Joslyn Ridgely, LPC

Welcome to Therapy Austin! Thanks for checking out my page. 

Our human emotional experience is vital. Anger can signify mistreatment, anxiety says we need more information, contentment means our needs are met… Emotions are neutral and full of information. Unfortunately, we’re taught that some are bad, like anger or embarrassment. When we’re not taught how to properly cope with these very normal and natural feelings, our emotional experience becomes a breeding ground for shame. 

Do you… Expect people to “just know” how you feel? Try to “keep the peace”? Avoid your feelings? Angrily say things you regret? Get frustrated with yourself for having certain feelings? If you feel called out, don’t worry. We ALL have our own flavors of dysfunction. It helps us avoid pain and discomfort in the moment. But when we repeat these responses, we start to feel anxious, numb, resentful, lonely… The list goes on. 

I want to help you change these responses. You don’t have to fight against your feelings. There is a world that exists where you can have a hard feeling (like guilt or disappointment, for example) without people-pleasing, shutting down, blowing up or shame spiraling. Let’s create that world together.   

I believe curiosity is more powerful than judgement and understanding before fixing is vital. I use Emotion-Focused Therapy and DBT skills to help my clients build emotional-awareness, improve self-esteem, process trauma, regulate emotion, and strengthen boundaries and communication. I work with adult individuals, and my areas of focus are depression, anxiety, ADHD, family-of-origin issues, and childhood trauma. But I find that my approach works for anyone who wants to learn more about themselves and break those old and unhelpful cycles. 

A little about me: I have a relaxed style, communicate very directly, and like to use humor in sessions. Clients have described me as relatable, fun, and affirming. My approach is anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and feminist. It is my goal for all of my clients to feel safe and respected in my therapy room. Outside of work, a few of my favorite things are 70’s rock ‘n’ roll, animals, being outdoors, strawberry twizzlers (the cherry pull-aparts are gross and I will die on this hill), reading horror, and spending time with my partner and pets. If any part of my profile resonated with you, please reach out!