About Magdalen

Hello!

I'm Magdalen, therapist and owner of Expressions Therapy Austin. I first became interested in psychology when thinking about college and what I might want to study. Aside from being drawn to books and movies about characters with traumatic backgrounds and/or mental health challenges, I knew very little about what psychology or social work was. Nevertheless, after graduating high school, I left The Texas Hill Country and headed to Massachusetts to study psychology at Clark University. I loved learning about human development, the brain, and ways we process information and make sense of our experiences and the world.

My Professional Journey

After earning my BA in psychology, I wanted to learn more, and pursued a fellowship in child development research at the National Institutes of Health. During this period, I volunteered at a crisis hotline, and discovered that I was more interested in being with people, offering direct support, than with data and more academic pursuits.

Following a break to travel, I worked with children in preschool settings and earned my Masters of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Texas at Austin in 2015. I completed practicums in the areas of foster care and adoption, and school social work. After earning my degree, I joined SAFE where I worked in a school-based program providing counseling to children with a variety of concerns, including experiences of domestic violence, symptoms of trauma, and challenging family or peer relationships.

After becoming a mom I worked in a group private practice before opening Expressions Therapy Austin in early 2021. As my child grew, I decided to shift my practice away from working primarily with children and instead focus on supporting adults struggling with trauma, anxiety, navigating neurodiversity, parenting, and the pregnancy and postpartum periods.

My own experience having a preterm infant who spent their first days in the NICU, sparked my interest in supporting individuals who have experienced birth trauma and NICU stays. I have also learned first hand about the challenges of being a neurodivergent parent in a world that expects female- identifying parents to perform at a level that is difficult, even for those without executive functioning challenges. If you are struggling, you are not alone.

My Therapeutic Approach

In the therapy room I am collaborative and flexible, knowing that each individual will need a slightly different approach. While I will have ideas about what may be most helpful, your therapy sessions are your time, and ultimately you will decide what is most important and which approaches feel helpful and which don't. I encourage feedback so that I can adjust if needed, and so that you get what you need out of the experience. Throughout the therapeutic process, I also encourage clients to tune into their own nervous system in order to learn what they might need, both in and out of the therapy room.

As a certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist, I find this form of therapy to be very helpful in addressing a variety of concerns, including reducing trauma and PTSD symptoms, decreasing anxiety, and addressing maladaptive beliefs that may be contribute to depression. I also love arts and crafts, and will occasionally incorporate expressive arts activities into therapy sessions, along with sandtray therapy and mindfulness techniques. You can learn more about my education and training here.

Personal Stuff

When not at work, I enjoy spending time outdoors—working in the garden, hiking, camping, swimming, catching up with friends, or watching my child explore the world. When it’s time to relax, I can be found listening to audiobooks while drawing or working on my latest craft project.