It’s time to rediscover who you are and develop safe, nurturing connections with others.
Julia Small, LCSW-S
I’m Julia, and I help people just like you: ones that have it within them to have secure, thriving relationships, but just need the support to get there; parents who will do anything for their child, and could use another team member to help on the journey; children who have the inherent potential for growth and innate resilience.
I help my clients find insight, healing and fulfillment by facilitating a journey of self-discovery and an experience of emotional connectedness.
Many of today’s solutions for emotional disconnection and overwhelm come in the form of bullet points and quick-fix tips, leading so many to feel they’ve failed when they can’t seem to make those solutions work. I know that each person’s circumstances are unique with many layers, so I will take time to understand your specific desires, and how I can support you in getting there.
I believe that a safe, supportive therapeutic relationship with my clients is foundational to any other work we do together, and I prioritize your sense of safety and connectedness. I will work with you as we explore the myriad life experiences and relationships that have shaped you, and use that insight to heal and build healthy relationships in your present life circumstances. Therapy with me is a dynamic, interactive process, in which we go at your pace and work as a team.
Qualifications
BS-Education- Baylor University
MS-Social Work- The University of Texas at Austin
Trained in EMDR therapy (EMDRIA approved training with Rick Levinson, LCSW)
Trained in Child Centered Play Therapy (UNT Center for Play Therapy)
Experience and Expertise
Throughout my career as a social worker and therapist, I have had a variety of experiences, including work with intimate partner relationships, child development, the parent-child relationship, grief and loss, trauma, anxiety and depression, perinatal mental health, foster care and adoption, caregivers of children with special healthcare needs, and life changes and transitions.
My background in education, child development, and attachment allows me to offer helpful insight to parents, and provide specific guidance around bilding healthy relationships with their children- particularly during times of stress such as divorce, death, adding on to the family, or blending families.
Having worked for several years with families of children with special needs, I’ve come to know the unique stressors- emotional, financial, medical, and otherwise- that families may be facing, and offer therapy based in compassion for their situation.
With many years of experience working with first-time parents, and parents adding on to their families, I offer knowledge and understanding of the mental health needs associated with pregnancy and postpartum. I understand that adding on to your family impacts every aspect of your lives. Many parents feel relief in learning they are not alone in their experiences, and benefit from developing their own strengths during this time of transition.
I use my knowledge of trauma and the brain to help my clients discover unforeseen ways their lives are being negatively impacted by trauma or distressing experiences. I offer specific ways of processing those experiences, and tools to manage any difficult emotions, thought patterns, or relationship issues they are experiencing.
I offer an in-depth knowledge of healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships. I help my clients understand and identify patterns in their own relationships, and empower them within those relationships. I am trained to offer some specific tools to help strengthen your relationship with your partner.