Austin Bilingual Therapy

Elizabeth Deanda, LCSW

Growing up as a first generation child of immigrant parents, I was very interested in people and how their environment shapes who they are and their experiences . I felt drawn to social work as a way to learn more about humans, our inherent resilience and desire to thrive in the face of adversity. I pursued and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Texas.  I have been a social worker for over 10 years in different capacities before discovering that my true passion and calling was working with children and their families.  It is truly an honor to work with families who have experienced hardships and challenges but who retain hope and desire to overcome.

 

My professional experience includes five years of working as a counselor serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Later, as a school social worker I provided individual and group therapy to children facing a wide range of challenges in and out of school. As a result of my professional experiences, I became more interested in trauma and how it impacts our bodies and the way we live our lives. I am currently in the process of completing my certification as a Somatic Experiencing Provider. In short, Somatic Experiencing is a modality that seeks to restore the body to its innate goodness through curiosity and exploration of the felt sense of the body and the rhythms of our nervous system. To learn more about Somatic Experiencing, you can visit https://traumahealing.org/.   Because much of my work is with children, teenagers and their families, play is an important part of the work I do as well.  I draw upon different theories and modalities to find what feels most comfortable and beneficial to my clients. 

 

My work as a therapist is driven by a strong belief that the best healing is done in connection. In connection to ourselves and to others.  This is why I consider the therapeutic relationship to be the most important "tool" in therapy. I am committed to offering a calm and compassionate space in which to explore your concerns and beliefs.  I truly believe that all the resources needed for you to heal and thrive are already within you and that you alone are the expert on your experience and your understanding of your life. My goal is to offer my professional training and knowledge in combination with a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship where you can deepen the connection with yourself, your loved ones and find that place within where you feel most like yourself. I look forward to talking with you and exploring how we can work together to address your concerns.

Contact info:

512-968-1589