Lindsay Dornier, LCSW

Growing up in South Louisiana, I was surrounded by the warmth and beauty of the majestic live oak trees. These trees provided serenity from my worries, shade from the summer heat and an ever-present reminder that as in nature, we go through different seasons of our lives. These changing seasons require us to release the parts of our lives that are no longer serving us to make room for the new and more evolved parts of ourselves. Like the great live oak, a strong root system will keep us grounded despite the changing seasons and storms we may face. I named my practice after the great live oak, because it is such a powerful metaphor for the therapeutic, healing process that we will explore together. l believe that relationship is at the core of every successful therapeutic alliance. An atmosphere free of judgement that is built on trust, and safety is of the utmost importance to me. My main focus is to ensure that I meet each client where they are in their season of life and to make sure they feel seen, heard and accepted. Only when one feels this level of comfortability and safety can the work of self-exploration and healing be achieved. I practice with a client centered, direct approach encouraging clients to become curious and to explore habits, thoughts and behaviors that may be outside of their comfort zone but will promote emotional growth and healing. Life is anything but a linear experience, denying and/or avoiding this reality can cause frustration, anger, sadness and sometimes depression and anxiety. We all experience the peaks and valleys of life. I believe that growth often finds us during our most challenging times. Through these challenges, we can build on our strengths, fine tune our innate resilience and make the difficult but necessary changes set before us to reach our fullest potential. I am an advocate of holistic wellness and will utilize the principles of Holistic Psychology in my practice. This is the daily practice of creating your own wellness by breaking negative patterns, healing from your past and creating your new conscious self. This approach focuses on the integration of the mind, body and soul in rebalancing the body and nervous system and healing unresolved emotional wounds. This deeper understanding of the whole self can often lend itself to greater self-awareness, self-esteem and self -acceptance, As part of my practice, I also offer WALK & TALK counseling. This is a mindfulness-based body-oriented therapy that can make it easier for clients to relax. This integrative approach combines the mind & body while grounding in nature. This approach has been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress, depression and anger by helping to reset and regulate the body's nervous system. I truly have seen and experienced the healing benefits of nature and therefore want to offer this experience to my clients. While engaging in traditional talk therapy, we will walk at your pace and comfort level to receive the benefits of being outdoors (nature therapy) and physically active. My office offers a beautiful lake and walking trials to facilitate this form of therapy. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Texas. I received my BA in Psychology from Louisiana State University in 2000 and my Masters (MSW) degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, La in 2002. My experience spans all ages in a variety of settings. I practiced as a school counselor for 12 years, including time at LSU as an academic counselor for the College of Arts & Sciences. I have held administrative roles, leading Gifted & Talented programs. I have coordinated and lead parent education programs, teen risk prevention programs and school wide wellness initiatives. Additional clinical experience includes providing direct clinical services at a private inpatient/outpatient treatment center, medical hospital as well as private practice/ counseling agencies serving children, teens, couples and adults. I am a curious, adventure seeker at heart! I rarely take things at face value, always wanting to ask meaningful questions and dig deeper. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family (I have two teenage sons!), gardening, doing anything outdoors, traveling, playing tennis and working out at the gym. I also love reading and learning anything new!