Looking for a space to deepen your understanding of yourself and process the ebbs and flow of life? Group might be for you. Schedule a consultation or reach out to learn more. * Weekly Online Group Therapy *Open to Women in Texas *Wednesdays 12-1:15 $200/month KristinAtkinsonTherapy.com/womens-group #grouptherapy #growthmindset #grow #austintexas #therapy #therapyworks #anxiety #offers #growincommunity #community #accountability #atx #thingstodoinhouston #heal #thingstodoinaustin #sundayscaries #thingstodoindallas #growyourself #selfcare #mobilizewomen #elevate #discover #bossbabe #bosslady #womeninbusiness #women #womenempowerment #empowerment #ladieslunch #womengrams

Penny caught in that exact moment when the desire for something new or good collides with an inability to let go 🎾🐶 Penny would say (1) it’s hard to let go (2) you gotta do it before you have space for something new Letting go is an interesting process. It forces you to reckon with what you really want, what actually is, and what won’t be. And when we can’t get our original heart’s desire, resistance and grief and anger are natural responses. Of course it’s hard to say goodbye to a dream, an imagined future, a once was … or a favorite ball. Often, letting go is about moving through the emotions that come, owning the reality of the situation, and making some space for something different. Then hopefully finding a way to 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦. I wonder … 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖? #wantwhatyoucanthave #lettinggo #possibility #loss #grief #opportunity #therapydog #therapy #grow #newopportunities #texas #atx #doggo #goldendoodle #godoggo #future #goodbye #dreams #moveforward #acceptance #accept #austin #hope #gratitude #grateful #letgo #therapyhelps #tgif #fridayvibes #fridayfeeling

“Pain is meant to wake us up… Pain is something to be carried around, like a radio. You feel your strength in the experience of pain. It all depends on how you carry it.” -Fritz Perls- I remember reading this quote years ago and feeling an angry rejection of the message. “I don’t want to carry around my pain, I want to avoid it and when it comes, I’ll make it go.” And yet, we live in a world that offers opportunities of both intense joy and deep suffering. We live in a world of inevitable change, loss, choice, and chance. And when we touch our hand to the stove, it hurts. What I take from these words now, is that despite the inevitability of painful things coming into our lives, we have a choice about how we chose to hold them. There are times when the pain lets you know you need to grieve, to change, to be angry, or to take your hand off the stove. There are times when you look back and realize how those experiences of pain have made you both strong and tender 🖤 #fritzperls #gestault #quotes #perlsquotes #pain #emotions #emotionalmessages #listen #therapy #therapydog #doggo #experiencelife #healing #growth #sitwithit #austintx #atxlife #depthwork #godeep #goldendoodles #saddness #grief #existential #chaos #coping #tx #fbf #trauma #mindfulness #minidoods

It’s a rare treat to see snow in the hill country ❄️ Penny doesn’t quite know what to think 🐶 #goldendoodlesofinstagram #texassnow #texas #hillcountry #austintx #atx #atxlife #atxlifestyle #snowday #minigoldendoodle #play #snowdog #dogsofinstagram

Ends and Beginnings. It’s been a year of unrest, worry, loss, and change. And yet, at the end I am finding myself feeling resolute and hopeful. I’m leaving this year with a clearer picture of who I am, what I can handle, and what I want. And that feels good. Whether today is a full of gratitude, hope, or exhaustion - I hope you’ll remember to “Breathe. Let go. Remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” (Oprah Winfrey) And then use it well. ✨ Happy New Year Dear World ✨ #newyear #goodbye2020 #resolutions #resolute #newyears #happynewyear #gratitude #2021 #grief #poetry #quoted #change #loss #oprah #dogsofinstagram #dogsofig #dogslife #dogsofaustin #hotsprings #journey #atxlife #therapydogs #goldendoodles #fallcolors #austintexas #austin #wellness #movingforward #movingon #empowerment

🦚Happy December from Kristin and Penny!🦚 I’ve been struggling to keep up with Penny’s page lately and decided that December is a good month for a social media break. My intention is to slow down and work on being more present - which has a been a challenge for me lately 😬 ✨Wishing you all a peaceful and joyous Holiday Season. See ya in the New Year ✨ #slowdown #goldendoodles #boop #seasonsgreetings #advent #takingabreak #doods #austintx #holidayseason #christmas #mindfuldecember #mindfulness #selfie #presence #doggo #intention #2020 #christmaspup #mindfulnessmatters #atxlife #resolutiondrops #breaktime #newyear #holidays

I was recently reminded *again* that rest is radical. In a culture that values going and busyness - remember to rest 😌✨💗 Our brains and bodies weren’t meant to be “on” all the time. Your innate value is not linked to your productivity. Your brain need rest, your body needs it, and your soul needs it too. What are the ways you create space for deep rest? #rest #dogsaroundaustin #goldendoodles #therapy #austintx #restisradical #dailyreminders #selfcare #seasonforeverything #wellness #empowerment #mentalhealthawareness #compassion #austintxlife #animalsinfluence #anxiety #pandemicishard #covidcare #traumatherapy #therapydog #therapytips #dogsofinstagram #texas #doggos #austintxlife #trauma #psychology #austinlife #doodsofinsta #dailycare

Thinking VS Responding 🤔😤 Did ya know, thinking is a slow process compared to responding. Literally! The parts of our brain that respond to information (especially threat) communicate faster than those higher processing thinking centers - the ones that remember that hats are for wearing, not chewing. This makes so much sense when you think about what the different areas of the brain do for us. The lower brainstem area is responsible for asking the question, 𝗔𝗺 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲? Then responding accordingly. When you are in potential danger - speed is important. For example, when you’re driving and swerve to avoid a collision without even thinking about it. That’s your response survival system in action. The higher thinking areas of the brain (prefrontal lobes) have a different role, come second, and can have an inhibitory effect on that survival brain. So, bringing your thinking brain online in heated (or zones out) moments can help calm your whole self. It’s like saying, “It’s ok brain, we’re not in danger, let’s find a better response.” #neuroscience #mybraindoeswhat #coolfacts #didyaknow #therapy #therapydog #mondays #austintexas #atx #goldendoodles #doods #boop #mindfulness #compassion #coping #anxiety #relationships #brainpower #brainhealth #react #intention #atxlife #atxphotographer #atxliving #atxdog #doodlesofinsta #doglife #sup #survival #mondaymoods

“Don’t treat your blessings as burdens.” Oops. Guilty. Every now and then I have to step back and sit with this idea. What gifts am I holding as burdens? The question doesn’t lead me to blind positivity - because I know sometimes our gifts also bring difficulty - but it does help me cultivate gratitude and also brings in some helpful perspective. So, in this season of intentional gratitude and reflection, I’d invite you to sit with this idea. Is there a space in your life that can benefit from this shift in perspective? #burdens #blessings #growth #learnings #therapy #compassion #gratitude #hardtimes #makeingthemost #quotes #itsnotyourstocarry #positivity #gratful #thanksgiving #wisdom #wisewords #posttraumaticgrowth #gifts #atxdogs #atxlife #texas #goldendoodles #minidoodles #doggos #thanks #austintexas #tx #november #intention #mindfulness

Don’t forget to vote! Voting is a concrete way to express your values and use your “voice” Do some research 🧐 Check in with your values ✅ Get out there and cast your vote 🗳 #voting #2020 #values #ivoted #therapydog #dogsofinstagram #dogsoftheday #advocate #useyourvoice #dogstagram #dogsofatx #atxlife #atx #atxdogs #therapydogs #goldendoodle #texans #texas #dogsoftexas #earlyvoting #puppiesofinstagram #2020election #castyourvote #politics #minaturegoldendoodle #boop #boopmynose #boopthesnoot

When you bump up against an existential dilemma…. 😶😳😶🙄 Two truths of living: 1) There are parts of us that fear and resist change. 2)Change is an inevitable part of life. In a recent workshop (thanks @julianetaylorshore) we sat with the idea of holding multiple truths. As humans we often carry a fear of uncertainty while also living in a completely unpredictable & uncertain world. Sometimes part of our journey is developing an ability to allow both. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - #grow #develop #growyourself #integration #ipnb #existentialcrisis #existentialism #existential  #existentialist  #existentialquestions #existentialpain #existentialquotes #existentialpuppy   #existentialdread #texas #atxlifestyle #texasmade #therapy #therapydog #therapyworks #therapythursday #atx #austintx #dogsofinstagram #doglove #lifetruths #lifeishard #lifeiswonderful #change #doggo