Our story
Have you ever felt like you knew someone from a long, long time ago? Perhaps from another place, another time? Friendship is an extraordinary gift.
On a day when the trees held onto their remaining leaves, two social workers sat in a hospital office with their warm pumpkin spice lattes. One could say they bonded over their love for Starbucks, but in reality Damaris and Lauren shared a recent experience that paved the way for vulnerability.
Their story continued to develop over time in the space of social work and mental health. During this time, they began to see the discrepancies in mental health treatment in Austin and the surrounding areas. The gap in resources in the community stood out to them as they could see the direct impact on their clients. In their time together they learned how much of their values aligned in their work with clients.
On their 5th year friendaversary, Lauren and Damaris were sitting by a hospital office window and Compassionately Grounded Therapy began… and yes, they most definitely had their lattes.
Our desire to be compassionate with each individual is very much grounded in the belief each individual deserves and is entitled to quality and affordable treatment no matter the circumstances. OUR hope in starting this practice is to help be part of filling in the gap and providing a therapeutic space of inclusivity to all.
Damaris Rodriguez, LCSw
she/her/hers
Whether you’re battling depression, feeling anxious, experiencing conflict, or dealing with symptoms from trauma, Damaris will provide a safe space to help support and guide you toward your personal goals.
Damaris’ passion is to help her clients recognize their resilience as they navigate challenges in their lives by using a warm, authentic, compassionate, and client centered approach to therapy. At the heart of her clinical practice is Damaris’ ability to connect with her clients, create an honest space, and cultivate curiosity within her sessions.
Damaris has a unique aim to be flexible with her clients by adjusting her style and pace to suit their needs. Her goal is to help support her clients in creating a rich and meaningful life in line with their most deeply held values. Through a therapeutic partnership, she meets her clients wherever they are in the mess of life, and works through difficult emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. She considers it an honor to hear your story and work with you towards change. Her hope for you is that you will find something positive, genuine, and powerful in your therapy journey.
Damaris is originally from Brighton, Colorado; but has made her home in Austin 10 years ago. In her free time, she enjoys movement, watching true crime documentaries, shopping at Disney stores, and attending UT football games.
Training
Education
Damaris has extensive experience working with different ages who have a variety of mental health diagnosis including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, grief, work stress, and trauma. For the past 8 years, she has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings as an individual and group therapist. Damaris draws heavily from her training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She blends a range of therapeutic approaches including the use of a multicultural lens, play therapy, mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and ACT strategies into her work.
Damaris obtained training in Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy and currently seeking ongoing consultation to provide this to clients. For more information about EMDR, please visit: EMDR Therapy & PTSD - EMDR International Association (emdria.org)
Damaris Rodriguez received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and her Masters of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin. She is fluent in both Spanish and English and provides therapeutic services in both languages.
Lauren Sanchez, lCsw
she/her/hers
Are you finding yourself going through life without knowing where you are and how you got there? You may be noticing the discomfort of specific feelings, body sensations, and or unhelpful thoughts. Our previous experiences can play a powerful role in our current reality contributing to vulnerability and patterns of behavior. Sometimes we struggle to fully participate in our experiences and turn our focus inward. My hope is to accompany you in moving through this and finding what’s essential to create meaning in your life. Lauren seeks to support individuals including adolescents and young adults, and their family systems to enhance growth in areas clients feel stuck. She works towards balancing acceptance and change in her practice with clients. Lauren’s approach to therapy is strengths-based in nature knowing every client is different and the expert in their own experiences. She strives to explore the strengths and uniqueness of each person and believes everyone possesses an inner wisdom. Lauren is a proponent of using compassion, humor, and a non-judgmental stance in her sessions with clients. She seeks to build a trusting relationship with her clients so vulnerability may flourish and translate outside of session. During sessions, Lauren will model skills for regulation and coping to help increase inner awareness and understanding of one’s experience. She especially desires for her clients to feel safe, heard and understood in hopes of creating a therapeutic partnership.
Lauren is a native Texan and fell in love with Austin 10 years ago. When she’s not working, you can find her playing sports, fantasizing and creating interior home design, spending time with her dogs, and exploring new/old Austin.
Training
EducatioN
Lauren is a clinical social worker with experience in working with children, adolescents, and their families. Lauren brings the knowledge gained from her clients themselves from various environments including an outpatient program, child welfare, and non-profit settings. Her clinical training has consisted of Solution-Focused individual therapy and intensive group therapy. Lauren is trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and received foundational training and supervision. Lauren has experience with mindfulness based practices and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Lauren is certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy. To learn more about CPT, please visit: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/cognitive_processing.asp
Lauren obtained training in Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy and currently seeking ongoing consultation to provide this to clients. For more information about EMDR, please visit: EMDR Therapy & PTSD - EMDR International Association (emdria.org)
Lauren received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and graduated with her Masters in Social Work at Texas State University.
