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Austin Urban Sanctuary
3818 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 201
Fax: (512) 857-4306
Claire Ashton, LPC-S, LMFT-S, EMDR-C
Founder, EMDRIA-Approved Consultant
Claire Ashton is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor (LMFT-S). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, a certification in Paralegal Studies from Duke University, and a Master of Arts in Counseling from St. Edward’s University.
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Claire completed her practicum and later practiced professionally at Ascension Seton Behavioral Health where she received training in DBT while facilitating groups in the Adult Intensive Outpatient Program. She concurrently completed a second practicum at Capital Area Counseling (CAC) where she treated children, families, and individuals presenting with mood disorders, social anxiety, perfectionism, phobias, challenges transitioning to adulthood, family challenges related to incarceration of a parent and divorce, personality disorders, chronic suicidal ideation and self-injuring behavior, and trauma and ritual abuse. Claire acted as Director of Operations, Senior Clinician, and Partner at a mid-sized, Austin-based, adherent-DBT agency prior to launching Austin Urban Sanctuary, her current endeavor.
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In 2017, Claire completed basic training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which is used to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories. She was certified by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) in 2021 after completing advanced training in the use of EMDR for grief and mourning and the use of EMDR for ego-state work. As an EMDRIA Consultant, Claire supports clinicians on their path toward certification by offering both group and individual consultation. Practicing at the intersection of EMDR and DBT, Claire brings a unique skill-set and perspective to clinical consultation and treatment with individuals who have experienced recurring developmental trauma. In addition, she has also completed advanced education in DBT and EMDR for Substance Use Disorders.
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In 2023, Claire introduced the use of virtual reality technology to her practice, providing clients the opportunity to experience real-life scenarios and safe exposure in controlled environments adapted and customized to clients' individual needs.
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Prior to pursuing a career in counseling, Claire worked in the music and technology industries, and is passionate about helping creative individuals identify personal goals and priorities, build meaningful relationships, and find healthy and fulfilling ways to express themselves.
Kacie Stokes, LMSW
Therapist
Kacie Stokes is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) supervised by Ashley Porter, LCSW-S. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Statistics and Social Work from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin.
Kacie completed her practicum at Ascension Seton, providing DBT group therapy to adults in the Intensive Outpatient Program. Additionally, she worked as a Research Specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center promoting activity and cognitive enrichment in a schizophrenia study and at the University of Texas at Austin as a graduate research assistant for EPINET-TX (The Early Psychosis Intervention Network). Kacie pursued continuing education through The Chicago School of Psychology in working ethically and effectively with Neurodiverse people. In addition, Kacie has completed Basic Training to provide EMDR therapy to those struggling with the after-effects of trauma.
Kacie believes in working collaboratively to develop tools that reduce emotional intensity, restructure negative thought patterns, and reshape your responses to the world. She uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to work with adolescents and adults who struggle with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and trauma. Her sessions are enriched with mindfulness activities, which invite you to anchor yourself in the present moment, promoting relaxation and deeper self-connection.
Kacie is warm, compassionate, and curious. She believes in the power of genuine human connection and strives to create a safe and supportive space where you can embark on your journey towards healing and sustainable positive change.
Victoria Reyna, LPC, NCC, CRC
Therapist
Hi, I’m Victoria Reyna. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). I hold a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services with a concentration in Addiction Studies from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a Master of Science in Counseling from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock.
My focus is on helping individuals navigate the challenges of trauma, anxiety disorders, and OCD. If you’re facing these struggles, remember you’re not alone, and there’s hope for a brighter, more fulfilling future.
I utilize a range of therapeutic techniques, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). These approaches are effective tools that we can use together to address and alleviate your concerns. Additionally, I have pursued continuing education in attachment-based EMDR.
In our sessions, I prioritize a person-centered approach. This means I’m dedicated to listening to your story, understanding your unique experiences, and supporting you in a way that resonates with you. I emphasize the importance of self-compassion and will help you cultivate this crucial skill, which can be transformative on your healing journey.
My goal is to provide a warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where you feel safe and understood. Healing is a deeply personal journey, and I’m honored to be part of yours. If you’re ready to begin this journey or just want to explore your options, please feel free to reach out. I look forward to connecting with you and supporting you in finding the peace and growth you deserve.
Todd Smith, M.S., LCSW
Therapist
Todd Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Communication Studies from St. Cloud State University and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin.
Todd conducted pre-graduate counseling in The University of Texas at Austin’s Athletic Department where he ran a support group for injured athletes, created an athlete-led program on substance abstinence and led a mindfulness group for athletes. He also practiced in the Intensive Outpatient Program at Ascension Seton for over six years, providing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Radically-Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RODBT), in addition to Adult Process Group and Dual Diagnosis Group for co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. During his time at Ascension, Todd worked with individuals presenting with mood and bipolar-spectrum disorders, personality disorders, avoidant behavior patterns, substance abuse, acute suicidal and self-injuring behavior, impulsivity issues, difficulty regulating emotions, and anxiety spectrum disorders. He also pursued continuing education through The Chicago School for working ethically and effectively with Neurodiverse people.
Todd is collaborative and grounded, while bringing his authenticity and creativity into the treatment process. He is passionate about cultivating mindfulness and awareness to help clients understand their own patterns of behavior in order to identify what they want more of in their lives and what they could use less of.
Todd’s own background in amateur athletics has contributed to him holding a strong belief in a collaborative relationship with his clients – a “team approach” – where he often uses humor to keep things fun while helping navigate life’s challenges. Prior to pursuing a career in therapy, Todd worked in the music and comedy industries and he enjoys working with other creatives to help them achieve their goals.
Our Approach
There are so many reasons that it’s difficult to solve our own problems. We get overwhelmed by our emotions, don’t have the right skills, don’t know what we want, are challenged by our environment, or are influenced by experiences from our past. We see you as a unique individual with your own story and we would like to help you capitalize on your strengths in order to solve the problems that stand in the way of you living your best life.
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We work with adults, adolescents, and families struggling with anxiety disorders, perfectionism and chronic high performance, phobias, impulsivity issues, challenges transitioning to adulthood, adjustment difficulties related to personal or family change, neurodivergent experience (ADHD, Autism, giftedness), mood and personality disorders, substance abuse, trauma and ritual abuse, and dissociative disorders.
Consider us accepting, committed advocates who are ready to meet you where you are and support your growth through our work together. We use an eclectic approach to treatment, tailored for your unique circumstances and experiences. We practice elements of structural family therapy, attachment theory, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), exposure and response prevention (ERP) and core mindfulness. Therapy with us is warm and compassionate, challenging, creative, and humorous at times.
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a specialized treatment that can decrease negative emotions associated with distressing, traumatic memories. EMDR is a first-line treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and can also be useful in the treatment of addictions, performance anxiety, phobias, sexual and physical abuse, and panic attacks. Trauma is a broad term that includes both experiences that we collectively consider disturbing (abuse, natural disasters, car accidents) and unique instances that make a negative impact on you personally and effect your life in the present.
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EMDR does not require you to verbally explore your distressing experiences in great detail during therapy. EMDR is a structured approach that utilizes "snapshots" of your traumatic memories combined with bilateral stimulation to help you experience distressing events in a less disturbing way. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked by the impact of a disturbing event, intense suffering may occur. Once the block is removed, healing resumes.
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We use EMDR as both a stand-alone treatment and in conjunction with other therapeutic approaches. EMDR is a complex therapy and may seem intriguing to you yet daunting at the same time. We recommend scheduling an assessment to learn how EMDR works so that we can determine together if it is a good fit for you.
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specialized treatment for individuals struggling with emotion regulation issues and difficulty tolerating distress. An adherent DBT approach includes a combination of individual therapy, skills-based classes, and family therapy or parent coaching (as needed). Many people who find DBT helpful have struggled with fallout related to anger and impulsive behaviors, chronic suicidality and self-injuring behavior, substance use, chronic isolation and avoidance, executive function struggles, and difficulty maintaining healthy relationships. Our DBT program participants may have been previously diagnosed with mood disorders, personality disorders, anxiety spectrum disorders or OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, Autism, Giftedness, social anxiety, performance issues, or may have experienced trauma.
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We find that many of our clients seeking DBT treatment understand their problems very well, but report not being equipped with "what to do about it". We practice core mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation skills with our clients in a structured and accountable way to help initiate real and lasting change toward building a life worth living. We offer DBT treatment to adolescents 13+, adults, and families, and we provide custom treatment solutions (on a case-by-case basis) for teens who are nearing participation age but aren't quite there yet.
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