIRECTNESS 🍃 People with personality disorders often benefit from the “here-and-now” focus of REBT. Unlike some therapies that spend years digging into childhood origins, REBT is psychoeducational. It gives the client a concrete toolkit to manage their current emotional volatility.
To learn more, read 'Understanding REBT: The “Logic” of Emotional Health' featuring The Annex's Miranda Hayes, MS, LPC-Associate, NCC at https://bit.ly/47eIuAx or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

04/21/2026

The Annex's Taylor Barstad and Lauren Juvers are heading to the 2026 Partners in Treatment Conference in Scottsdale, AZ!

As a platform for clinical innovation and evidence-based practice, continues to unite like-minded behavioral health providers. Taylor and Lauren are looking forward to a week of transformative camaraderie!
To learn more about the conference, visit pitconferenceaz.com or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

04/17/2026

Consistent Emotional Regulation 🍃 Regulation is a skill that can be mastered. By tracking emotions and recognizing early physical cues (like a tight chest or racing thoughts), individuals learn to stay within their “window of tolerance,” responding to life rather than reacting to it.
To learn more about The Annex and The Core Ten, visit https://bit.ly/4pGrcmk or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

04/07/2026

The Annex is headed to the 2026 TAAP Symposium!

We are so proud to have Shotwell, Young, and Juvers representing our team this week. A special shoutout to our Clinical Director, Jennifer Shotwell, who will be taking the stage this Thursday!

🎤 Presentation: Understanding the Overlap: Personality Disorders + Addiction
📅 When: Thursday, April 9th - 10:15 am

🔗 Learn more: Link in bio or visit https://bit.ly/4seFGey

04/03/2026

Jennifer Shotwell to Present Understanding the Overlap: Personality Disorders + Addiction at 2026 TAAP Symposium
The Annex Mental Health is proud to announce that its Clinical Director, Jennifer Shotwell, LPC-S, LCDC, EMDR Trainer, has been selected as a featured speaker for the upcoming 2026 TAAP Symposium. Shotwell will present a critical deep dive into the complex relationship between personality disorders and substance use disorders, offering clinical insights and practical recovery solutions.
Presentation Details 🍃
Title: Understanding the Overlap: Personality Disorders + Addiction
Date: Thursday, April 9th, 2026
Time: 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM
Location: Salon C, TAAP Symposium
Registration: www.austintaap.org
Learn more at https://bit.ly/4seFGey or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

03/27/2026

The Annex Treats C-PTSD 🍃 Key characteristics of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder often include:
▪️ Difficulty with emotional regulation: Intense mood swings, chronic emptiness, suicidal ideation, or explosive anger.
▪️ Distorted self-perception: Feelings of shame, guilt, worthlessness, or a profound sense of being different from others.
▪️ Relationship difficulties: Trouble forming secure attachments, a tendency to repeat unhealthy relationship patterns, or extreme fear of abandonment.
▪️ Dissociation: Feeling detached from one’s body, thoughts, feelings, or the world around them; memory gaps.
▪️ Physical symptoms: Chronic pain, digestive issues, fatigue, and other stress-related physical ailments.
▪️ Loss of meaning and hope: A pervasive sense of hopelessness, despair, or a feeling that life has no purpose.
To learn more about C-PTSD, visit https://bit.ly/4t4G2VI or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

03/20/2026

Understanding REBT: The "Logic" of Emotional Health ---> Fearturing Miranda Hayes, M.S., LPC-Associate, NCC 🍃 Clinical Therapist
“One of the most empowering parts of REBT is helping clients realize that their thoughts are not facts. When people learn how to question rigid beliefs like ‘I must be perfect’ or ‘this should never happen,’ they often experience a greater sense of emotional freedom. Over time, this shift helps clients respond to challenges with more flexibility and self-compassion.” – Miranda
To read the full post, visit https://bit.ly/47eIuAx or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

'Understanding REBT: The "Logic" of Emotional Health' features The Annex Mental Health's Clinical Therapist Miranda Hayes, M.S...

03/13/2026

MEET OUR TEAM :: TAYLOR BARSTAD, LCSW :: OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
EDUCATION
Colorado State University [Master of Social Work, MSW], University of Montana [Bachelor of Social Work & Psychology, BSW]
CLINICAL SPECIALIZATION
As Director of Operations, Taylor combines her clinical insight with operational strategy to ensure the delivery of high-quality, client-centered care. She oversees the infrastructure and systems that support effective treatment, bringing a unique blend of logistical leadership and clinical understanding to her work. Taylor is passionate about creating environments where both clients and staff can thrive with a strong emphasis on collaboration, transparency, and integrity in care delivery. Taylor Barstad is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with specialized training in eating disorders, substance use disorders, OCD, and trauma. Taylor’s clinical foundation continues to inform her leadership as Director of Operations.
CERTIFICATIONS
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Certified
To learn more about The Annex team, visit https://bit.ly/4lB9GOo

03/06/2026

We intentionally consider both environmental influences and biological or genetic factors when shaping each client’s care.
To learn more about The Annex philosophy, visit https://bit.ly/3OO0Lya or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

02/27/2026

PHILOSOPHY OF CARE 🍃 We believe treatment should be defined by a client’s growth, not a timeline. Our framework, The Core Ten, outlines the foundational competencies clients work to develop over time, recognizing that meaningful progress looks different for every individual. Our growth-based treatment model allows clients to build these capacities within a setting designed to support the complex and often chronic nature of mental health disorders.
To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/3OO0Lya or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

02/20/2026

We operate from a long-term, intensive clinical model designed to manage the emotional dysregulation, relational instability, and systemic chaos that often undermine treatment outcomes in traditional settings.

WHAT WE TREAT:
🍃 Complex PTSD
🍃 Borderline Personality Disorder
🍃 Other Personality Disorders
🍃 Chronic Emotional Dysregulation
🍃 Attachment Injuries & Relational Traumas
🍃 Co-Occurring Disorders
To learn more about what we treat at our Austin programs, visit https://bit.ly/4aEPd7M or click Sprout 🔗 in bio