Edward Jason Coel, MA, LPC
Are you stuck, hard on yourself, and ready to do the hard work to change? I can relate. Back in 2001, I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy. Unfortunately for me, "the big philosophy crash" of the late 90's forced me to find work at a large corporate consulting firm. I languished in the corporate world for the next decade and a half while trying to discover what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was stuck, and worst of all- I knew it! Thankfully, I sought the help of a therapist to help me find my path. It was through therapy that I re-connected with my love of philosophy and began the hard journey toward self-compassion.
That is not to say, however, that the therapeutic journey is easy. Ugh – it is hard. Taking a look at the things that don’t like being seen is perhaps the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done. That deep dive allowed for me to discover my true passion - (oddly enough) the practice of counseling! For me, counseling is the actual daily DOING of philosophy. The “being with” thing that happens in therapy has become valuable to me. It is through the therapeutic relationship that I see my clients discover the “why” of their actions, improve emotional resiliency, reduce anxiety, and discover their agency to confidently become who they are!
I now have a master's degree in Counseling from St. Edward's University. I love the practice of therapy and I cherish the relationships that I build with my clients. My approach is interpersonal and warm (I am LGBTQIA friendly and affirming), and I believe strongly in the healing power of mindful relationships. In addition to the occasional propensity to quote the great existential philosophers in session (Camus, Sartre, Nietzsche, Dumbledore), I enjoy helping my clients to discover self-compassion and lead the life they want to live.
While the majority of my time is available at my private practice, I can also be found as a volunteer helping the new therapists at Capital Area Counseling. I'm the proud husband of an amazing architect and a proud father of two incredible children.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to take the first step on your journey. I see you. I accept you. I’m not going anywhere.