Elyse Manzello (She/They)
512-607-9360 xt 43
Elyse manzello
LPC Therapist Intern
Supervised by Sara L Weber, LPC-S, CEDS-C
$75: 55-min session for individuals
Insurances in Network: Private Pay, Sliding Scale only
Fields of Specialization:
Anxiety and self-esteem
Highly sensitive people
LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy
Teens and adults
Depression and low mood
Identity, confidence, and social anxiety
Trauma, PTSD, and depersonalization
Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
Neurodivergence
Relationships and connection
Perfectionism and major life transitions
I work great with...
People whose brain won't turn the volume down. You replay the conversation from three hours ago wondering if you said the wrong thing, and right about the time you decide you probably didn't, something new shows up to worry about. Being that hard on yourself takes a lot out of you, and it usually doesn't even work. Together we'll get curious about where that critical voice came from and what it thinks it's protecting, and we'll practice a way of talking to yourself that you'd actually offer someone you love.
People who often feel like the world is too much. You notice things other people miss, you pick up on the mood in a room before anyone opens their mouth, and after a long day you need real time alone before you can be a person again. Bright lights and crowded places cost you more than you let on. Your attunement is a gift, not something to hide or apologize for. Together we'll figure out how to care for it, how to set it down when you need to, and how to use the strengths that have been there all along.
LGBTQIA+ folks who are tired of explaining themselves. You've spent enough energy translating yourself for people who could have just listened, and having to do that in a therapy office too is a lot to ask. Every part of you is welcome in the room, which means we get to spend the hour on what you actually came in for.
People who want closer relationships and aren't sure how to get there. You want deeper connection, and somewhere along the line people stopped feeling safe to let in. Maybe you can point to exactly when that shifted, or maybe it just crept up on you. Together we'll look at the experiences that shaped how you connect, get clear on what you actually need from people, and rewrite some of those old stories with a lot of compassion for the version of you who learned them.
People trying to figure out who they are. "Tell me about yourself" has never been an easy question for you. Maybe the things that used to light you up don't anymore, or maybe you lost track of yourself somewhere in the middle of surviving something hard. You deserve to be accepted and celebrated exactly as you are, not as some finished version of yourself you haven't met yet. We'll start right where you are and find your way back to you.
Style & Approach
You can walk in here without the version of yourself you keep ready for everyone else. I believe that healing happens in relationships, in the ordinary experience of showing up exactly as you are and finding out you're still understood. Nothing here has to be performed. You'll have room to slow down, and be genuinely listened to.
My approach is warm, curious, and collaborative, with a little bit of humor sprinkled in. You're the expert on your own life, and the work starts there. Expect some gentle challenging along the way, plus the occasional creative detour to help you connect with different parts of yourself. The version of you that you're trying to get back to, or meet for the first time, is more reachable than it currently feels.
Some of the approaches I Use...
Person-Centered Therapy
Parts Work
Adlerian Therapy
Existential Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals (EFIT)
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Polyvagal-Informed Therapy
Expressive Arts
Sandtray Therapy
Fun Facts
Self-care for me is intentional time with my people, some mindful movement, a few pockets of solitude, and whatever creative thing has my attention that month. Lately that's bouldering, reading, thrifting, and collaging.
I can't start my day without a long walk with my dog, Bunny. Bunny is a professional dilly-dallyer who has never once been in a rush, and I'm grateful for the way she forces me to slow down and appreciate the day, whether that was in the plan or not.
I get way too excited about discovering new bands and artists. I love the way music decorates time!
My favorite Austin activity is trying new local coffee shops. I was a full-time barista for years, so coffee has been a big part of my life. It was no surprise to me when Austin got named the number one coffee city in the country!
Education
B.A. in Psychology, Texas State University, 2019
M.A. in Professional Counseling, Texas State University, expected 2027
Professional background
LPC Therapist Intern, Discovery Counseling Austin, 2026 to present
Counseling Intern, Williamson County Juvenile Services, 2026
Student Counselor, Texas State University, 2025 to 2026
Lead New Patient Care Coordinator, Westlake Psychiatry, 2022 to 2025
Mental Health Technician III, Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program, 2020 to 2022