Not Just Talk. Real Tools for Real Life.
At Laurel Oaks, our approach is grounded in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)—a proven, skills-based method that goes beyond traditional talk therapy. We don’t just process emotions—we teach you how to regulate them, set boundaries, manage stress, and respond to life with clarity and confidence. THERAPY HERE MEANS LEARNING THE TOOLS TO HANDLE REAL LIFE CHALLENGES, NOT JUST EXPLORING THEM.
When Every Day Feels Like a Struggle, Therapy can Help.
Are you stuck in a cycle of anxiety that never seems to let up?
Are you mentally and emotionally exhausted, just trying to make it through the day?
Are you living in survival mode, feeling disconnected from the person you used to be?
Do your emotions spiral quickly—leaving you feeling overwhelmed or out of control?
Laurel Oaks Counseling and Therapy specializes in supporting women and teens learn the tools to handle life's challenges.
Laurel Oaks' approach is grounded in compassion, structure, and tracking real progress—combining evidence-based tools from DBT, CBT, and trauma-informed care. Together, we’ll work toward helping you feel more grounded, more confident, and more connected to who you truly are.
Prioritize yourself— click to book your first session today.
Focus Areas:
Emotional Dysregulation
What is Emotional Dysregulation?
It means emotions feel intense, overwhelming, and hard to manage. You might experience:
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Mood swings that feel out of control
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Feeling easily overwhelmed or triggered
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Quick shifts into anger or deep sadness
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Struggles in relationships due to emotional highs and lows
Therapy can help by teaching skills to:
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Understand your emotions
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Stay grounded in tough moments
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Regulate reactions with more control and confidence
School and Peer Stress in Teens
What School and Peer Stress Can Look Like in Teens
You might notice:
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Withdrawing from friends or family
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Frequent headaches, stomachaches, or trouble sleeping
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Increased irritability, frustration, or emotional outbursts
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Avoidance of school, sudden drop in grades, or loss of motivation
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Constant worry about friendships, fitting in, or being judged
Therapy helps teens by:
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Teaching them how to manage academic and social pressure
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Building emotional regulation and confidence in their identity
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Helping them express themselves and set healthy boundaries
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Giving them tools to cope—so they feel more in control, connected, and supported
Depression
What Depression Can Feel Like
You might experience:
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Low energy, fatigue, or feeling unmotivated
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Loss of interest in things that used to bring joy
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Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or hopelessness
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Trouble concentrating, sleeping, or getting through the day
Therapy helps by teaching you to:
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Understand and challenge negative thought patterns
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Reconnect with your values and sense of self
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Build small, meaningful habits that support healing and energy
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
What PTSD Can Feel Like
You might experience:
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Flashbacks or unwanted memories that feel hard to control
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Feeling on edge, easily startled, or constantly tense
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Avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of what happened
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Trouble sleeping, emotional numbness, or feeling disconnected from yourself or others
Therapy helps by teaching you to:
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Understand trauma’s impact on your brain and body
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Process painful memories in a safe, supported way
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Build tools to feel more grounded, safe, and in control again
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
What OCD Can Feel Like
You might experience:
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Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that feel scary or upsetting
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Feeling like you have to do certain behaviors or rituals to feel “okay”
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Trouble focusing because your mind keeps looping on “what if” thoughts
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Intense anxiety when things feel uncertain, out of order, or unsafe
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A sense of being stuck—knowing your thoughts aren’t logical, but feeling powerless to stop them
Therapy helps by teaching you to:
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Understand how OCD works and why it feels so powerful
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Use evidence-based strategies like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
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Break the cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
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Build confidence in tolerating uncertainty and gaining control over your mind
Borderline Personality Disorder
What Borderline Personality Disorder Can Feel Like
You might experience:
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Intense emotional highs and lows that feel hard to manage
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Fear of abandonment, even in small moments of disconnection
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Struggles with identity—feeling unsure of who you are or what you believe
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Impulsive behaviors or self-criticism that leave you feeling stuck
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Unstable relationships that swing between closeness and conflict
Therapy helps by teaching you to:
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Regulate emotions without feeling overwhelmed or out of control
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Build a stronger, more stable sense of self
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Develop healthier ways to cope with conflict, rejection, and vulnerability
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Use DBT skills like mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to feel more balanced and empowered
Marcelle Abusalbi, MA, LPC-S
Hi! I'm Marcelle.
I am a clinician, clinical supervisor and owner of Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy. The mission of LOCT is to provide compassionate, trauma-informed DBT therapy that empowers women and teens to break free from anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and unhealthy relationship patterns.
Through evidence-based therapy and a supportive, judgment-free space, I help clients build emotional resilience, reclaim their sense of self, and create lasting, meaningful change.
Education:
University of Texas at Austin, BA in Psychology, 2003
St. Edward's University, Austin
MA in Counseling Psychology, 2005
St. Mary's University, San Antonio
Doctoral Studies in Counselor Education and Supervision
2008-2010
Experience:
LPC 2010 - present ; TX #62798
TX Board Clinical Supervisor for post-graduate LPC-Associates in Texas
Experienced in working with Borderline Personality Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Exciting news! We're growing to meet the need!
With growing demand, we’re expanding to welcome new clients soon!
New therapists will be joining the Laurel Oaks team to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for teens, families, and individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotional overwhelm.
👉 [Join the Waitlist] to be the first to hear when teens/families appointments open.
👉 [Click here] to book a 15 minute consultation call.
Laurel Oaks Counseling & Therapy
The practice is located in the Forest Creek Office Park in Round Rock, off Redbud. Sessions are available virtually throughout Texas.
Virtual Available in Texas
In Person Sessions in Round Rock, Texas
Monday - Friday 9 am - 6 pm. Weeknights and weekends limited and by request only.