Jennifer L. Ayres, Ph.D., ABPP, HSP
- In-Person in Central Austin | Telehealth Nationwide
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Based in Central Austin
In-Person & Virtual Care
Jennifer L. Ayres, Ph.D., ABPP, HSP
Start with a free phone call
Grief isn’t only about death. It includes any life event that divides your personal timeline into “before” and “after,” such as divorce, estrangement, job or home loss, health changes, or ruptures with communities or institutions. Together, we’ll name what changed, steady your nervous system, and integrate strategic coping plans that help you regain functioning while you heal.
I use an integrative, trauma-informed approach. We’ll focus on practical tools, self-compassion, and boundaries that protect your time and energy so you can carry grief in a way that feels healthy, sustainable, and respectful of both your loss and your adjustment to a new normal.
Evidence-based strategies to heal from grief, ease pain, and adjust to a new normal.
Acute Grief Support
Adjustment to Change
Divorce Transitions
Co-Parenting Script
Family Estrangement
Holidays & Milestones
Rituals & Meaning-Making
Sleep & Routines
Energy Management
Boundaries
Self-Compassion
Anxiety & Grief
Sadness & Irritability
Kids School Refusal
Emotion Vocabulary
Mindfulness Skills
Nervous System Settling
Values & Priorities
Re-Entry to Activities
Support Mapping
Grief affects emotions, thought patterns, body sensations, and daily life. We’ll begin by understanding what changed and how it’s showing up now, then use an integrative, evidence-based approach, CBT, ACT, and DBT skills blended with mindfulness and self-compassion, to help you function while you heal.
The work is practical, paced, and tailored to your specific needs and goals. We’ll build routines that support you, create rituals for hard days, set boundaries that reduce extra stress, and plan for predictable triggers like holidays and anniversaries.
For kids and teens, we translate feelings into words, use developmentally appropriate tools, and include parent coaching to support consistency at home.
Fill out our quick form and I’ll reach out with a phone call.
No. Grief can follow any major change, such as divorce, estrangement, job or home loss, health changes, or a rupture with a community or institution.
It varies. Many people feel steadier in 4-8 sessions focused on emotional validation, routines, boundaries, and coping skills. Deeper work around meaning and relationships can take longer.
Both are common. We’ll work with however you’re feeling in the moment, including numbness, and support your body, routines, and coping skills so emotions become easier to carry.
We talk about predictable grief triggers and explore how to navigate familiar traditions during the grief process. Together, we may simplify commitments, create realistic expectations, and develop strategies to manage emotional pain if it arises.
Yes. Children and teens often show grief differently than adults and may need guidance on managing strong emotions and navigating caregivers’ distress. I use developmentally appropriate tools, coach parents, and coordinate with schools when helpful. For teens, we balance privacy with appropriate caregiver involvement.
Grieving a loss while maintaining ongoing contact can be uniquely challenging. In sessions, we’ll explore how self-compassion and cognitive reframing can support emotional validation, healthy boundary-setting, and practical self-care so you can navigate these interactions with greater steadiness.
Yes. Secure, HIPAA-compliant video sessions are available for adults and teens. For younger children, in‑person is usually more effective.
