About Me
I work with people who have been affected by childhood and relationship trauma. Often they have been betrayed by a partner or significant person in their lives, or they have one or more emotionally immature parents who are not able to understand and treat them as independent people. Some of my clients have had to limit contact with loved ones, or have given up on having any relationship with them at all because of ongoing conflict. In these situations, there is pain whether you choose to stay in contact or choose to separate yourself from people you love.
My clients frequently feel isolated, unloveable, or unsafe in significant relationships because of how they have been treated in their most important relationships in the past. They may face challenges with anxiety, grief, depression, concentration, sleep, or overwhelming emotions, and they may sometimes turn to unhealthy coping methods for relief. They may fear being deceived or rejected by people generally. Often they have difficulty expressing their needs and building intimacy due to self-doubt, perfectionism, and harsh self-talk. Overall, this leaves them struggling to connect in genuine ways and yet longing for deep relationships.
Because of past experiences, my clients are more likely to bring new people into their lives who are emotionally immature and inconsiderate. They are more easily taken advantage of by others because of past experiences. This is especially true if they are accustomed to the caretaker role and tend to exhaust themselves by putting others' needs first. They may also choose to be in relationships with other people who have also experienced trauma and have the same tendencies, which also makes relationship dynamics difficult to navigate.
There is hope for healing. My clients can learn to create their own safe place in the world and where they will experience love and belonging. They are often deeply invested in breaking the cycle of generational trauma. I’ve seen through my own life, education, and therapy that post-traumatic growth is possible. With support, formerly traumatized people can find safety, peace, and joy. My goal is to help clients build a life they feel secure in and empower them to share that world with those they love.
Approach
I am an active and collaborative therapist and I believe each individual has inherent worth and seeks to become the best person they can be. I create a warm, non-judgmental, and empathic space so that clients can explore problems in a safe environment. I care deeply about my clients and their well-being and strive to maintain the highest standards of ethics and integrity. I am committed to always treat clients with respect, dignity, and compassion. I have experience working with people from diverse backgrounds and walks of life, and I value diversity and justice. I strive to improve mental health and overall well-being for all clients.
I create a personalized treatment plan tailed to help you reach your unique goals. Here are some major schools of therapy I draw from:
Person Centered/Humanistic Therapy
Emotion Focused Therapy
Trauma Focused Therapy
Somatic Therapy
Attachment Based Therapy
Gibson’s Therapy for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
Family Systems Therapy
Internal Family Systems Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Gottman Method
Relational Life Therapy
Psychobiological Therapy
Please reach out with any questions, or if you would like to schedule a free 15-minute consultation, please book an appointment here:
My Education & Experience
I attended the University of Texas at Austin where I majored in English. I began my career teaching high school, but quickly realized my passion was for supporting others more personally and emotionally instead of academically. This realization led me to pursue a a PhD in Clinical Psychology, which I earned from Texas Tech University in 2005. During my training, I had the privilege of working with diverse clients of all ages in various settings, including a juvenile center, a state hospital, and several outpatient clinics. My own journey of self-discovery and healing, through years of therapy, has profoundly shaped my approach as a therapist. I am deeply honored to help others heal, grow, and create the lives they envision for themselves.
I took a break from my professional career to be a full-time parent and was actively involved in leadership roles with community organizations such as MOMS Club and Girl Scouts. These experiences enriched my understanding of the diverse challenges parents and caregivers face and deepened my commitment to helping people heal from trauma. I am passionate about empowering individuals to build close, fulfilling relationships with the people they choose to build their world around.
When my oldest child was in high school, I updated my education with additional counseling courses, earned my Associate Licensed Professional Counseling license, and opened my private practice. I’m a life-long learner who finds joy in reading, attending classes and training, and continually seeking ways to enhance my personal growth and to improve the lives of my clients.
My husband and I have been married for 29 years, and we have three children, ages 14, 19, and 21. When I’m not working in my practice, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, gaming, and volunteering for organizations and activities my kids are committed to and passionate about.
As a therapist, my approach is grounded in both professional expertise and personal experience. I strive provide therapy that is research-based, empathic, and tailored to your unique needs. My goal is to provide you space to heal and to find your voice and self of self and to encourage you to know that you are allowed to live your life as your authentic self without having to compromise yourself to toxic family and relationships systems. I will leverage my insights, expertise, and experiences to guide you toward a path of growth, resilience, and healing and help you build a fulfilling and meaningful life.
LICENSE
Tiffany Savener, PhD, LPC-Associate (93330), under the supervision of Mark Cagle, MA, LPC-Supervisor (71799)
Recent Training
2025
5 Common Mistakes Couples Therapists Make - Terry Real, LISCW
2024
Treating Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents - Lindsay Gibson, PhD
Boundary Setting Strategies: How Your Clients Can Reclaim Emotional Autonomy - Lindsay Gibson, PhD
Emotional Dysregulation in Emotionally Immature (EI) People: When Parents Are Terrified of Feelings - Lindsay Gibson, PhD
Complex Trauma Certification Training Level 1 & 2 - Janina Fisher, PhD
Intensive Course in Emotion Focused Therapy: Attachment-Based Interventions for Couples in Crisis - Sue Johnson, EdD
Treating Stressed Out Couples: 22 Clinical Interventions to Help Partners Set Healthy Boundaries, Overcome Resentment, and Thrive Amid Day-to-Day Tensions - Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT, CGT
Treating “The Untreatable” - How to Transform Narcissistic Relationships - Terry Real, LISCW
Transforming Trauma with Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) - Leanne Campbell, PhD
Integrative Sex and Couples Certification Training: Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP) Tammy Nelson, PhD
2-Day Couples Therapy Training: Getting Started with Relational Life Therapy - Terry Real, LISCW
Psychological Boundaries: Your Psychic Skin - The Key to Extraordinary Relationships - Terry Real, LISCW
The “Not Good Enough” Treatment Plan: A Certified Shame-Informed Treatment Specialist Training - Patty Ashley, PhD, LPC (anticipated completion Dec 2024)
Upcoming/Ongoing Training
Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC) Training: A 4-Month Online Intensive - Ramani Durvasula, PhD (anticipated completion Feb 2025)
Coparenting With A Narcissist - Stephanie Sarkis, PhD (anticipated completion Feb 2025)
Guiding Clients Who Are Dating - Christiana Awosan, PhD (anticipated completion Feb 2025)
The Science of Sex in Long-Term Relationships: Helping Couples Find Magnificent Desire - Emily Nagoski, PhD - (anticipated completion spring 2025)
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) Level 1 Certificate Course - Sue Johnson, EdD & Leanne Campbell, PhD (anticipated completion spring 2025)
Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Certification Program: Mastering Specialized Trauma Care for Survivors, Sandra Brown, MA; Claudia Paradise, LCSW-R, Arielle Schwartz, PhD, & William Brennan, MEd, LMHC, CAP (anticipated completion spring 2025)
Narcissistic Abuse for Therapists: Empower Clients to Break Free and Recover from Gaslighting, Emotional Manipulation and Coercion, Amy Marlow-MaCoy, LPC, (anticipated completion spring 2025)