Shayna Feldman Barksdale
LCSW-S
Founder of Austin Therapy for Girls | Therapist for Tween & Teen Girls | Author of Pink Chaos
Shayna Feldman Barksdale, LCSW, is the founder and clinical director of Austin Therapy for Girls, a boutique therapy practice in Austin, Texas, specializing in counseling for tween and teen girls and their families. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Shayna is widely known for her honest, compassionate, and empowering approach to therapy—particularly in treating anxiety, perfectionism, low self-esteem, emotional regulation, and mother–daughter relationship challenges.
Shayna earned her Master’s in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University and is extensively trained in Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), EMDR, and The Daring Way™, based on the research of Brené Brown. She works with adolescents, parents, and families using evidence-based, relational therapy approaches that help girls build emotional resilience, strengthen healthy relationships, and navigate the social and emotional pressures of adolescence with confidence.
In addition to her clinical work, Shayna is the award-winning author of Pink Chaos: Navigating the Mother–Daughter Relationship with Your Tween, a therapist-approved, research-backed guide for mothers raising girls during the tween years. Blending professional insight with personal experience, Pink Chaos offers practical tools, emotional validation, and realistic strategies to improve communication, reduce conflict, and strengthen the mother–daughter bond.
Shayna founded Austin Therapy for Girls in 2012 with a clear mission: to create a safe, affirming space where girls feel seen, heard, and supported through every stage of development. Her work is grounded in the belief that when girls feel emotionally understood and supported, they are better equipped to thrive—both now and in the future.
When she’s not providing therapy, leading groups, or speaking at conferences, Shayna enjoys listening to ’80s music, rewatching a good scary movie, and spending time in Austin with her husband and their two rescue pups.
