Maria Eduarda (Tita) Machado, LPC

Available for In-Person Sessions & Teletherapy

Multilingual In English, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish

My counseling approach centers on my belief in the radical power of connection and the miracle of human potential. I have witnessed the transformations that occur when embodying a heart-minded and compassionate connection with my clients. In session, I will focus on reflecting your inner experience with skill, curiosity, and compassion and we will shine a light on any shadows ready to be witnessed on the path to your authentic self. You and your experience will be honored every step of the way as we lean deeper into all of your parts. Through the embodiment of experience and compassionate self-awareness we will embark on your healing journey to a place of self-love and self-acceptance.

My perspective is firmly rooted in evidence-based effective therapies that produce lasting change and powerful results. Healing is non-linear and ongoing and our work will reflect this truth as we journey together into a deepening and unfolding. I incorporate holistic psychotherapy approaches with a trauma-informed lens, infusing knowledge from other modalities such as Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, and Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma. I also love to incorporate mindfulness practices and psycho-education to demystify symptoms and empower clients on their healing journeys. Further, while I do not provide therapy fully in Portuguese, Italian, or Spanish, I do speak these languages and provide a safe space for my clients to express their emotional truths in whichever language captures the experience best at the moment. Being able to hold this bilingual space opens a door that allows you to access parts of yourself that may normally feel looked over or alienated in this English-speaking culture.

Lastly, we do not live in a bubble, addressing the dynamics of your external life is just as important as understanding the internal. I am passionate about creating an affirming safe space for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC populations. As my client, I will help you fight for your fair and equitable treatment whenever possible. In addition, I love to work with teens (16+) and young adults who are looking to grow out of difficult experiences or just become their best selves.

Please know how brave I think you are for taking the first step in searching for help. Feel free to contact me with any other questions or to explore if we would be a good fit to embark on this journey together.

More About Tita

I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and grew up in Newton, Massachusetts from the age of seven in a blended, multicultural, multilingual family. My childhood was spent between my new home and trips to Brazil to see my father, brothers, and ex

tended family, while as a young adult I traveled extensively while I studied and lived abroad in Italy and Switzerland. These years allowed me a special appreciation for diversity and a unique understanding around immigration and acculturation. Therapy has played a pivotal role throughout my life, starting with my parents’ separation in Brazil when I was five years old and continuing to offer support and guidance through times of divorce, loss, sexual assault/abuse, cancer, and exploring my identity. I believe that vulnerability is a necessary precursor to connection. In turn, authentic connection heightens the potential for change.

I hold a bachelor’s of arts degree in Italian Studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Amherst, Massachusetts as well as a diploma for Italian language studies from the Universita per Stranieri in Siena, Italy. After college I completed a post graduate diploma in International Hospitality Management from Cesar Ritz Colleges, Brig, Switzerland. After thirteen years in the hospitality industry I realized that my true passion lay in helping people realize their full, long-term human potential.

In 2017 I graduated from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. For my clinical practicum I worked at Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers providing therapy to individuals and families in Portuguese and English. Most recently at Lifeworks here in Austin, I provided community-based therapy to youths and young adults, many of whom were experiencing homelessness, transitioning out of foster care or the juvenile justice system as they pursued a stable future for themselves and their families.

Outside of the office I continue to educate myself on whole-body mental health – the relationship between our body’s gut health, mind, spirit and emotional health and the impact on our physical health. When not traveling, I enjoy spending time with friends recharging by a body of water, exploring different restaurants and sites around town, seeing a great movie, or just spending time with my dog Miss Daisy Duke.