PTSD Treatment in Austin, TX

Heal your past, Reclaim your present, Build your future

Healing Begins Here – Specialized PTSD Treatment in Austin, TX

Starting therapy is never easy, but taking this first step can be the beginning of a real shift. At Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC, I provide PTSD treatment in Austin, TX for people who feel stuck in the aftermath of trauma. Maybe you’ve tried other forms of mental health treatment, but the intrusive memories, overwhelming PTSD symptoms, or painful thought patterns just won’t let go.

I know how isolating that can feel, not only for you, but also for your loved ones who want to see you heal. Many of my clients are civilians, while others are veterans and first responders who carry experiences that few have faced. No matter your background, you deserve trauma-informed care and support that meets your unique needs.

As a trauma specialist, I offer trauma counseling that is both compassionate and grounded in evidence-based care. In our work together, you’ll find a supportive environment where you can move beyond survival. Here, therapy helps you reclaim your life and begin your healing process, one step at a time.

Alex Penrod, MS, LPC, LCDC

Owner and Therapist

Welcome, allow me to introduce myself. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), and a person in long-term recovery with 10 years of experience working in the behavioral health treatment field.

Not all mental health professionals are trained to help with PTSD. As a trauma-focused Austin therapist, I'm trained in a range of therapy options to provide personalized, effective trauma treatment. I specialize in the following evidence-based treatment approaches:

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR Therapy)

  • Internal Family Systems Informed Therapy (IFS)

  • Ego State Therapy

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Using a collaborative and integrative approach, I can help you explore the type of therapy that may work best for you.

I offer individual trauma therapy sessions with in-person options in Austin and virtual sessions available across Texas.

I welcome new clients from all walks of life including adults, young adults, and college students. By working closely with medical professionals for medication management I strive to ensure you receive integrated, whole-person care at the right level of care.

To learn more about how I can help you find lasting healing, continue scrolling or schedule your free 15-minute consultation with me. I’d be happy to learn more about your goals and answer any questions you may have.

  • Yes, Virtual EMDR sessions can be successfully conducted online through secure video. The process can be adapted for teletherapy, utilizing visual cues, auditory tones, or tapping for bilateral stimulation. This flexibility allows you to receive EMDR treatment from the comfort and safety of your home.

  • Yes, I have an office for in-person sessions in North Austin near Mopac and 183 and in Southwest Austin on Bee Caves Road if you prefer to meet face to face. My availability is more limited for this option though.

  • I have several ways you can use your insurance.

    I'm in network with Aetna and offer a convenient hassle free way to handle your claims through a company called Headway.

    For all other insurance carriers, if you've met your deductible for the year you could get automatic reimbursement and only pay for a portion of your sessions by using a company called Thrizer to process out of network claims. If you haven't met your deductible, we can submit superbills to Thrizer to apply toward meeting it.

    I can assist you with your options in a free 15-minute consultation or visit my services page for links to explore these options for yourself.

  • I charge $150 for 60-minute sessions and $225 for 90-minutes sessions.

  • See my frequently asked questions page for more questions and answers, my page on the cost of EMDR, or schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me. I'd be happy to help!

What is Trauma?

  • Trauma can be defined as an event, experience, or time period that causes severe stress exceeding a person's resources and ability to cope.

    After experiencing trauma, some people recover naturally while others develop symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Traumatic Experiences Involve a Wide Range of Issues

There are many forms of trauma and secondary issues, I'm here to support you in healing from:

  • Single event trauma (e.g., surviving through a natural disaster, car accident, or severely distressing life event)

  • Developmental trauma (e.g., childhood trauma and childhood abuse)

  • Complex trauma/Complex PTSD (e.g., prolonged or repeated periods of severe stress where escape was difficult or impossible, such as domestic violence)

  • Traumatic grief from the loss of a family member

  • Sexual abuse and sexual assault

  • Substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders

  • Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, panic attacks, and social anxiety

  • Dissociative disorders

  • Difficulties with life transitions, grief, self-worth, and relationship issues

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your emotional response to past traumas, coping with the symptoms of PTSD, or struggling with a co-occurring mental health condition, as a trauma specialist I'm here to support your recovery journey.

Living with the Impacts of PTSD Can be Debilitating

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

  • Intrusion Symptoms

    Involuntary and recurrent distressing memories of the traumatic event resurfacing

    Disturbing dreams or nightmares

    Flashbacks as if the experience was occurring again

    Intense emotional and physical reactions to reminders of the trauma

  • Avoidance Symptoms

    Significant efforts to avoid internal reminders of the trauma like thoughts, feelings, or memories

    Avoiding people, places, and things that are now associated with the trauma

  • Negative Alternations in Thoughts and Mood

    Persistent negative emotions of shame, blame, fear, or anger

    Difficulty feeling positive emotions

    Feeling either intensely or numb with little space in between

    Developing negative beliefs about yourself, others, and the world

    Losing interest in activities once enjoyed

    Experiencing memory issues

    Feeling detached from others

    Having difficulty maintaining relationships

  • Heightened Physical and Emotional Reactivity

    Feeling “jumpy” and easily startled

    Staying on guard and alert to danger (hypervigilance)

    Engaging in risky or impulsive behavior

    Feeling irritable with angry or aggressive outbursts or behavior

    Having difficulty concentrating

    Sleep disturbance

  • Depersonalization

    Feeling detached from your own mind or body as if an outside observer or in a dream

  • Derealization

    Feeling as if your surroundings aren’t real (distant, distorted, dreamlike)

There is Light at the End of the Tunnel

PTSD Therapy: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD. Originally developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro.

    EMDR is endorsed as a first line therapy for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense, the American Psychiatric Association, and the World Health Organization.

  • Unlike traditional talk therapy or prolonged exposure therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation such as eye movements, tapping, or tones, to aid in the reprocessing of traumatic memories, with less exposure required.

    This process allows the brain to access and integrate sensory, emotional, cognitive, and somatic body sensations of trauma in a way that reduces the intensity and stores the disturbing memories in a more neutral state. Click to learn more about the neuroscience behind EMDR.

  • EMDR has an extensive research base with high success rates for single and multi-event PTSD, and emerging evidence for Complex-PTSD (C-PTSD).

    Studies have shown between 84-90% of single event trauma survivors and 77% of multi-event trauma survivors no longer had PTSD after 3 - 6 sessions.

    For complex trauma, C-PTSD, the process requires longer treatment. Studies show EMDR is still effective after around 12 sessions.

  • During an EMDR session, I work with you to identify specific memories or distressing experiences. As you notice these memories, I will guide you through bilateral stimulation exercises, helping your brain to reprocess the memory.

    Learn more about what to expect in an EMDR session.

Strategies and Goals for Trauma Healing

My first priority is to create a safe environment and work to build a trusting relationship with you. As this develops we’ll create a custom treatment plan based on your specific needs, strengths, and goals. No two healing journeys are the same and trauma recovery shouldn’t be a cookie cutter experience.

Whether you’re working toward personal growth, building self-esteem, or just trying to gain stability in daily life, I’ll meet you where you are and focus on what’s most important to you regarding your progress. By incorporating multiple treatment methods and taking a holistic approach, I can tailor therapy to your individual needs. In general, trauma-focused therapy aims to produce the following benefits:

Benefits of EMDR and PTSD Counseling

  • Reduction of PTSD and Mental Health Symptoms

    EMDR therapy has been shown to reduce PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

    A high percentage of individuals no longer meet criteria for a PTSD diagnosis after EMDR.

    One study from the National Institute of Mental Health found 8 sessions of EMDR was superior to fluoxetine (antidepressant) for depression.

  • Healing Your Past

    By targeting and reprocessing key past experiences underlying current symptoms, energy and resources are freed up to move from surviving to thriving.

  • Reclaiming Your Present

    By coming to understand the effects of trauma on the brain and nervous system, learning coping skills, and targeting present triggers with EMDR, the present moment can shift from a place of fear and dread to the zone of creativity, motivation, and action toward your goals.

  • Building Your Future

    Post-traumatic growth goes beyond simply returning to the previous state before the trauma, it’s marked by shifts and transformations in mental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth, leading to a new quality of life.

    After healing the past, many people find they are able to reconnect with their passions, zero in on new directions in life, and build relationships that feel stable and rewarding.

    Empowering you to capture these positive changes and helping you reach your goals is one of my favorite parts of therapy.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

  • You don't have to face your trauma alone. As a trauma specialist I'd be honored to support you. I know how difficult it can be to reach out, but sometimes it's those difficult decisions that bring the most positive change to your life.

3 Step Plan

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    Book Your Free 15-Minute Consultation

    Follow the link below to use my calendar and choose a time that’s right for you.

  • Woman waving to her laptop screen as she meets her therapist to discuss healing her past, reclaiming her present, and building her present

    Together we assess your needs and determine a plan of action

    A consultation allows you to explore if therapy with me is right for you with no commitment or obligation.

  • 4 friends embracing as the reflect on their journey of healing

    Begin healing your past, reclaiming your present, and building your future

    After consultation, beginning therapy is as easy as scheduling your first session.

Book Your Free 15-Minute Consultation