“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
– Carl Rogers
Welcome! I’m so glad you’ve taken the first step to explore counseling services to enhance the quality of your life and your relationships. It takes courage to reach out, and I applaud you for making this decision! Feel free to read about my services and give me a call to see if I would be a good fit for your needs.
About Dr. Paulina Flasch
My personal background is diverse, as I grew up in Sweden with parents who were immigrants from Eastern Europe. I moved to the U.S. over 15 years ago and speak several languages. I can conduct counseling in English or Swedish. I have always been exposed to diverse cultural and religious groups, through travels and living in different places. I am open to many worldviews and have worked with diverse groups in several different fields throughout my life. If there’s something I don’t fully understand, I look forward to having you teach me so I can better understand you. I have made Austin my home, where I live with my partner and our dog. Some of my favorite things to do include traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Clientele & Common Issues
I work primarily with couples and adult individuals, and I also see families with older children (12+). Further, I provide group counseling around various topics. Clients come to counseling for a variety of reasons, including relationship issues (e.g., communication, infidelity, lack of emotional connection, sex-related issues) family problems (e.g., communication, acting-out behaviors, academic problems), depression and anxiety, adjustment issues (e.g., new life phase, grief), and trauma (e.g., coping with ongoing trauma or challenges, recovery from past, childhood, or recent trauma). I work with clients of many diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ clients and religiously/culturally diverse clients.
Counseling Philosophy
I approach counseling through a collaborative framework which emphasizes the counseling relationship, emotional and attachment experiences, and strengths of my clients. I work with clients to help them restructure patterns which keep them from achieving their personal and relationship goals. I primarily utilize attachment-based and emotionally-focused therapy to help clients get unstuck, better understand their negative cycles, find ways to break out of negative patterns, achieve wellness and fulfillment, and connect with others on a deeper and more meaningful level. I utilize a variety of trauma-informed practices for work with trauma.
Educational Background & Training
I received my PhD in Counselor Education from the University of Central Florida in 2016. I received my Master’s in Science and Education Specialist degrees in Couple and Family Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2012. Prior to that, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am a National Board Certified Professional Counselor (NCC; 310741) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFT-A; 203205). I offer counseling services under the supervision of Brianne Blevins, LMFT-S, LPC-S, Owner of Austin Women’s Counseling. Brianne may be contacted directly at (512) 981-5638 or at brianne@austinwomenscounseling.com.
I am also an Assistant Professor of professional counseling at Texas State University, where I teach courses in couple, family, and individual counseling as well as conduct research on family violence and relationships. I am a member of the American Counseling Association, in addition to several other professional organizations.
I also have extensive training in couples’ counseling, including over 200 hours of training in Emotionally Focused Couples’ Therapy (EFT), and Level 1 and Level 2 of Gottman Couples Therapy. I am also an expert in the area of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), a field I have worked in clinically, conducted research in, offered trainings and presentations in, and published in since 2010.
Clinical Background
I have training and experience working with individuals, couples, families, children, college students, and groups in a variety of settings, including in community counseling and university settings, residential treatment and shelter settings, a study-abroad office, and intensive in-home therapy settings, and have done so since 2011. I have worked with individuals from a wide variety of multicultural backgrounds (e.g., socioeconomic status, cultural/ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation) who present with a wide range of concerns (e.g., anxiety and depression, trauma backgrounds, intimate partner violence, sexual/physical/emotional abuse, childhood disorders, academic problems, behavioral problems, relational problems, and more).
Fees
55-minute session – $100/session with some spots reserved for sliding scale clients based on financial needs.
I do not accept insurance, but I am happy to provide a receipt for out-of-network services. However, I cannot guarantee that your insurance will cover our sessions. Please check with your insurance company to ensure they reimburse for services with an LMFT-Associate prior to starting services. You may also be able to use your health savings account.