Meet your Therapist
Sonia Albin, LPC
I have lived in and outside of Mexico, Houston, Seattle, and Maine, and have felt at home in a number of ecosystems. I’ve held many titles; marine biologist, research scientist, environmental educator, elementary school teacher, and health coach. I come from a multi-national, multi-cultural family. When I’m not therapizing, I’m a toddler mom, wife, gardener, writer, martial artist, and overall goofball.
I dedicated the first part of my career to connecting with nature through science, outdoor adventure education, and horticulture, while doing my own therapeutic work. Nature has always been part of my healing and how I care for others.
I graduated from the University of Washington and earned my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. I have 8 years of combined experience in eating disorder treatment at the residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels of care. My 5 years of private practice experience have included work with trauma surrounding immigration and asylum, complex childhood trauma from primary caregivers, victims of systemic violence, and perinatal trauma. I am fully bilingual in Spanish.
My work is guided by the values of my Ashkenazi Jewish heritage-
Shalom Bayit- peace in the home, Chesed- loving kindness, and Tikkun Olam- helping and repairing the world.
My Approach
You are the artist of your life. I foster a warm, nurturing, and safe environment that allows you to explore your mind and heart with freedom, confidence, and support. My promise is to prioritize your well-being, to be honest, and to listen to your intuition. My practice is affirming of gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, and culture. I am a safe space to process any experiences of political distress, racism, homophobia, mysoginy, antisemitism, and any other form of systemic hatred.
I incorporate Internal Family Systems, Brainspotting, and Nature, and collaborate with dietitians, physicians, psychiatrists, energy workers, and other therapists as appropriate for a holistic treatment approach.
Why Kite?
While kites are fun, carefree, and a wonderful metaphor for navigating difficult circumstances peacefully, it’s actually not where the name Kite comes from!
Every summer, Buffalo Bayou gets a visit from a migratory bird, the Mississippi Kite. Kites make their way here all the way from Chile. I am delighted to see and hear them as I work in my spring garden, and to know that our Houston environment is just right for them to thrive. Kites, and other migratory animals, can teach us that finding a place of belonging is key to our survival, growth, and healing from trauma.
