Julie Schiffman,
LPC Associate

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’s important to us and what gives our lives meaning. 

During my career transition, I moved to Austin, and I loved the 3.5 years I spent there working for AmeriCorps as a mentor and completing my degree at St. Edward’s. 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 lifestyle are second to none). Now, I’m living in North Carolina with my fiancé and my sweet puppy, 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) 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. Does everything happen for a reason?

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 validate your emotions and 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 recognizing this connection is critical for therapeutic transformation. If you think we could be a good fit, please feel free to self-schedule a consultation with the page linked above or contact us directly!