From crisis and chaos to steady and calm
You deserve specialized support, for every season of life
Second Wave Counseling is a trauma-informed practice supporting individuals and families through the complexities of being human. We work with clients navigating hard histories, crisis, high conflict, neurodivergence, identity exploration, postpartum transitions, and mental health challenges that don’t fit neatly into a box.
Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, psychosis, suicidal thoughts, or relationship breakdowns, we help clients move from chaos toward stability and connection.
Our team brings extensive experience in crisis intervention, and wrap-around therapeutic support. Whether you're a parent struggling to connect with your teen, a couple caught in cycles of conflict, a mom struggling with postpartum transition or an individual seeking clarity and growth, we provide the guidance and tools to move forward.
You deserve a space where healing is possible. Together, we’ll find the next steps that feel right for you and your family.
What We Specialize In
Clinical Areas:
Trauma & Complex Trauma
High Conflict Family Systems
Chronic Mental Health
Perinatal & Postpartum Support
LGBTQ+ Affirming Care
Neurodivergence Across the Lifespan
Depression, Anxiety, Personality Disorders
Executive Functioning & Behavioral Coaching
Life Stages:
Children 8+
Teens
Young Adults
Adults
Parents/Parenthood
Postpartum Clients
Older Adults/Elders (65+)
Who We Are
At Second Wave Counseling, we keep things simple and personal: you fill out a short form, we carefully match you with the right clinician, and you start therapy with real support behind you. What makes us different is that we are a small practice, not a corporation, and we tailor our care to you. Many of our clients come to us after difficult therapy experiences, looking for something more human, more attentive, and more intentional. We offer in-person sessions, in-home sessions, talk therapy, walk-and-talk therapy, and behavioral interventions. Every part of your care is guided with close clinical oversight from our founder, ensuring depth, quality, and integrity. We are not here to churn clients or chase numbers, we’re here for people who want meaningful, steady, trauma-informed support from a team that sees you as a human, not a case file.
Services
When Weekly Therapy Isn’t Enough.
A New Approach to Mental Health Recovery
Seeking a higher level of care for your loved one in Austin? Seeking a balance of increased support while maintaining as much normalcy as possible? Seeking a program where the providers come to your home?
Our multidisciplinary team provides a highly collaborative program tailored to help clients thrive within their homes and communities. Designed as a short-term intervention for individuals facing psychosis, suicide ideation, a significant mental health incident, or struggling with isolation and refusal to engage in the world, we bridge the gap between weekly therapy and residential care, offering a unique approach to mental health recovery. Learn more about how we help individuals find hope and stability through personalized care.
Your Second Wave Begins Now
At Second Wave Counseling, our mission is simple: to empower individuals to create the life they hope for through the therapeutic process. Second Wave Counseling was born out of a deep desire to meet people where they are and guide them on their journey towards healing and growth. The “second wave” represents the part of healing we often don’t talk about, the part after survival, when you begin to create a life that feels like yours again.
In 2017, Carla Pelcastre (our founder), self-published a collection of poems titled The Second Wave, Crashing. In those pages, Carla poured her heart and soul into sharing moments of deep gratitude, transition, and rebirth from difficult and heartbreaking moments. It’s those themes that inspired the name of the practice. Second Wave Counseling is about embracing the resilience within ourselves, even in the face of life’s most challenging waves.
How It Works
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1. Fill Out a Short Contact Form (see below)
Tell us a little about what you’re looking for, and anything you want us to know. You don’t need to tell us the full story, this is just the starting point.
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2. Speak with Founder, Carla Pelcastre-S
Carla Pelcastre, the founder and clinical director, carefully reviews the information, offers a free 20-minute discovery call and shares your personalized match!
Your match is intentional, not automated.
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3. Start Therapy with Support at Every Step
Once matched, you’ll schedule your first session and your therapist will guide you through what to expect.
We stay connected and available, because beginning therapy is a brave step, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.
We’re Here When You’re Ready
Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
Our Values
“As we navigate life, we often have certain patterns that can either help or hurt us. It is my belief that therapy is the key to reinforcing the helpful ones and unlearning the ones that do us harm, giving us the freedom to move forward as we choose.”
“We’ve walked our own paths, and it shapes how we walk with you. Therapy for people who want depth, clarity, and real support.”