Sara Beth Austin | MA, MA, NCC, DARTT, RYT-200 (she/her)

Did you grow up in a family that punished displays of emotion and where mistakes were intolerable? Are you tired of constantly striving, but unable to relax? Feel like you are always ‘on’, performing, or wearing a mask?

If any of these ring true, you might be struggling with excessive self-control. Anxiety, depression, disordered eating, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, relationship troubles, and loneliness are common signs of overcontrol. Developmental trauma often underlies overcontrolled coping patterns.

You don’t have to struggle alone. I’ve been a therapist helping LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and other overcontrolled folks find safety, healing, and connection for over 10 years. Together, we can get you unstuck and harness your self-control as a strength. We’ll integrate science-based treatments like Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT) with embodied healing tools that help you process trauma and re-integrate your sense of self. You’ll learn practical (and fun!) ways of coping that empower you, improve your relationships, and help you live in accordance with your goals.

Finding a therapist who gets you can be stressful, so I focus on creating a strong therapeutic bond through curiosity and playfulness. I offer both one-on-one sessions and skills training classes. Email me, call me, or visit waveways.org, and we’ll schedule a free consultation to discuss your hopes and needs.

Areas of focus: Chronic depression/anxiety, Eating Disorders, OCD, Perfectionism, Complex trauma and PTSD, LGBTQ+ issues, mind-body integration