Dr. Pierce-Davis does psychological testing and therapy with children, adolescents, and their parents~ and with adults.

Using assessment, play, and cognitive behavioral therapies, Dr. Pierce-Davis works with troubled children and adolescents. Additionally, she works with at risk youth and the courts through her organization TeenEd. TeenEd offers intervention programs for young people who have been cited by the courts and/or are having problems with tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or anger.

With adults, she does both brief and long-term therapy for depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. She counsels people going through work stress, separation, divorce, death of loved one, abuse recovery, retirement, changing family roles, and spiritual conflicts.

One specialty area is her work with medical patients. Chronic illness, pain, physical and life changes are sources of emotional distress. In turn, emotional distress adversely affects pain tolerance and the course of disease. Trained in the Simonton Cancer Counseling Program, Dr. Pierce-Davis uses techniques developed for cancer patients, with patients who have other chronic and acute illnesses. She helps patients develop positive coping skills, and expertise in deep relaxation, imagery, and self-hypnosis. She works closely with patients' physicians and provides frequent patient contact and encouragement for medical compliance.

Dr. Pierce-Davis has developed an outreach to women going through infertility. In therapy, her clients look at the changes infertility has made in their lives, their marriages, friendships, and families. They learn to cope with these changes, and with the emotional and physical stress, discomfort, and fear that are part of infertility treatments.

Dr. Pierce-Davis is a preferred provider for many insurance panels. To set up an appointment, call 512-345-6781, extension 24. The doctor will personally arrange an appointment.

TeenEd is a multi-program intervention/cessation school for teens. State-licensed to provide all master curriculum awareness programs, Teen Ed is available to parents, schools, probation officers, courts, -- and to teens, themselves.

TeenEd provides the information young people need to re-think, resist, and stop self-damaging, destructive, and in some cases, illegal behaviors. This is vitally important in view of the facts.

• The one portion of this country's population in which there is an increase in violence is youth.
• In only one age group has there been an increase in tobacco use, -- adolescents.
• Traffic accidents that injure and kill are must likely to involve 16-year-olds driving under the influence of alcohol
• 90% of crime and gang activity by young people is drug-linked.

TeenEd is committed to addressing these problems, hand-in-hand with parents, schools, and the courts. We are a positive, informative resource for parents who find cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol in their child's room We are there for families when their student is repeatedly in trouble at school for fighting. We are there for the courts when intervention classes are required for Minor in Possession offenses.

TeenEd is a one-of-a-kind organization, focused exclusively on youth. TeenEd staff is comprised of experienced, committed professionals who are leaders in their communities. They teach all classes from the perspective of young people, encouraging group involvement and interaction.

It is the only organization that limits class size to enhance quality of presentation and student-teacher contact. Stress management, good manners, communication and social skills are interwoven into every program taught by TeenEd.

And finally, it is the only organization that offers all classes with one toll-free number for pre-registration, 1-888-434-TEEN (8336).

If you would like to visit further about TeenEd, call Dr. Carol Pierce-Davis, director and developer of TeenEd, at her office, 512-345-6781. in Austin.

"In some ways, infertility grief is similar to the sorrow that comes when someone you love dies. That which you are missing seemingly becomes magnified when you see those who have what you've lost or what you want and don't have. While this increased awareness seems like envy, in reality it has to do with loss: Loss of expectations..."

from Melanie Dillon, Coffee and Clomid

From Dr. Carol Pierce-Davis:

Over the past five years, I began to see in my private practice a growing number of clients with fertility problems. Women came with complaints of depression, anxiety, relationship problems, feelings of isolation, and sadness. Gradually, their stories of frustration, discouragement, and grief unfolded: months of disappointment, roller coaster emotions, miscarriages, and fertility treatments.

They found themselves avoiding settings where children and babies were present&emdash; shopping malls, holiday gatherings, family reunions, church. Perhaps most distressing was the pain they experienced in the face of unwitting and hurtful comments from family and friends, even strangers. As time went on, they became increasingly isolated with their pain and shame.

We at Spicewood Psychotherapy Group understand it is important to grieve the losses unique to infertility: the loss of one's expectations, of an unborn child, or a future never given a chance. We also understand the deep psychological need to carry an child, and to give birth. It is not something easily forfeited.

We have studied the procedures involved in infertility treatments. When you talk to us, you will know we heard this story before.

Individual Counseling

Many men and women prefer to talk one-on-one with a therapist. Health insurance reimburses licensed therapists for counseling related to infertility. We are on many insurance programs, and are happy to work with your insurance programs when possible.

Group Therapy

Others like the more social nature of a group. Group provides a weekly format for support, counseling, educating, and sharing by women at all stages of infertility.

Topics:

How to manage the stress of infertility

¥ Stress symptoms, solutions

¥ Feelings of victimization

¥ Relaxation/meditation training

Relationships

¥ How infertility changes friendships

¥ New communication styles

¥ Boundary options with friends, family, strangers

¥ Marriage and intimacy

Career

¥ Medical treatments, side effects, and work performance

¥ Concentration difficulties

¥ Mood changes

¥ Infertility and professional goals

¥ When and Who to tell and not to tell

Grief Consoling/Counseling

¥ Loss of ability to parent

¥ Loss of child

¥ Loss of identity as parent

Information Sharing

¥ Internet, web pages

¥ Books

¥ Publications, pamphlets

Groups are available upon demand.

Couple Counseling

Some couples wish to approach difficult decisions together &emdash; decisions about treatment, surgery, adoption, egg or sperm donor options. Such issues call for an impartial party to provide different perspectives, or to ensure a safe environment in which even anxious honesty can be expressed.

To Make an Appointment

If you wish to make an appointment for individual or couple counseling, please call the therapist you wish to see. Each therapist makes his/her own appointments.

If you are interested in Group, call Dr. Pierce-Davis, extension. Group will be offered when five people are ready to make the six-week time commitment.