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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 3pm

Align Therapy and EMDR PLLC

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Austin, TX
Align Therapy and EMDR PLLC

We specialize in complex trauma/dissociation, substance use via IFS/Emdr. We are anti-oppression.

05/27/2026

Why does the term “self sabotage” need a reframe? Because it is
pathologizing and fails to address what is actually happening. We all have
protective parts that step in when there is danger to protect us. When we have experienced complex trauma, even good experiences often feel threatening.
Why? Because we may not be used to good things. We may not believe we deserve them. In the past, good things may have been taken away. Good things activate these protective parts in the same way bad things can. Building tolerance to good things allows us to increase our capacity to hold them, accept them, and allow them. This is unconscious until it is brought to our
awareness and not a personal failing or weakness. It is survival.

EMDR allows us to titrate between emotional states to build this tolerance. It also allows us to change our beliefs about what we deserve and reduce fears around good things being taken away.

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

05/14/2026

Hypermobility is a spectrum of conditions (HSD) affecting the entire body including: joints, connective tissue, digestions, executive functioning, organs, muscles, and so much more. it has been called being “double jointed” in the past and diagnosed this way, but is now moving beyond just measures of flexibility. According to the Cleveland clinic, 30% of the population is hypermobile and 50% of Neurodivergent folks are.

Some people do not experience symptoms, but many have chronic pain, joint sublocations/dislocations, fatigue, autonomic dysfunction, proprioception differences, and when well trained, can create super athletes. The more severe end of the spectrum includes Elers Danlos Syndrome (EDS or HEDS)which can affect organs, the vascular system and many other body systems. In the brain, HSD can cause reduced attention, memory/cognitive differences and brain fog affecting planning and organization. It can also cause emotional regulation differences.

There is a large overlap with innate neurodivergence (born with hereditary ND, particuarly Autism and ADHD). It often also travels with other conditions such as MCAS and POTS according to All Brains belong. HSD folks are more prone to injury (especially during times of hormonal changes like perimenopause/menopause), and may not respond or even worsen with conventional treatment (IE regular PT can create more pain and poorer outcomes). HSD physical therapists do exist!

Diagnosis has been using the Brighton Scale (nine point scoring system to evaluate general HSD in fingers, elbows, knees and spine) but newer diagnostic criteria will emerge later this year as arthritis and other factors can influence flexibility. There are genetic tests for EDS. Finding a doctor knowledgeable of HSD is crucial for diagnosis, and treatment, and preventing further injury. Resources:
Hypermobility Syndromes Association, The Ehlers Danlos Society.

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

05/05/2026

Why would someone consider trying EMDR?
When Talk therapy(Top down processing) does not move the needle on the pain. Your trauma lives in your nervous system, bottom up processing through EMDR addresses it there First.

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

04/22/2026

Sensory Trauma

If we define trauma as anything that overwhelms
the capacity to cope, this can pertain to anything. Neurodivergent people often experience sensory overwhelm, which shows up as emotional
dysregulation. Smelling synthetic cologne can
smell like you are bathing in chemicals you can’t
escape from. Hearing a fan can sound
like a fog horn in your ear. Misophonia is the intense anger that arises at hearing the sound of other chewing. Nothing matters
until the offending trigger is accommodated
or taken away.

Because our brains can be monotropic
(attention concentrated on only one input to
the exclusion of others) we cannot tune out the trigger the way neurotypical folks can. It is necessary to reduce/eliminate the trigger to regain emotional regulation. This can look like wearing ear plugs, turning lights off, cutting tags out of clothes, sticking to safe/
consistent foods, asking for no scent
policies at work.

We have emdr protocols that can help

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

04/14/2026

Hyper Empathy and the Double Empathy Problem

A big misconception about Neurodivergent people is
that we have no empathy. It is true that ND folks
CAN have alexithymia (difficulty identifying emotions), low interoception (feeling of internal sensations),
and facial expressions that do not match our
internal state, But because these are all on a
spectrum, we CAN also experience ALL the emotions on the higher end of the spectrum.

This means many of us can feel empathy
so deeply that it feels like what we are witnessing happen to
other people, feels as though it is also
happening to us. If a bug or animal is suffering, if
the planet is suffering, if our loved ones are
suffering, if groups of oppressed people are
suffering, we can feel all of this in our bodies to
a degree that can be incredibly overwhelming
(double empathy). To hear others say ND people don’t feel
empathy can be extremely invalidating.

The Spectrum is not a little or a lot autistic.
The spectrum is where all neurodivergent
people fall on the different domains impacted
by neurodivergence: Sensory, emotional processing, executive functioning, relationships & communication (& more). We can fall anywhere on the spectrum in any category.

EMDR can be incredibly helpful in managing holding the pain of others.

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

03/30/2026

We have Therapy openings and would love to work with you or someone you love anywhere in Texas!

Complex Trauma
Substance Use
Neurodivergent Exploration
Anxiety/Mood
Relationship Support

EMDR, IFS, and Hypnosis trained
Contact us for additional details!

Julie Jones LPC-S, LCDC
Steve Jones LCSW-S, LCDC, MBA

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

03/18/2026

How accessible does JOY feel to you right now?

Many people may be having a hard time accessing JOY in the midst of extreme oppression.

When the body is experiencing collective trauma, it believes it is on a battle field. In the middle of battle, it wouldn’t be safe to stop and experience joy, peace, creativity, or awe because this might leave you vulnerable to attack. This is adaptive. Your joy is not gone, it is being held until there is more of a sense of safety.

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

03/10/2026

Sharing the contextual trauma wheel again due to its importance in understanding mental health. We cannot look at mental health without looking at the broader environment and the amount of oppression we are undergoing. Please remember it is normal to have an increase in mental health needs in times of more oppression. This is not an individual problem, it is collective/societal. If you are experiencing an increase in anxiety/panic, depression/hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, dissociation, substance use, eating challenges, physical symptoms, please remember these are normal reactions to egregious and worsening systemic trauma on top of our already inherited transgenerational trauma and developmental trauma. What is not normal is the oppression and systemic harm being done. If you or someone you love is struggling and in need of support, please reach out.

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

03/03/2026

Austin: Our hearts are with those affected (directly and indirectly) by the mass shooting downtown last weekend. Getting help quickly after events like these can help ease the acute stress response and potentially prevent PTSD or the worsening of existing PTSD. EMDR has a Recent Events Protocol for exactly this. Even if you were no where near the shooting, this vicarious trauma can make us question the safety of being in community when we need community more now than ever. Know that you are not alone and there is help.

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

02/18/2026

Understanding DARVO

DARVO is a tactic to control, coerce, and manipulate others.

DENY- Used to deny the victim’s reality, makes them question their feelings
ATTACK-Calls the victim “crazy”, “too sensitive”, gaslighting
REVERSE VICTIM & OFFENDER-
accuses the victim of being the perpetrator and the perpetrator assumes the role of the one being harmed

This is playing out on the world stage right now.
As we watch and learn about wide spread sexual abuse, trafficking, and killing of vulnerable women (and non-males), we are witnessing a collective trauma. No accountability reinforces misogyny and the patriarchal view that mom-males are not equal to men. This can trigger personal traumatic experiences that mirror the larger stage.

Collectively, many women and non-males are asking:

-Can I trust men? Can I trust anyone?
-Could anyone in my life be involved in this global abuse?
-How do I stay safe when there are no consequences for abusers?
IF you are asking these questions, you are not alone. Men, check in with your loved ones and ask how this is affecting them.

Simultaneously, it is GOOD that these events and truths are coming to light as there is a great demand for accountability. When institutions do not protect people, people will take power into their own hands and demand it. We are witnessing taking our power back. We have found grounding, compassion, meditation, EMDR, and practicing joy as resistance supportive for these times.

Aligntherapyandemdr.com

Address

Austin, TX

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 3pm

Telephone

+15129673275

Website

http://aligntherapyandemdr.com/

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