Welcome. I'm Dasha.
I'm a psychotherapist by trade — and a dancer, detective, and voyager at heart.
I work with adults who want to feel more alive and excited about tomorrow.
I work with adults who want to feel more alive and excited about tomorrow.
We often come to therapy accomplished and responsible, after fulfilling the milestones society sets before us—education, career, friendships, and family. At midlife we know ourselves better than ever before, and yet life still brings challenges.
With AI breathing down our necks and bombs falling all over the globe we continue to navigate the winding paths of relationships, parenting, and work stress, while carrying the familiar weight of anxiety, depression, and other symptoms.
On top of these, new challenges emerge: the body reminds us we’re no longer young, and loss makes us more aware of life’s brevity.
On top of these, new challenges emerge: the body reminds us we’re no longer young, and loss makes us more aware of life’s brevity.
We notice that we’ve arrived at life’s midpoint.
This is the moment of realization: there must be more to it!
We remember the passions we set aside, the experiences we crave but don’t know how to reach, and the dreams we have never dared to pursue.
In the first half of our journey, we focus on building a "normal" life—striving to fit in, get on our feet, and create stability.
Along the way, we give up the parts of ourselves that once felt most alive, leaving a quiet void where vitality used to bring joy.
We try to fill this emptiness...
We try to fill this emptiness...
- with purchases,
- spiritual quests,
- self-help,
- and dramatic changes.
These bring excitement, but it rarely lasts
because the deeper longing remains.
Midlife is a time to invite meaning,
closeness and joy
closeness and joy
by rediscovering lost energies and weaving them back into our lives.
Because this work is hard to do alone, you might be looking for someone to walk you through it safely and effectively.
Because this work is hard to do alone, you might be looking for someone to walk you through it safely and effectively.
I believe good therapy brings tangible improvements—
- in health
- mood
- relationships
- and career
The body signals we are on the right course when:
-
tension eases; - warmth fills the emptiness;
- attention shifts from the past toward the present and the future;
- inspiration stirs, curiosity follows;
- and we venture into something new.
We begin turning a “normal” life
into life that is truly our own.
into life that is truly our own.
I'm Dasha Sinitsyna
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, practicing under the supervision of Dr. Kevin Fall, LPC-S.
I work with adults age 30 and up.
I work with adults age 30 and up.
I'm 42. I'm a psychotherapist, a mid-life career changer, a mother, a wife, and an immigrant. I have a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Texas State University.
I started out as a software engineer and spent twelve years in the corporate R&D world—as a tester, team lead, and solutions architect. That work taught me to see patterns, untangle complexity, and find elegant solutions—skills I now bring into counseling.
Stories have always drawn me in. I’ve long collected fairy tales and myths, and today I see their reflections in the lives of my clients. The metaphors we use to describe our hopes and struggles—and the heroes we resonate with—often reveal the essence of our current quest and point the way toward healing. Being moved deeply by Inside Out movie might suggest that our inner Joy too must befriend Sadness for a new chapter to begin. Similarly, Luke Skywalker must face Darth Vader to restore balance to the universe, and Moana must meet Maui in order to discover who she truly is.
People often describe me as smart and full of spark. I know how to initiate and carry out big life changes—from emigrating to building a dream home, changing careers midlife, and becoming a mother. I know how to meet obstacles along the way and get stronger as a result. I also love creating beauty, whether through pottery, knitting, or funny video clips.
In my counseling practice, I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotional Imagery Therapy (EIT)—methods I love for their depth and ability to create meaningful change quickly. I'm an EIT-certified therapist (Levels 1, 2, 3) and an IFS-trained therapist (Level 1). I'm certified in Positive Discipline and attachment-based parenting, both of which inform my work with caregivers. Before starting my private practice I completed my internship with Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, helping people living with severe mental illness build meaningful and joyful lives.
I started out as a software engineer and spent twelve years in the corporate R&D world—as a tester, team lead, and solutions architect. That work taught me to see patterns, untangle complexity, and find elegant solutions—skills I now bring into counseling.
Stories have always drawn me in. I’ve long collected fairy tales and myths, and today I see their reflections in the lives of my clients. The metaphors we use to describe our hopes and struggles—and the heroes we resonate with—often reveal the essence of our current quest and point the way toward healing. Being moved deeply by Inside Out movie might suggest that our inner Joy too must befriend Sadness for a new chapter to begin. Similarly, Luke Skywalker must face Darth Vader to restore balance to the universe, and Moana must meet Maui in order to discover who she truly is.
People often describe me as smart and full of spark. I know how to initiate and carry out big life changes—from emigrating to building a dream home, changing careers midlife, and becoming a mother. I know how to meet obstacles along the way and get stronger as a result. I also love creating beauty, whether through pottery, knitting, or funny video clips.
In my counseling practice, I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotional Imagery Therapy (EIT)—methods I love for their depth and ability to create meaningful change quickly. I'm an EIT-certified therapist (Levels 1, 2, 3) and an IFS-trained therapist (Level 1). I'm certified in Positive Discipline and attachment-based parenting, both of which inform my work with caregivers. Before starting my private practice I completed my internship with Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, helping people living with severe mental illness build meaningful and joyful lives.
"I believe midlife is the perfect time to turn toward what makes us most alive."
Approach to therapy
Here are some ideas and principles that guide my work:
- From old to new solutionsPatterns that trouble us in adulthood were once creative adaptations to early challenges. As our lives and capacities change, therapy allows us to honor their past role, revisit them safely, and expand our options in how we feel, relate, and act today.1
- From basic needs to peak experiencesWe all have an innate drive to explore and create. When it fades, it's often because more urgent needs—safety, connection, and respect—haven't been met. Once those are supported, our energy naturally shifts toward what helps us flourish: creative flow, play, and meaning.2
- From entangled to interconnected selfI work on multiple levels: addressing individual trauma; examining scenarios rooted in family and culture of origin; and, on a universal level, drawing on archetypes and the hero’s journey. Through this work we differentiate the unique self from the collective, gaining freedom while honoring identity and belonging.3
- From conflict to synergy of partsWe meet most life situations with conflicting feelings, split between competing choices, needs, and priorities. Therapy gives voice to different parts of our personality—the heroes of our inner world. Through dialogue, we reduce tension in the mind, gaining access to energy previously bound by these conflicts and harmonizing our system. This energy can then be directed toward our goals and aspirations.4
- From body to soulOur feelings originate in the body. Like a library, the body carries the knowledge of our emotional patterns that influence our actions. The therapeutic journey begins by focusing on the body, then moves into the realm of personal stories and metaphors. We know we’re on the right track when the body relaxes while staying alert and present—an embodied change that charts a new course for feeling and acting.5
- With poetry and precisionI combine depth and precision in my work. Using active imagination, I draw out symbolic images and metaphors from the deeper levels of the psyche, creating a therapeutic experience that is both meaningful and poetic. At the same time, I apply analytical, solution-focused skills to address present challenges. This blend of insight and practicality makes therapy effective, transformative, and beautiful.6
Ways we can work together
- I recommend starting with a free 15-minute consultation to help you decide on the best format and get your questions answered.
- I offer both brief and ongoing therapy options. Even in longer-term work, our sessions remain goal-oriented. Many people begin with brief therapy, and once your initial goal is met, you can take a pause or set a new goal to continue exploring.
- All counseling sessions are private pay: $110 for 60 minutes.
- Flying carpetBrief therapy
(1-5 sessions)
Quick move from "feeling bad" to "feeling better": targeted work on a relational issue, decision impasse, or newly surfaced stress-related symptom. - 10,000 stepsOngoing therapy
(once a week to once a month)
Continuous personal growth, one goal at a time, if you share my belief in the big effects of small steps. - RoutesSpecialty topics
(1-5 sessions)
New chapter:
Revisit a past relationship that still holds strong emotions and turn more fully toward the future.
Water crossing:
Explore the effects of a recent or long-past move and learn to fully thrive in a new place.
Day trip (dreamwork):
Some dreams are unusually vivid, powerful, or disturbing—some even recur for years.
Dreams carry information the psyche is trying to process. We can help it along.
FAQs
How much do sessions cost?
Dasha:
All counseling sessions are private pay: $110 for 60 minutes.
Are in-person sessions available?
Dasha:
Yes, I offer sessions both online and in person at my office in Cedar Park.
Are there any mental health conditions you don't work with?
Dasha:
I don't work with eating disorders, substance addictions, personality disorders, and severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or schizophrenia.
Ok, where do I start?
Dasha:
I recommend starting with a free 15-minute Zoom consultation to get a sense of my style as a therapist and address any questions you may have.
Get in touch
Sessions are by appointment only.
Call, shoot me an email, or use the form below to schedule a free 15-minute intro consultation, request a full session, or ask a question.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you and will return your message within one business day.
Call, shoot me an email, or use the form below to schedule a free 15-minute intro consultation, request a full session, or ask a question.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you and will return your message within one business day.
+1 (512) 254-9363
dasha@talesandtrailstherapy.com
3000 Polar Lane, Cedar Park, TX 78613
dasha@talesandtrailstherapy.com
3000 Polar Lane, Cedar Park, TX 78613
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