MINDFUL PURPOSE THERAPY, PLLC
Hello
My name is Emily (Holden) Belcher and I am a licensed professional counselor and
EMDR Certified Therapist in Cedar Park, Texas (Greater Austin area).
"We cannot change anything unless we accept it." - Carl Jung
About Me
I have extensive experience and a special passion for working with clients dealing with trauma, chronic pain, performance issues, and all types of eating disorders (EDs). I offer individual therapy to individuals ages 13 and up. I frequently offer family and/or couples counseling, especially in the context of one's recovery from disordered eating, self-injury, and many other disruptive and harmful behaviors. I often work in coordination with other care professionals, as part of a treatment team, to best support each client.
I strongly believe that my role as a therapist is to create a safe and nonjudgmental setting for each client. This is a place where they can explore their inner selves, life experiences, and values in order to actualize their goals and hopes for their lives. I work in a collaborative way to help clients safely explore and process difficult thoughts, feelings, and life experiences. The process is specifically tailored to the unique needs of each individual and how they wish to show up in their lives, meaning how they want to be in relationship with others and themselves, at work, in their communities and places of leisure, worship, or service etc.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, EMDR Certified Therapist, and professional member of several professional associations including the American Counseling Association, the EMDR International Association, and the Central Texas Eating Disorders Specialists.
I received my Master of Arts degree in Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in 2014 after completing several clinical internships with university-based counseling services at UTSA. Since then I have gained 9 plus years of experience in various counseling settings in Austin, Texas, including psychiatric inpatient hospitals, a partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment facility for eating disorders, and experience in several different outpatient group therapy practices with the following specialties: Mastery and use of EMDR, ACT, and DBT therapy in individual and group therapy (running a regular group for adults on overcoming depression with ACT, creating and running a teen DBT group, receiving comprehensive training/consultation in EMDR therapy working collaboratively as a part of a multidisciplinary team to help those wanting to heal from trauma, food, weight, and body related concerns.)
Experience
About My Approach
The name of my practice - Mindful Purpose Therapy - reflects essential elements of awareness and intention that I believe are at the heart of healing and transformation. My approach aims to help each client envision the life and future they desire. Clients can learn to cultivate greater self-awareness and self-compassion. Such learning can help clients get unstuck from the past and get in touch with their own wisdom and vitality.
My approach to treatment is founded on providing empathy and unconditional positive regard to my clients and understanding each client’s personal goals. I strive to create a setting where people of all cultures and backgrounds are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is my primary treatment modality. I also draw on my experience with ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).
In EMDR therapy and mindfulness practice, (key in ACT and DBT therapy), clients are invited to develop dual awareness, which is the ability to pay attention to one or more experiences at the same time. For instance, being able to focus on a conversation you are having with your partner, while also noticing that your emotions are being activated making you feel just like you did when your parents did not seem to listen to you.
Through this awareness, you can be present in this moment without being overwhelmed by thoughts, feelings, and body sensations linked to memories from the past, or worries about the future. With the ability to observe both past and present, clients may suddenly find themselves freed up to live more fully in the present moment. Clients can choose actions and directions in their life based on what matters most to them, instead of reacting out of fear and habit.
Engaging in therapy can be the first step in creating the life you want to live. It can help you to resolve pain from the past that continues to interfere with you becoming the person you aspire to be. Seeking help is the first brave step in a life changing journey. I look forward to having the opportunity to walk alongside you in this next stage of your life.