Our mission is simple: to create a space in Austin where individuals, couples, and families can feel truly seen, supported, and empowered to heal.

About Second Wave Counseling Trauma & Crisis Specialists in Austin

Our Story

Our team is made up of therapists who began their careers in high-intensity environments such as residential treatment centers (RTCs) and crisis intervention programs. In those settings, we learned how to sit with chaos, hold steady in moments of overwhelm, and help people find their way toward safety and connection. That foundation shapes everything we do today.

What We Believe

  • Therapy should be direct, compassionate, and honest and wholeheartedly no judgmental.

  • Healing is most powerful when it’s collaborative. We’ll partner with you, your loved ones, and, when helpful, schools or community systems.

  • Everyone deserves therapy that is trauma-informed, evidence-based, and culturally responsive.

  • Equity and accessibility matter, because mental health care should be for everyone.

Why Clients Choose Us

Our clients often tell us they feel immense relief when they meet us, like they’ve finally found a therapist who won’t flinch at the full weight of their story. Whether you’re navigating conflict in your relationship, facing family patterns that never seem to change, or carrying the impact of trauma, we bring the skill and steadiness to walk alongside you.

Meet the Team

Each therapist at Second Wave Counseling brings both extensive clinical training and lived experience, but we all share one goal: to help you and your loved ones feel less alone in the struggle and more confident in your path forward.

Carla Pelcastre, LCSW-S

Owner & Clinician

Kayla Grissett, LCSW
Clinician

Lauren Fazio, LCSW
Licensed Clinician

Matthew Regan, Life Coach