Jami De León, MA, LMFT

Who I help

Conflict. Monotony. Anxiety. Pain. Life’s challenges can strike at any moment, whether we expect them or not. They often masquerade as a lack of passion, frequent miscommunication, negative self-talk, emotional disconnection, and repeated unhelpful behaviors. Regardless of the specific issue, my best work is with adults who want to grow individually and within their relationships. If you have tried to improve on your own but haven’t made as much progress as you want, or you simply don’t know how to make life feel better, we can work together to identify the underlying barriers and create a plan for long-lasting change. We may be a good fit if you are willing to self-reflect, consistently work between sessions, and be open to gentle confrontation. My ultimate goal is for you to develop the necessary skills to be capable of approaching difficulties on your own ⎯ rather than needing to rely on therapy indefinitely.

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Specialties

Betrayal to Trust

Betrayal, or broken trust, causes deep relational wounds that many don’t know how to navigate. Pain, guilt, anger, and shame are common emotions partners experience ─ leading many couples to attempt healing on their own, often unsuccessfully. Whether there has been a recent betrayal discovery or you feel stuck after trying to heal for many years, we can work together to untangle and repair from the slow degradation of trust that occurs over the course of many negative interactions.

Read more about my approach

My approach follows John Gottman’s three phases of trust recovery: Atone, Attune, Attach. Our focus will be on building safety first, then trust, and finally commitment ─ only moving on to the next phase when both partners are ready. I find the most effective work is possible when there are multiple forms of support, so when working with couples I often recommend individual therapy before or at the start of trust recovery. When working with only one partner, my focus is more on preparing for couples therapy or providing support reflective of their current situation.

Intimacy & Connection

Intimacy is a cornerstone of any relationship, whether we’re speaking emotional, physical, or sexual. This is also often one of the first to dissipate when life transitions, individual challenges, or conflict arise. I work with both individuals and couples who have noticed long-term difficulty or a more recent decrease in any form of intimacy. This often looks like resistance to vulnerability, physically withdrawing from those closest to you, and/or avoidance of getting close to others.

Read more about my approach

Together we will explore emotions, needs, desires, underlying challenges, attachment, trauma, personal history, and internalized messages. My approach incorporates the Gottman Method for structure, techniques from Emotionally Focused Therapy for improved communication and vulnerability, psychoeducation for common language and understanding, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for short-term and long-lasting change. When relevant, we will also explore physical barriers such as sexual arousal disorders, acute/chronic pain or illness, and (peri/post)menopause.

Fertility Journey

Starting your fertility or parenting journey is often emotional, no matter if you’ve always known you wanted to be a parent or are still on the fence. I work with individuals and couples anywhere along the fertility path: making the decision, trying to conceive, seeking/doing fertility treatments, implantation or pregnancy loss, pregnancy, and postpartum. I also offer support to new parents and those who are navigating changes in their child’s dependence.

Read more about my approach

If you are on your fertility journey, we will explore emotions, needs, and stress/anxiety management tools ─ and there will always be space to process grief. For (co-)parenting, we will explore childhood experiences, relevant trauma, personal convictions, internalized messages, and shared family values. My approach incorporates the Gottman Method for structure, techniques from Emotionally Focused Therapy for improved communication and understanding, and psychoeducation on child development and attachment.

Experience

I have a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling with a concentration in Marriage & Family Counseling and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas State University. I completed my graduate training at Vida Clinic and my post-graduate training at The Center for Relationships, specializing in relationship challenges, intimacy, trust recovery, parenting, and cultural blending. Additionally, I have completed Levels 1 and 2 of Gottman Method Couples Therapy. I have extensively applied the assessments and interventions while working with hundreds of couples as a therapist, a leader of the Seven Principles Couples workshop, and a contributor at numerous Art and Science of Love retreats. I am also on the Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) certification track, having completed Fundamentals of Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Oliver and I worked together closely to develop a trust recovery program for couples who had experienced breaches of trust from affairs, addiction, and anger, as well as slower erosion of trust from finances and imbalanced responsibilities. We provided workshops, couples intensives, couples therapy, individual therapy, and support groups. Each piece of our program focused on providing couples insight, psychoeducation, practical tools, support to couples rebuild trust more efficiently and effectively. We have presented our approach to trust recovery to helping professionals at conferences in the Austin area.

About Me

Even though I made my debut on a military base on the West Coast, I’d say I qualify as a ‘got here as quick as I could’ Texan, arriving as a wee six-month-old. Like any true Austinite, my idea of family bonding leans more towards tracking down the best BBQ and pizza joints or cheering on our UT football team rather than ticking off the usual tourist traps.

When I’m not out and about, you’ll find me cozied up at home with my family and pups. I’m usually buried in a book, binge-watching a comfort show, jamming out while planning my next tattoo…or obsessively working through my to-do list.

My restless mind might drive my other half up the wall, but it also benefits my work in ways I never thought possible. I am continually seeking new ways to advance our profession and expand my own knowledge, striving to offer the most genuine and holistic care possible.

Areas of Focus

  • Communication
  • Conflict Management
  • Premarital
  • Finances in Relationships
  • Multicultural Relationships
  • Power Imbalance
  • Shared Responsibilities
  • Marriage + Business
  • Life Transitions
  • Family Challenges
  • Anxiety & Depression
  • Shame
  • Self-Esteem
  • Imposter Syndrome
  • Stress Management
  • Anger Management
  • Religious Wounds
  • Military/Police
  • Helping Professionals
  • High School/College Sweethearts