Brenna Patterson, MA, LMFT Associate: Teen Therapist in Austin, TX
Practical Skills for Big Emotions
Helping families navigate emotional outbursts, conflict, and withdrawal. Supervised by Leila Anderson, LMFT-S.
You do not have to keep walking on eggshells in your own home.
Has your teen become increasingly withdrawn, angry, reactive, or difficult to reach? Maybe they spend most of their time alone, shut down during conversations, hide things to avoid conflict, or seem overwhelmed by emotions that come out as anger, defiance, or complete withdrawal. If home feels like a constant cycle of tension, disconnection, or power struggles, you are not alone – and things can get better.
Get to Know Brenna
I specialize in working with teens who struggle with big emotions, behavioral concerns, parent-child conflict, and withdrawal. I also support parents who feel exhausted, confused, or stuck trying to help a child they deeply love but no longer know how to reach. Together, we work to better understand what is happening beneath the behavior and build healthier ways of communicating, connecting, and responding.
Before joining Susan Gonzales & Associates Counseling, I worked extensively with adolescents in a treatment center setting, supporting teens and families navigating significant emotional and behavioral concerns. This work gave me strong clinical training in helping teens struggling with emotional dysregulation, behavioral concerns, family conflict, and crisis-level stress. I bring this depth of experience into outpatient therapy, helping families navigate complex challenges with both compassion and clinical skill.
I believe that difficult behaviors rarely tell the whole story. What often looks like defiance, dishonesty, anger, or shutting down may be rooted in overwhelm, anxiety, shame, grief, or unmet emotional needs. My role is to help teens feel understood while helping parents respond with greater clarity, confidence, and connection.
My Approach
My approach is warm, relational, direct, and grounded in authenticity. I prioritize building genuine trust with the teens and families I work with because meaningful change happens when people feel safe enough to be honest, vulnerable, and understood. Therapy with me is collaborative, practical, and focused on creating meaningful change both inside and outside the therapy room.
You do not have to keep walking on eggshells or feel helpless in your own home. Healing often begins with understanding, connection, and the right support. If your family feels stuck in painful patterns, I would be honored to help. As an LMFT-Associate at Susan Gonzales & Associates Counseling, I practice under the supervision of Leila Anderson, LMFT-S. This collaborative model allows clients to benefit from both my specialized clinical work and the added support of experienced supervision and consultation.
Top Areas of Focus
- Teen Emotional Regulation
- Withdrawn/ Isolated Teens
- Parent-Child Conflict
- Parent Coaching
- Behavioral Challenges
- Self-Esteem
Additional Issues Treated
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Coping Skills
- Life Transitions
- ADHD-related Emotional Dysregulation
- Relationship Issues
- Family Dynamics
- Substance Use
Accepting New Clients: Evening Availability + In-Person or Virtual Options
Approach
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Narrative Therapy
Cost per Session
- Individual Sessions $130
- Couple/ Family Sessions $180
SGA Counseling does not file with any insurance, however, we can provide Superbills to clients to file direct reimbursement for out of network coverage. We also accept HSA and offer sliding scales. Please contact us for more information!