Colors of Austin Counseling is an intentionally diverse therapy practice working to enhance the mental wellbeing of kids, adults, families and couples in Texas. We specialize in providing racially trauma-informed, culturally affirming therapy to people of culture and are passionate about reducing the stigma around mental health and fostering a brave space in which all people can create healing in their lives.
We have created an intentionally diverse group of therapists and mental health providers in order to better serve BIPOC individuals in our community. We are also passionate about reducing the stigma around mental health and fostering a brave space in which all people can create healing in their lives, and we aim to provide resources and support to other organizations and practitioners who share those goals.
Difficulty finding mental health support that considers and caters to your intersecting identities and experiences
A desire to explore and combine different therapeutic modalities into your healing journey
The desire for a therapy practice that acknowledges and works to challenge the stigma and historical inaccessibility surrounding mental health services
We also provide support to businesses and organizations in the community looking for mental health resources, as well as clinicians looking for support in their own practices and certification processes.
At Colors of Austin Counseling, we work to reduce the barriers that exist to mental health support in order to provide high quality clinical services to all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability and/or socioeconomic status. We believe high quality mental healthcare should be attainable for everyone, and we actively work to make services more accessible without devaluing the integrity or the work of our clinicians. We tailor our approach to the specific needs of each unique individual so that all of our clients will feel seen, heard and valued and will be treated based on their holistic needs.
Showing up to therapy spaces as our whole authentic selves
Continuing to do our own anti-racism work, acknowledging that each of us has been racialized and carries biases that must be explored
Staying in discomfort with our clients and with one another
Owning our mistakes and holding ourselves and one another accountable
Working through conflict restoratively
At Colors of Austin Counseling, we believe in finding creative solutions to your struggles. Our highly skilled team offers in-person and virtual therapy across an array of modalities for adults, couples, families, parents, young children and teens. We tailor our approach to the specific needs of each unique individual so that all of our clients will feel seen, heard and valued and will be treated based on their holistic needs.
In addition to traditional talk therapy, our team of therapists are trained in play therapy, couples therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), The Trauma-Conscious Yoga Method℠, somatic experiencing and Dr. Brené Brown’s The Daring Way™ methodology. Each provider on our team has a unique set of specialities and experiences, and we can help you determine which therapist and modalities may be right for you.
Your first session might be over video through our HIPAA secure health system or in-person at our Austin office; each clinician manages their own schedule. If meeting in-person, please arrive early.
We’ll send you initial forms to complete in your new client portal and review your answers in the session. These need to be completed before your session begins to avoid using any appointment time for paperwork.
We’ll discuss goals, get to know you and make initial treatment recommendations at your first appointment. You can bring specific questions or none at all. If it feels like a good fit, we’ll end the session by scheduling your next appointment.
We understand that embarking on a therapeutic journey is a significant investment
in your well-being and personal growth. We value your commitment to self-care and
are dedicated to providing you with the highest level of support and guidance
along the way.
We also recognize that transparency is key when it comes to fees for our services.
Our therapists' fees vary based on their training, experience and specialties. To learn more about each therapist's fees, background, specialties and insurance coverages,
we encourage you to visit their individual pages. We want you to make an informed decision that aligns with your needs and financial preferences.
For clients who wish to use out-of-network benefits to pay for therapy sessions, we offer Superbills to file for possible insurance reimbursement. We understand that navigating insurance processes can be complex, so we're here to assist you every step of the way.
We offer a variety of ways to seek therapy, including traditional insurance,
out-of-pocket payments, out-of-network reimbursement and sliding scale fees.
Your investment in therapy is valuable, and we're committed to helping you maximize the benefits available to you.
A group of diverse therapists united by a shared vision, we are committed to revolutionizing the mental health landscape. Our mission is to provide high-quality therapy services to clients in need, ensuring that mental health care is accessible to all. We believe that access to therapy is a fundamental human right, not a privilege, and we are committed to breaking down financial, cultural and social barriers that have historically limited access to therapy.
Our team has over 20 years of cumulative experience and is intentionally comprised of providers with both training and first hand personal experiences that specifically cater to people of a wide variety of ages, ethnicities, genders, sexualities and cultural backgrounds, especially those often less represented in therapy spaces.
By partnering with mission-aligned organizations, engaging with our communities
and nurturing future therapists, we are transforming mental health care into a universally accessible and equitable service. Together, we will make mental well-being
a reality for all.
A first generation Latina and Entrepreneur, Vanessa has worked in the field of social work for 10+ years, founding Colors of Austin Counseling (2018), the therapist coaching and support organization Brave & Well (2019) and the school-based mental health web application SocialNote (2015). She has spent over a decade working with teens, survivors of trauma, LatinX women and communities of culture. She has worked as both a school social worker and a medical social worker at Dell Children's Medical Center and Children's Memorial Hermann in Houston, working in the Pediatric ICU with children and families living with chronic illnesses. Her training in EMDR and the curriculum of Brené Brown has helped transform the way clients heal.
Vanessa believes in removing barriers of access to mental health treatment for all and finding ways to uplift future generations of therapists so that together we can decolonize the mental health space. Whether it be through the direct provision of mental health services, bolstering and helping grow the practices of younger therapists or creating tools that help support the work of her fellow practitioners, Vanessa is committed to fundamentally transforming how we think about, practice and experience mental health.
We know that for many, counseling is a new and unfamiliar experience, so we’ve created an intentionally welcoming, calming and inclusive space equipped with a variety of tools that support your healing journey. We want our clients to feel safe, taken care of and at home when they visit us. You will be invited to grab whatever it is you need while you're here – this is your space.
