Shayna Feldman Barksdale

Shayna Feldman Barksdale, LCSW, is the founder of Austin Therapy for Girls, a boutique therapy practice dedicated to supporting tween and teen girls through the ups, downs, and full-blown chaos of adolescence. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Shayna is known for her honest, relatable, and empowering approach to therapy—especially when it comes to anxiety, perfectionism, self-worth, and the ever-complex mother–daughter relationship.

Shayna holds a master’s degree in social work from Our Lady of the Lake University and is trained in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), EMDR, and The Daring Way™ (based on the research of Brené Brown). Whether she’s working one-on-one, with families, or in groups, her sessions blend clinical expertise with real-life conversations to help girls build emotional resilience, develop healthy relationships, and navigate Girl World with confidence and clarity.

She’s also the award-winning author of Pink Chaos: Navigating the Mother–Daughter Relationship with Your Tween, a refreshingly candid, therapist-tested guide for moms raising girls through one of the most vulnerable stages of life. Part memoir, part toolkit, Pink Chaos gives readers research-backed insights and practical strategies to strengthen the mother–daughter bond—without losing your mind in the process.

In 2012, Shayna founded Austin Therapy for Girls with one goal in mind: to create a safe, welcoming space where girls feel seen, heard, and supported—no matter what they’re going through. Her mission is to help every girl glow from the inside out, especially during the messiest and most meaningful moments of growing up.

When she’s not in session or speaking at conferences, you’ll likely find Shayna listening to ‘80s music, rewatching a scary movie, or spending time in her hometown of Austin with her husband and their two rescue pups.