Marcelle Abusalbi, MA, LPC-S, Laurel Oaks Counseling and Therapy

01/18/2026

Many teens with OCD aren’t obsessively cleaning or organizing.
Instead, OCD often shows up quietly — in thoughts, avoidance, and distress that’s easy to miss.

Here are some less-talked-about signs of OCD in teens:

• Getting “stuck” on thoughts that feel scary, wrong, or upsetting — and feeling unable to let them go
• Asking for reassurance over and over
• Avoiding situations, people, or places that trigger anxiety
• Replaying conversations or moments to “make sure” they didn’t do something wrong
• Needing things to feel "just right" before moving on
• Excessive guilt, responsibility, or fear of disappointing others
• Saying things like: “I know this doesn’t make sense, but I can’t stop thinking about it.”

OCD is about a brain that gets stuck in threat mode, demanding certainty and relief.

And here’s the important part:
👉 Reassurance, avoidance, and accommodating the anxiety often make OCD stronger over time — even though they come from a loving place.

With the right support, teens can learn:
• how to respond differently to intrusive thoughts
• how to tolerate uncertainty
• how to step out of anxiety loops without fighting or suppressing thoughts

If your teen’s anxiety feels intense, repetitive, or “different” — trust that instinct.

Help exists, and it can be gentle, collaborative, and effective.

Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy in Cedar Park TX provides CBT therapy for anxiety and chronic stress.

12/27/2025

😮‍💨 January is the like the Monday of the year!

The holiday season is dwindling down...lights get put away, decorations come down, and with less distractions anxiety often resurfaces (with a vengeance) and the pressure of starting a new year begins.

Many experience:
😓 Feeling emotionally drained from family visits.
😟 Worries about the year ahead.
⏰ Difficulty getting back into routines (6 am wake ups again!).
🥱 Feeling unmotivated or mentally foggy.
💸 Financial stress after the holidays.

It's not just you - it's an unfortunate reality of all the pressures of the holidays as an adult.

Therapy can't "fix it all", but starting therapy CAN help with:

✔ Learning tools to calm your body’s anxiety response.
✔ Strategies to stop spiral thinking.
✔ Setting new boundaries for work, friends, family.
✔ A plan for easing back into routine without burnout.

If you’re ready for a calmer start to the year, set up a consultation in minutes to see if therapy is the right fit for you.

💚 Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy
📍 Cedar Park • In-person & Telehealth
📩 marcelle@laureloakstherapy.com

Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy in Cedar Park TX provides CBT therapy for anxiety and chronic stress.

11/13/2025

🌿 The TRICKY part of Anxiety is it can look different than what we see on tv or in movies (panic, hyperventilating).

What this means is a lot of people silently suffer through the day to day, thinking they are fine (but feeling anything but!)

Sometimes (quite often, actually), anxiety looks like…

• Chronic muscle tension and restlessness (including headaches and jaw pain!)
• Waking up with a sense of dread
• Overanalyzing social interactions
• Avoiding situations that used to feel manageable
• Perfectionism and fear of disappointing others

Does any of these resonate?

Therapy helps you untangle the worries that keep you stuck and learn real-life skills to feel calmer and more steady in your day-to-day life.

Book your first session or schedule a free consultation online today - find out how to address anxiety and feel balanced!

Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy in Cedar Park TX provides CBT therapy for anxiety and chronic stress.

09/07/2025

🌿 Not all anxiety looks the same — sometimes it’s easy to miss.

Sometimes anxiety can look more like:

🚩 Constant muscle tension.
🚩 Waking up with dread before the day begins.
🚩 Replaying conversations on repeat.
🚩 Avoiding tasks you once managed easily.
🚩 Perfectionism + fear of letting people down.

💡 The good news is anxiety can be managed through insight and strategy.

🧠 CBT helps challenge unhelpful thought patterns.
🧭 DBT teaches skills to regulate emotions and find balance.

With therapy, you can retrain your nervous system and begin to feel more grounded, confident, and in control.

📲 Ready to get started? Book your intake today:

Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy in Cedar Park TX offers trauma-informed, coaching style therapy for individuals struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship issues, and complex trauma.

08/16/2025

🍂 New Fall Hours & More Openings for Therapy 🍂

As the seasons change, it’s the perfect time to invest in your mental health.

I’m opening new fall hours and expanded availability for teens (15+) and adults.

I specialize in:
✨ DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) – to help you manage emotions, navigate relationships, and build resilience.
✨ CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) – to help you break unhelpful thought patterns and take practical steps toward change.

I work with individuals with:
✨ High-functioning depression – when you appear to have it all together but feel numb, unmotivated, or disconnected inside.
✨ Chronic stress and anxiousness – constant tension or worry that makes it hard to relax, focus, or feel at ease.
✨ Handling life transitions – navigating big changes like career shifts, divorce, parenthood, or loss with clarity and resilience.
✨ Experiencing relationship stress – feeling stuck, misunderstood, or overwhelmed in personal, family, or work relationships.

📅 New Fall Hours:
weekday early mornings (9-11am) late afternoons (3-5pm)
If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy now is a great time to get started.
📍 Sessions available in-person in Cedar Park, TX or online for clients anywhere in Texas.
🔗 https://care.headway.co/providers/marcelle-abusalbi?utm_source=pem&utm_medium=direct_link&utm_campaign=93946
☎️ I also offer a free 15 min pre-booking consultation phone or video call, text or call 512-887-3627
Your next season can be one of growth and clarity 🧡

Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy in Cedar Park TX offers trauma-informed, coaching style therapy for individuals struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship issues, and complex trauma.

08/10/2025

🌿 What exactly is High-Functioning Depression?
When most people think "depression," they think of not being able to get out of bed, crying all day, and social isolation.

But the truth is depression shows up in much more subtle ways.

On the outside:
✅ They keep showing up — for work, for family, for all responsibilities.
✅ Seem to “have it together.”

But inside, it’s a different story:
🚫 Feeling numb or disconnected
🚫 Going through the motions without joy
🚫 Wondering why life feels flat, even when they're “doing everything right”

I help teens (15+) and adults break free from the quiet heaviness of high-functioning depression.

My approach is structured, hands-on, and results-focused, blending:
🧭 DBT to manage emotions and reactions
🧠 CBT to challenge negative thinking

📍 In-person sessions in Cedar Park
✔ Insurance accepted
📅 New fall hours now open
Book online in minutes:

Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy in Cedar Park TX offers trauma-informed, coaching style therapy for individuals struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship issues, and complex trauma.

08/07/2025

💥 Trauma Truths They Don’t Talk About Enough 💥
Healing from trauma isn’t about “just thinking positive” or finding silver linings.

It’s about feeling safe again — in your body, your mind, and your relationships.

You don’t need to forgive to heal.
You don’t need to explain why it happened.
Just because you're holding it together doesn’t mean the trauma didn’t affect you.

🌿 Trauma can impact your nervous system, your sleep, your energy — and still, no one might notice on the outside. High functioning doesn’t mean you’re not hurting.

✨ Trauma-informed therapy can help you process what happened, reconnect to your sense of self, and move forward while feeling safe, and without bypassing your pain.


📍 Now accepting new clients in Cedar Park and across Texas via telehealth.
📅 Book online at www.laureloakstherapy.com

08/07/2025

🌿 Feeling emotionally overwhelmed? Try somatic exercises to calm your body and reconnect your mind.

When stress, anxiety, or shutdown hits, your nervous system goes into survival mode (fight, flight, fawn, or freeze).
These body-based tools help you regulate from the bottom up — calming your body first so your mind can catch up.

👇 Try these anytime you feel dysregulated:

🫁 Grounding Breath
Inhale deep into your belly (4), hold (4), and exhale slowly (6–8).
Repeat a few times to slow your heart rate and signal safety.

🦶 Feet on the Floor + Press Down
Root into the ground with your feet. Press into your thighs or chair arms.
Helps you feel supported and present.

🧊 Cold Reset (TIPP Skill)
Splash cold water, hold an ice cube, or use a cold compress.
This quickly calms intense emotional states.

🦋 Butterfly Hug
Cross your arms over your chest and tap gently side to side.
Great for self-soothing and emotional processing.

🫀 Shake It Off
Stand, shake your limbs, and bounce gently. Let out a sigh.
Releases built-up tension in your body.

🧘 Mini Muscle Release
Tense and release your fists, shoulders, or legs.
Helps your body let go of stress.

✨ Want to go deeper?
Pick your favorite and build your own Somatic Toolbox of 5 body-based tools that help you feel grounded.

💬 What’s your go-to strategy when emotions feel too big?

Now welcoming new clients for fall — in-person and virtual appointments available.
Book online in minutes:

Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy in Round Rock, TX offers trauma-informed, DBT-centered therapy for women and teens struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship issues, and complex trauma. Compassionate care, practical tools, and real change—one step at a time.

08/02/2025

🍂 Fall Into Therapy This Season 🍂
As summer winds down, it’s the perfect time to focus on you.
I’m currently welcoming new clients for fall with limited openings starting in the last two weeks of August.

✅ In-person sessions in Cedar Park
✅ Telehealth options available across Texas
✅ In-network with insurance

I specialize in helping adults and teens (15+) with:
* Anxiety, overthinking & burnout
* Emotional regulation & stress management
* Building real-life coping skills with CBT & DBT

💻 Book online in minutes: www.laureloakstherapy.com
Start the season feeling more calm, grounded, and supported.

Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy in Round Rock, TX offers trauma-informed, DBT-centered therapy for women and teens struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship issues, and complex trauma. Compassionate care, practical tools, and real change—one step at a time.

08/02/2025

Feeling anxious or burned out?
Big life overhauls often fizzle out—but tiny, consistent habits can make a real difference for your nervous system.

Try this 3-step daily calm routine:
🌅 Morning (2 min): Stretch or take a few deep breaths before checking your phone.
☀️ Midday (2 min): Step outside, notice the air on your skin, or drink water mindfully.
🌙 Evening (2 min): Reflect on one thing that went well today.

You don’t need hours—you just need consistency.

Want to keep yourself on track?
✅ Create your own 3-Step Calm Routine
✅ Use a 7-Day Habit Tracker to see your progress

Small steps lead to big calm. 💙

Now welcoming new clients:
www.laureloakstherapy.com

07/29/2025

🌿 Have you been living with anxiety, emotional reactivity, or high-functioning depression?

What it can look like:

🧠 High-Functioning Depression: you keep showing up and meeting daily responsibilities, but inside you feel numb, flat, and disconnected.
🔥 Anxiety: you appear ok, but are constantly overthinking, replaying conversations, and worrying about failing or disappointing others.
⚡ Emotional Reactivity: you feel everything deeply, seemingly small stressors can trigger big emotions, leaving you feeling misunderstood, ashamed, or regretful afterward.

My approach is structured, hands-on, and results-driven.
I combine Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (focus on emotional regulation skills), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (focus on negative thinking patterns and limiting core beliefs).

Every client receives:
✅ Personalized treatment goals
✅ Custom handouts and tools
✅ Reflective journaling prompts for between sessions

📍 In-person sessions in Cedar Park (or virtual)
📅 New fall hours added (more availability)
✔️ Insurance accepted
👩‍👧‍👦 Teens (15+) & Adults welcome

🖥️ Book your first session online in minutes or learn more at www.laureloakstherapy.com

07/27/2025

🌿 Anxious mind. Tired body. Busy screen.
This is what chronic stress and mental burnout can look like — especially when you’re high-functioning on the outside but struggling quietly underneath.

You might be:
🚩 Constantly doomscrolling, trying to feel informed but feeling more overwhelmed
🚩 Exhausted but unable to rest
🚩 Overthinking every conversation or decision
🚩 Driven by pressure, perfectionism, or the fear of letting people down
🚩 Feeling like your brain never shuts off — even when your body’s begging you to slow down

This is high-functioning anxiety, and it’s not just in your head — it’s in your nervous system.

🧠 CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) helps you challenge the thought patterns and internal pressure that keep you stuck in overdrive.
🧭 DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) teaches you how to regulate your emotions, respond with more clarity, and build calm into your daily life — even when everything feels like too much.

You don’t have to keep pushing through.

📍 In-person sessions in Cedar Park
🗓️ Now accepting new clients for fall
📲 Book online in minutes or reach out with questions — therapy can help you reset.

Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy in Round Rock, TX offers trauma-informed, DBT-centered therapy for women and teens struggling with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, relationship issues, and complex trauma. Compassionate care, practical tools, and real change—one step at a time.