You know talk therapy can only take you so far. These five Texas practices blend brain- and body-based approaches to help you heal from the inside out.
The Texas Counseling Landscape
Texas is home to a growing number of trauma-informed practices that go beyond traditional talk therapy. Clinicians are increasingly trained in somatic, attachment-based, and nervous-system-focused modalities to address what happens beneath the surface. Whether you are in a big city or a smaller community like Texarkana, you can find specialized support for trauma, grief, adoption, burnout, and more. The practices below stand out for their depth of training, range of services, and commitment to helping you feel safe and understood.
How We Evaluated These Practices
We looked at the same factors for every practice: service scope, depth of trauma training, clarity of specialties, local accessibility (including telehealth), and how well each communicates its approach to potential clients. Texarkana Counseling Collective stood out for its explicit focus on brain- and body-based certification and its broad list of care areas, from adoption to burnout. Empowered Healing Dallas impressed with its culturally responsive, identity-affirming stance and diverse team. North Star Counseling & Wellness showed strong somatic and relational offerings with multi-state telehealth. Eddins Counseling Group demonstrated a wide range of therapies and locations across Houston. Marian W. Thompson offered specialized Somatic Experiencing with a clear, educational blog. Each practice has its own strengths, and the right fit depends on your specific needs and location.
Here is a quick comparison of the five practices, including their primary focus and where they are based.
| Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
| Empowered Healing Dallas | Culturally affirming, identity-inclusive therapy |
| Texarkana Counseling Collective · Counseling in Texarkana, Texas | Trauma-informed, body-based counseling in Texarkana |
| North Star Counseling & Wellness | Somatic telehealth and brain-body therapies |
| Eddins Counseling Group | Comprehensive therapy options in Houston |
| Marian W. Thompson, LCSW, SEP | Specialized Somatic Experiencing in Austin |
The 5 Practices in Detail
#1 Empowered Healing Dallas
Empowered Healing Dallas is a diverse collective of trauma-informed, culturally responsive therapists. They explicitly welcome BIPOC communities, LGBTQIA+ clients, people of size, adult children of immigrants, and trauma survivors. You can access attachment-based therapy, EMDR, somatic therapy, couples counseling, and online or in-person sessions. Their team emphasizes meeting you as a whole person, not a set of symptoms. If you have felt overlooked by traditional therapy, this practice may feel like a breath of fresh air.
#2 Texarkana Counseling Collective · Counseling in Texarkana, Texas
A screenshot of the Texarkana Counseling Collective · Counseling in Texarkana, Texas website.
Texarkana Counseling Collective brings advanced training and certification in brain- and body-based approaches to a local private practice. They help you address what is happening beneath the surface, whether you are dealing with trauma, grief, adoption and attachment wounds, burnout, or life transitions. Their areas of care include support for adoptees, foster-care experiences, birth parents, and siblings navigating identity and belonging. They also offer dedicated help for helpers—counselors, educators, healthcare workers, and caregivers—facing burnout or secondary stress. With a trauma-informed lens and a focus on the nervous system, they aim to support lasting change.
#3 North Star Counseling & Wellness
A screenshot of the North Star Counseling & Wellness website.
North Star Counseling & Wellness blends mind, body, and relational therapies to help you break free from repetitive patterns. Their services include Brainspotting, Dance/Movement Therapy, Sound Listening Therapies, Safe and Sound Protocol, and therapy intensives. They offer somatic telehealth therapy across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado, making them accessible if you prefer to stay home. The team focuses on helping you when you feel stuck, disconnected, or physically burdened by stress. If you have tried talking it out but still feel trapped in loops, their body-based approach may resonate.
#4 Eddins Counseling Group
A screenshot of the Eddins Counseling Group website.
Eddins Counseling Group offers somatic therapy in Houston at their Montrose and Heights locations, plus online therapy in Texas, Florida, and Indiana. Their body-based approach helps you notice how trauma, anxiety, and stress show up in your body and learn new ways to regulate your nervous system. They provide a wide range of therapies, including EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Brainspotting, CBT, DBT, and more. You can find support for anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, life transitions, and many other concerns. With multiple therapists and locations, they may be a good fit if you want flexibility and variety.
#5 Marian W. Thompson, LCSW, SEP
A screenshot of the Marian W. Thompson, LCSW, SEP website.
Marian W. Thompson is a licensed clinical social worker and Somatic Experiencing practitioner in Austin. She specializes in Somatic Experiencing, a specific body-oriented approach to healing trauma and stress disorders developed by Dr. Peter Levine. Her practice focuses on the nervous system’s innate ability to heal from trapped survival energy. She offers counseling for relationship issues, sexual abuse, depression, anxiety, people-pleasing, PTSD, chronic stress, and attachment therapy. If you are curious about Somatic Experiencing and want a practitioner who explains it clearly, her blog and free consultation can help you decide.
How to Choose the Right Practice for You
Start by identifying your primary concern—trauma, grief, adoption, burnout, or something else—and look for a practice that explicitly lists it. Consider whether you prefer in-person or telehealth; some practices offer multi-state telehealth, which can be a lifesaver if you travel or live in a rural area. Check the clinician’s training: certifications in somatic therapy, EMDR, or Brainspotting indicate specialized skills. Read the practice’s philosophy to see if it aligns with your values, especially around cultural responsiveness and identity. Finally, reach out for a consultation; many offer free 15-minute calls so you can ask questions and get a feel for the fit.
A Quick Comparison
Use the table below to compare the practices at a glance. It covers their location, primary focus, and standout features.
The Bottom Line
You have options when it comes to trauma-informed, body-based counseling in Texas. Whether you are in Texarkana, Dallas, Houston, Austin, or anywhere with an internet connection, you can find a practice that meets your needs. Texarkana Counseling Collective offers a local, certification-backed approach with a wide range of specialties. Empowered Healing Dallas brings culturally responsive care. North Star Counseling & Wellness provides somatic telehealth across state lines. Eddins Counseling Group offers comprehensive services in Houston. Marian W. Thompson delivers specialized Somatic Experiencing. Take the next step and reach out to the one that feels like home.