Bringing the Outdoors In: Meet Aundrea Austin, LMSW

If you ask Aundrea what therapy should feel like, she probably won't start with clinical jargon or writing a treatment plan; instead, she would describe the emotional and sensory experiences that her clients have engaged in.

Aundrea has been at Brazen therapy since 2023 and works primarily with adolescents, roughly ages 8 to 18, and adults. Before joining Brazen, she spent time working exclusively with children, coming up through community engagement and outreach work in schools and out-of- school programs with AmeriCorps and the Boys and Girls Club. That background shows up in how she talks about her clients. She isn't interested in emphasizing diagnosis or symptoms. She describes herself as informal and being more interested in holistic approaches, such as expressive arts therapy and mindfulness. She's interested in what helps people find an internal connection.

Therapy That Doesn't Feel Like Therapy

Vibrant multimedia collage featuring swirling colors, textures, and inspiring affirmations like "today is a new beginning," intertwined with magazine clippings, paint, and layered elements.

A lot of the young people who land in Aundrea's office have already tried traditional talk therapy and  feel like they want something different. Sitting across from an adult and being asked to explain their feelings out loud can feel difficult, especially for kids who are neurodivergent or who simply process the world more through their hands and senses than through conversation.

Aundrea leans into different therapy types that feel more like play: Painting. Music. Mindfulness. Making Collages. She describes her approach as expressive and hands-on which is important for anyone who has difficulty verbalizing their feelings or who has never been taught. Emotional expression comes more freely when we are engaged in art.

The Earth Box

Ecotherapy Earthbox by Aundrea Austin LMSW brings the tranquility of nature indoors, featuring a vibrant assortment of natural elements, a "Heaven on Earth" LIFE magazine, and a collection of inspiring photos.

The clearest example of how Aundrea thinks about healing space is something she calls the Earth Box, which is set up in her office. It started as a graduate school project during a course on creating restorative spaces. The assignment was simple in concept: if you could design your ideal restorative space with no budget at all, what would it look like? At the time, Aundrea was working somewhere without much natural beauty nearby, and that absence shaped her answer. If the outside world wasn't going to come to her clients, she'd find a way to bring it into the room herself. Aundrea notes “I made this earth box that's essentially just like a wooden box and I painted the outside really pretty. Inside of the box are elements of earth that came from trips I've gone on, rocks and other things that I've picked up from mindful walks or people have given me. It’s really popular among kids, especially neurodivergent people as they enjoy touching the leaves or experiencing the different textures of the items.”

What she built is a painted wooden box filled with pieces of the outdoors. Rocks from trips like Sedona and Mexico, leaves collected from mindful walks, and a jar of lavender scented potpourri. A staple item includes a glass jar with decorative moss which feels almost like the real thing and brings wonderful memories or introduces new experiences. It isn't meant to be looked at from a distance but everything in the box is meant to be touched, turned over, and explored.

Aundrea has noticed that the box resonates especially with neurodivergent clients, who often connect with the world through texture and sensation as much as through words. A leaf that crackles a certain way, a smooth stone, a scent that surprises them or smells familiar. These small sensory details give kids  and adults something concrete to hold on to in a room that might otherwise feel abstract or intimidating.

She has talked about wanting to write more about the Earth Box herself, partly because it's meaningful to her personally, and partly because she's noticed that clinicians of color don't often get the same platform to speak about nature-based and ecotherapy approaches.

Aundrea Austin, LMSW, an expressive art and eco therapist, smiles warmly during an outdoor session focused on supporting adults and adolescents.

Who She's a Great Fit For

Aundrea works well with kids and teens who find traditional talk therapy challenging, especially those who are neurodivergent or who express themselves more easily through creativity and movement. She also brings a steady, grounded presence to adult clients who want therapy to feel less clinical and more like genuine exploration.

If your child is more likely to open up with a paintbrush in hand than in a face-to-face conversation, or if you're an adult looking for a therapist who treats creativity as a basic right to therapy, Aundrea is worth a conversation.

You can find Aundrea Austin, LMSW, at Brazen Therapy, where she works in person and virtually throughout Arizona. And if you happen to stop by, ask about the Earth box so you can experience nature in a new way. Book a free consultation here with Aundrea!