About Stephen Terrell

• 2005 - PsyD California Coast University ((Accredited by Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and the Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education for the State of California: Not accredited by the Department of Education or Recognized by the State of Texas).
• 1999  - Licensed Professional Counselor, State of Texas
• 1997 - MS, Counseling, Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi, Texas
• 1996 - BS, Psychology, Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi, Texas

• Registered Play Therapist
• Certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapist
• Somatic Experience Practitioner. 

After adopting my first son, I realized that my education didn't provide all the answers I needed to understand what my son was going through. I began researching Reactive Attachment Disorder more indepth to gain more knowledge. Beyond specialized training I was looking for a doctoral program that would meet my needs as a single parent. I realized that going away to classes several times a week was not an option with my son's special needs. A good friend who was a principal for AISD encouraged me to check out the distant learning program at California Coast University. The Doctorate of Psychology program met mine and my son's needs and allowed me to gain a more advanced education. I completed my Doctorate at California Coast University. This program is accredited by the State of California but is not credited by the Department of Education nor The State of Texas.This means that I practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor based on my masters from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi and all insurance inquires and billing will also be determined on my Masters.

I am a recognized leader in the field of Early Developmental Trauma and have provided training for such recognized associations as University of Texas-Austin, The Central Texas Counsel of Adoptable Children, Lutheran Social Services of the South, The International Conference for Adoption Knowledge, and will be speaking at the International Play Therapy Conference this year in Toronto. . I work with both professionals and parents in understanding trauma and recognizing ways of working with traumatized children. I am the founder of Austin Attachment and Counseling Center in Austin,Texas and in developing "Parenting to the Power of Four", a realistic application to treating trauma and it's symptoms such as attachment disorders.

The majority of my practice is working with families who have adopted children in the United States and abroad. I work with families at all stages of the adoption process from pre-adopt counseling for parents to children and families after the adoption is finalized. I use a combination of specialized training in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Play Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Theraplay, and Somatic Experiencing to formulate a working plan for the client and family.

I am a Registered Clinical Member of ATTach, a professional member of EMDR International Association and of the Theraplay Institute, and a Registered Play Therapist maintaining memberships with the Association of Play Therapy and Texas Association for Play Therapy.  I am also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner through the Foundation for Human Enrichment.