Deep Waters Austin, PLLC

A compassionate space to heal from trauma, untangle painful past experiences, and reconnect with your voice, identity, and inner strength. "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." — Carl Jung Many people who come to therapy appear strong, capable, and successful on the outside, yet inside they may feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of who they truly are. Often, these feelings are connected to early environments where fear, shame, rigid expectations, or control shaped a person’s sense of self. If you grew up in a high-pressure family or belief system, those patterns can continue to influence how you relate to yourself, others, and the world around you. Therapy offers a supportive space to explore those experiences, understand their impact, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that may have been silenced or lost. Healing is not about fixing something that is broken. It is about rediscovering the strength, wisdom, and resilience that already exist within you. Reaching out for support takes courage. I believe that people who seek therapy are resilient individuals who want to live more fully, feel more connected, and create meaningful change in their lives. I offer a free video consultation so we can meet and see if working together feels like a good fit. Specializing in Religious Trauma, Cult Recovery & Childhood Trauma I specialize in working with individuals healing from religious abuse, cult or high-control environments, and childhood trauma. Many of my clients grew up in communities where questioning authority was discouraged, fear was used as motivation, or identity was shaped by rigid beliefs and expectations. Leaving or questioning these environments can be complex and deeply disorienting. People often experience confusion, grief, anxiety, or a loss of identity after stepping away from the belief systems or family structures they were raised in. You may find yourself wondering: • Who am I outside of the system I was raised in? • Why do I still feel fear, shame, or guilt even though I’ve left? • How do I rebuild my sense of self and trust my own voice? • Is it possible to have spirituality without control or fear? These questions are very common for people recovering from religious trauma, and you don’t have to navigate them alone. Signs You May Be Experiencing Religious Trauma Many people raised in high-control religious environments don’t immediately realize that what they experienced was traumatic. You may notice: • Persistent fear, shame, or guilt related to spirituality • Difficulty trusting your own thoughts or intuition • Anxiety around authority figures or judgment • Feeling responsible for other people's emotions or spiritual wellbeing • Difficulty setting boundaries with family or religious communities • Feeling disconnected from your body or emotions • Perfectionism or feeling “never good enough” • Fear of rejection for having different beliefs • Confusion about identity or life direction Leaving these environments can also bring unexpected grief. Even when the system was harmful, it may have provided community, identity, and structure. If any of this resonates, please know your experience is valid and you are not alone. Healing From the Past. Reclaiming Your Life. Healing from religious trauma or childhood trauma is not about replacing one belief system with another. It is about reclaiming your autonomy, your voice, and your relationship with yourself. In therapy we work gently and at your pace to: • Process painful memories and experiences • Understand how trauma has shaped your nervous system • Reduce anxiety, shame, and fear • Rebuild trust in your own intuition and boundaries • Develop a stronger sense of identity • Explore spirituality in a way that feels authentic to you • Cultivate emotional regulation and self-compassion Many people discover that healing allows them to move from survival and fear toward clarity, freedom, and self-trust. My Approach My work is integrative and personalized, meaning therapy is tailored to each person’s unique experiences and needs. Because trauma affects both the mind and the body, I incorporate approaches that support the nervous system, emotional healing, and relational patterns. My work draws from several trauma-informed frameworks, including: • Somatic Experiencing • NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model) • Trauma-Conscious Yoga • DEEP (Dynamic Enriched Experiential Psychotherapy) • Attachment Theory • Interpersonal Neurobiology • Mindfulness • Depth Psychology These approaches allow us to work not only with thoughts and emotions, but also with the body, nervous system, and deeper patterns shaped by early life experiences. About Me Like many therapists, my path to this work grew out of my own healing journey. Experiences with grief, betrayal, trauma, and religious and emotional abuse have been powerful teachers in my life. They have given me a deep respect for the courage it takes to face painful experiences and begin the process of healing. While I never assume to know exactly what a client is feeling, I do understand what it is like to feel lost, overwhelmed, or alone. Because of my own journey, I am not afraid to sit with others in difficult places and offer a compassionate and supportive presence as they find their way forward. Before becoming a therapist, I spent over 17 years working as an artist and clothing designer and later founded an Eastern-inspired yoga clothing company, Satori Sport. Although I loved the creativity of design, I eventually felt called toward work that was more directly connected to healing. In 2010, I began my graduate studies at Pacifica Graduate Institute, where I earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology. Today it is my privilege to accompany people as they reconnect with their inner strength, reclaim their voice, and move toward lives that feel meaningful and authentic. Begin Your Healing Journey Reaching out for support can feel like a big step, especially if you’ve spent a long time trying to navigate things on your own. If you’re ready to explore therapy, I invite you to reach out. I offer a free video consultation so we can briefly connect, discuss what you’re looking for, and see whether working together feels like a good fit. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Support is available, and meaningful healing is possible. "You do not have to be good. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves." — Mary Oliver