Julie Schiffman,
LPC Associate

 

Julie Schiffman (she/her)

LPC Associate #90967
Supervised by Sarah Osmer, LPC-Supervisor

Virtual throughout Texas

Ages 16+

Specializations and Interests: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), life transitions, relationship skills, anxiety and depression, emotional regulation, premarital counseling

I’m for you if: You want a warm, nonjudgmental therapeutic approach; you’re open to trying new ideas and perspectives, even if they’re foreign or uncomfortable at first; and you value human connection and the ways our relationships can fulfill us.

Education: Sewanee: The University of the South - Bachelor of the Arts in English, Bachelor of the Arts in Philosophy, 2018
St. Edward’s University - Master of the Arts in Counseling, 2022

Fees: $120/50-minute session. Julie is in-network with Cigna. Additionally, she is happy to provide you with a superbill to help with out-of-network coverage.
Premarital counseling sessions

Contact: julie@carlislecollective.co // 512.222.9265

Personal
I grew up in a small college town in Mississippi, and I think this “bubble” environment sparked my desire to branch out and find my own path. I loved college, and I found fulfillment in succeeding academically, but my desire to achieve evolved into a need to fulfill others’ expectations of me and I began to strive toward an identity that reflected “prestige” instead of my own passions. Of course, this was unsustainable, and I had a “quarter-life crisis”! In a major transitional period, I was forced to reflect on my own values, and I started a new career journey, switching from law school to the mental health field. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, and I now realize how crucial it is that we come back to our touchstone values, noticing what brings us meaning and purpose. 

During my career transition, I moved to Austin, and I loved the 4 years I spent there working for AmeriCorps as a mentor and then obtaining my graduate degree at St. Edward’s University. I interned for a year at Austin State Hospital, an inpatient psychiatric facility, and sharpened my clinical skills with individuals experiencing severe mental illness. I moved from Austin in December 2022 with a heavy heart (Austin’s culture, food, and active outdoors scene are second to none). Now, I’m living in Charlottesville, Virginia with my husband and my sweet labradoodle, Summer. For this reason, I currently offer virtual sessions only. When I’m not in a work setting, you might find me exploring new coffee shops and restaurants, going to barre classes, playing the piano, or reading a good novel.

Professional
In a therapeutic setting, I use a holistic wellness model. By “holistic,” I mean that all domains of our lives (mental, physical, spiritual, and relational, etc.) factor into our overall wellness, and we should recognize our needs in all these categories. Relational wellness is especially important to me; we can recognize human connection and enhance our relationships in order to increase happiness, contentment, and fulfillment.

In session, I think the client-therapist relationship is number 1— a trusting therapeutic bond is necessary for lasting change. I often use gentle confrontation to address a pattern I’ve noticed in client behavior, because part of my job is to point out things in your periphery that you might not have otherwise noticed. I find that clients progress most noticeably when therapy provides accountability and directness. I value the idea that every individual has their own story, and throughout our lives, we find purpose in events, making meaning in these stories and questioning the ways our journeys unfold.

Those who know me would say I’m warm, approachable, assertive, and analytic. One of my major values in the counseling process is striking the most helpful balance between caring/nurturing and investigating/confronting— however, my first priority is to make sure you feel heard and understood. I want you to know that you’re not alone.

The clientele with which I work best is young adults who would like to address anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, life transitions, and relationship dynamics. I am EMDR-trained and trauma-informed, and I use a somatic approach to help clients access their physical feelings to inform and affect their thoughts and emotions. Our minds and bodies are deeply intertwined, and our bodies store trauma in ways that can manifest as mental or physical illness or pain; recognizing this connection is critical for therapeutic transformation. In order to heal, we must recognize the interconnectedness of the physical, mental, and emotional, and strive to process and release our negative beliefs and experiences.

I am also a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator and love assisting clients with structured premarital counseling. As an individual who was recently married, I can relate to the experience of life transitions— including navigating wedding planning, communicating about the future, and building harmonious relationships within the greater context of a marriage. Capitalizing on our strengths is key! If you think we could be a good fit, please feel free to self-schedule a consultation with the page linked above or contact Carlisle Collective directly.