Melanie Mahanger, MA, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Isolation
Loneliness
Depression
Lack of genuine social connection
Alone or Lonely?
Loneliness, a complicated emotion that typically occurs when one’s needs for social contact are not met, may be described as a feeling of emptiness. A person may be lonely when alone, but the state of being alone does not create loneliness.
GOOD PRACTICE
What do you want to talk about? I'm curious to know what you are curious about. Here are some things that come up in some of my sessions:
Identity - Noticing the parts of yourself like abilities, your belief system or moral code, likes and dislikes, personality traits and the things that motivate you. Learning how to move in the direction of your more positive identities to counter the effects of anxiety and depression.
Body Image - Finding ways to have an emotionally, mentally and physically healthy relationship with your body that will be supportive of all the developmental stages of your life using tools like mindfulness and compassion.
Close Family Issues - Dealing with the stress, frustrations with the developmental/age/ experience differences of living in a household of people in their own place of their life journey. How do can you protect your own peace without feeling isolated. Navigating the overall complications of family life.
Family System - Learn to use your family history to inform the way you were raised. Identify the influence of the family system on your beliefs about who you are, what you believe about yourself in relation to others and what choices about the future you would like to make in regards to the multigenerational patterns of your family system.
Personal relationships - Establishing personal needs, wants and expectations to deal with the challenges of working together towards goals to establish a happy, healthy relationship.
Work - Identify ways your family system, trauma, self-image, and past work experience affect how you set healthy work boundaries.
LGBTQIA+, Racial identity, Cultural identity - I am an abled, white, heterosexual, cisgender female (she/her). I acknowledge my social privilege and embrace the necessity of space for all people. I especially provide that safe space to explore and speak about the joys and frustrations of living one’s authentic life.
Important info:
1. No Surprises Act - For questions or information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or how to dispute a bill go to: www.cms.gov/nosurprises. I will discuss this before our first session.
2. Covid protocols - I am fully vaccinated and don't usually wear a mask in session, I will gladly do so if it makes you more comfortable. Due to periodic outbreaks of new variations I may adjust my protocol to online only when I deem prudent.
3. Payment - My fee for services is $130. If you would like to use insurance, I take Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. In some instances your group may not accept me as a provider. In order to avoid confusion please check with your insurance before contacting me for services. I take debit/credit cards as a form of payment.
The Work We Can Do
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Emotional Disorders
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Life Transitions
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Trauma informed, Not Specialized
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Therapeutic Tools and Techniques
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Concerns Often Processed
Trauma Informed, not specialized
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PTSD
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sympathetic/parasympathetic systems
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Emotional effects of Narcissistic relationships
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Clients have seen a therapist for their trauma, and are ready to integrate their understanding of the trauma into their daily relational experience
Emotional disorders
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Bipolar disorder
Therapeutic Tools and Techniques
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Boundaries
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
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Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
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Self Care
Life Transitions
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Challenges faced by people from the ages of 18 to 70 years old
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Work/Life/Family balance
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Dealing with global instability like Covid
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Romantic relationships
Concerns often processed
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ADHD and Neurodivergence
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Life transitions
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Generational challenges
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Cultural concerns
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General coping skills
Melanie Mahanger, MA, LPC
DBA MELANIE RABALAIS, LPC PLLC
Psychotherapist
In 2006, I graduated with my B.S. in Psychology at Loyola University New Orleans. In 2011, I completed my M.A. in Professional Counseling at Texas State University. In July of 2018, I received my license as a LPC in Texas. I have lived in Austin or Lockhart since 2006, but two years ago, I became a full-time resident of Lockhart and aim to provide therapy to the surrounding Lockhart area community. It is expensive, time consuming and stressful to have to travel to other cities for therapy. At the moment I am looking for new clients for individual adult therapy that live in the area. I am transitioning back to in-person sessions, but will always be available online
People that come to me find that I am kind and use my humor to create a calm and relaxed space. I encourage them to simply tell their story and I listen with empathy and concern. I meet my clients where they are in life and set goals to track progress and reflect on the changes that result. I often reference family systems theory because I believe we all learn patterns in our life based on interactions in our family. I have studied and used Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) which informs my overall approach. Using strength based, person-centered techniques and mindfulness gives me the opportunity to work with people in life transitions, people with relationship issues, anxiety, depression and also LGBTQIA+ individuals. (Previous name: Melanie Rabalais, MA, LPC and doing business as Melanie Rabalais, LPC PLLC)
Contact Me
NOTICE:
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