Colors of Austin Counseling

Books can be powerful tools for healing, reflection, growth, and feeling less alone.

Our therapists are constantly recommending books that help clients better understand themselves, relationships, shame, boundaries, parenting, and emotional wellness.

Here are a few therapist favorites from our team. 📚

• Maybe you Should Talk to Someone - Lauri Gottlieb
• What my Bones Know - Stephanie Foo
• Parenting from the Inside Out - Daniel J Siegal, M.D. and Mary Hartzell, M.Ed.
• The Worry Trick - David A. Carbonell, PhD
• The Gifts of Imperfection - Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW
• Self-Compassion - Kristin Neff, Ph.D.

Have you read any books recently that deeply impacted you?

We’re spending part of today working from one of our favorite places in Austin.

Spaces like this remind us that environment matters.

Color, light, movement, quiet corners, and shared community can all shape how we focus, think, and feel.

What kind of environment helps you feel most grounded and productive?

Before you move on from the weekend..

Weekends like Father’s Day often ask a lot of us.

They bring together family histories, expectations, traditions, obligations, joy, grief, connection, and change. Sometimes all in the same afternoon.

When the gathering is over, it can take time to find your way back to yourself.

You may notice that your attention feels scattered. You may find yourself replaying conversations or wishing you had said something differently. You may feel relieved that it’s over while also feeling grateful that it happened.

Before rushing into the week ahead, consider taking a moment to collect the weekend.

Ask yourself:

•What moments stayed with me?
•What felt nourishing?
•What felt difficult?
•What am I carrying forward?
•What am I ready to set down?

Not every experience needs to be solved or explained.

Sometimes reflection is simply a way of honoring what happened and making space for the many truths that can exist within the same gathering.

Today we honor Juneteenth.

A day that represents liberation, resilience, truth, and continued reflection.

At COAC, we recognize that healing cannot be separated from community, history, systemic realities, and collective care.

Rest matters.
Justice matters.
Liberation matters.
Mental health matters.

Today we encourage reflection, learning, support of Black-owned businesses and wellness spaces, and intentional community care.

We are grateful to continue learning, listening, and showing up with humility and intention.

Getting some work done today at one of our favorite coffee shops Epoch Coffee

See you tonight BookPeople for a book signing with Han Ren, Ph.D and her book:

The Hyphenated Life

We’re thrilled to introduce Lux Herrera, our new Marketing + Partnerships Manager at COAC 🤍

Lux brings a background in brand expression, experience design, and art direction — with a deep understanding of how people form relationships with spaces, brands, and communities. Her work is rooted in translating what’s felt intuitively into something that can be experienced, shared, and sustained.

At COAC, Lux will lead our partnerships, events, content, and referral growth — helping us deepen our reach as a community-centered therapy practice in Austin and across Texas.

She believes in building community, creating meaningful connections, and cultivating relationships that last — values that align beautifully with our mission to make mental health care accessible and rooted in belonging.

We’re so grateful to have her join the COAC community.

Want to connect with Lux about an upcoming event or partnership with us?

Reach her at:

[email protected]

Pride Month is both a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and a reminder of the importance of creating spaces where people can show up authentically.

Affirming care goes beyond acceptance. It means recognizing the impact of identity, lived experience, culture, community, and systemic factors on a person’s well-being. It means creating spaces where people feel respected, supported, and safe enough to be themselves.

For many LGBTQIA+ individuals, experiences of stigma, discrimination, or misunderstanding can impact mental health and influence whether it feels safe to seek support. Affirming therapy acknowledges these realities and works to create a therapeutic relationship grounded in trust, respect, and understanding.

At COAC, we believe everyone deserves care that honors who they are.

Happy Pride Month. 🏳️‍🌈