Jinjin Lu, LPC-A. Grief & Loss, Trauma, Relationship Issues
"Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto,” meaning: “I am human; nothing human is foreign to me"
- Terence
Jinjin Lu, LPC-A
Supervised by Jontayé Bonds LPC-S
Professional Profile
Jinjin is a Licensed Professional Counseling Associate. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, she is a proud Austinite. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Business, from the University of Texas at Austin.
Throughout her college career, she worked at a children’s bereavement center, where she supported children and adolescents as they processed grief and loss. She has also worked at an autism center and completed an internship with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. These experiences shaped her passion for working with individuals across the lifespan.
In her current role, she works with adults, adolescents, and children navigating a range of concerns, including grief, trauma, and relationship challenges. She supports clients through loss and difficult life experiences, as well as emotional and interpersonal concerns. She often incorporates creative arts into her sessions, offering clients different ways to express themselves and explore their experiences. She takes a thoughtful and supportive approach, guided by the belief that “I am human, and nothing human is alien to me,” and that every experience deserves to be met with understanding rather than judgment. This perspective is reflected in her counseling style, grounded in openness, empathy, and deep respect for each person’s story.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, eating sushi, searching for the best matcha in Austin, and going to Pilates or playing pickleball.
Specialties
Abandonment
ACT
Anxiety
Body Image
CBT
Depression
Eating Disorders
Grief and Loss
Relationship Issues
Self Esteem
Trauma
Insurance
Aetna
BCBS
Curative
Sana
Private Pay / Self Pay
Welcome!
Hi, my name is Jinjin Lu and I’m really happy you found your way here! I know reaching out for support can feel like a big step, sometimes even a quiet, uncertain one. My hope is that when you land in my space, it feels a little easier to exhale. Therapy with me isn’t about being “put together” or saying things the right way. It’s about showing up as you are, with messy thoughts, big feelings, awkward pauses, and everything in between, and knowing there’s someone who’s actually with you in it. I bring warmth, curiosity, and a very human approach to the work. I take people seriously without taking life too seriously all the time, and I think healing can hold room for both depth and a bit of lightness too. If it helps to know, I’ve always had a kid-like heart, still really drawn to wonder, honesty, and the parts of us that don’t fit neatly into adult boxes. I think those parts matter in therapy, too. Wherever you are in your story, we can start there.
How I Work
My approach to therapy is person-centered, which really just means I believe you are the expert on your own life. My role is to meet you where you are, listen closely, ask thoughtful questions,
and help you notice patterns, feelings, or perspectives that might be harder to see on your own.
In the beginning, we’ll take time to get to know each other and build a space that feels comfortable and safe for you. There is no pressure to “jump in” right away. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what life looks like right now, what feels steady, and what feels overwhelming or stuck. From there, we’ll move at your pace and focus on what feels most important to you.
My work is integrative, meaning I tailor therapy to fit you rather than relying on a single approach. I often draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to explore the connection between thoughts, emotions, and patterns in daily life, helping us make sense of what feels stuck or overwhelming. I also draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on making space for difficult thoughts and feelings while moving toward what truly matters to you. Alongside these approaches, I incorporate creative and expressive approaches when it feels right, because I’ve found that creativity can sometimes communicate what words cannot. Through drawing, writing, imagery, or other forms of expression, we can access insight, release emotions that are hard to name, and understand experiences in a deeper way. This kind of work can be powerful for all ages, not just children or teenagers, because expression is something we never really outgrow.
Overall, my goal is to create a space that feels genuine, warm, and human, where we can explore what you’re going through in a way that actually fits you, not a one-size-fits-all model.
Therapy with me isn’t about being “put together” or saying things the right way. It’s about showing up as you are, with messy thoughts, big feelings, awkward pauses, and everything in between, and knowing
there’s someone who’s actually with you in it.
Therapist Spotlight
What made you decide to become a counselor?
I’ve always been described as empathetic, a good listener, and very tuned in to people’s emotions and even their body language. Listening has always come naturally to me, and I’ve always felt drawn to truly hearing people, not just their words but their experiences. Over time, I realized this wasn’t just a personality trait, it was something I could turn into meaningful work. Becoming a counselor felt like a natural path for me, allowing me to take something that has always been part of who I am and use it to support others in a more intentional and healing way.
If you could teach the world one skill or technique to improve their lives, what would it be?
If I could teach the world one skill, it would be self-compassion. Not the surface level kind, but the kind where you actually learn to be on your own side. The kind where you stop speaking to yourself in ways you would never speak to someone you care about. So many people are carrying a lot of pressure and self-criticism without even realizing how heavy it feels over time. To me, self-compassion is learning to slow down and say, “I am doing the best I can right now,” even when things are not perfect. It is giving yourself permission to be human, to make mistakes, and to grow at your own pace instead of constantly feeling like you have to prove your worth. When you soften the way you treat yourself, it does not erase the struggle, but it changes how you move through it. That is where healing begins.
Have you personally been to counseling? If so, what did you learn about yourself?
Yes, I have been to counseling, and it was a really meaningful and grounding experience for me. One of the biggest things I learned is that I do not have to stay stuck in the past to make sense of it. Instead, I can acknowledge what happened and choose to keep moving forward with intention. It also helped me understand the importance of giving myself grace along the way and not expecting myself to have everything figured out to still be growing and healing.
If you could recommend one book to all your clients, what would it be?
If I could recommend one book to all my clients, it would be The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. This book invites readers to let go of the pressure to be perfect and instead lean into self-compassion, authenticity, and worthiness. It’s about learning that you don’t have to “earn” belonging or love, you are already enough as you are.
Who is your ideal client?
My ideal client is someone who is open to growth, even if they are not sure where to start. Someone who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of themselves, but is willing to show up and try.
What inspires you to help others?
It’s truly a privilege to be trusted with someone’s story during both their challenges and their growth. I’m continually reminded of the resilience people carry, even in their hardest moments, and that sense of hope and strength is what deepens my commitment to this work.
If you are hosting a dinner party, who are the 4 people you would invite and why?
If I were hosting a dinner party, the four people I would invite are my boyfriend, who is currently living in Brazil, and my three older sisters. I would invite my boyfriend because I miss him so much and I would do anything to share just one more meal with him in person. I would also invite my sisters because they are my built-in best friends.
How do you personally practice self care?
I practice self-care by watching rom-coms, going to the gym, taking long walks, playing pickleball, and laying in the sun. My friends and I also love having what we call “summer days,” even when it is not summer. That usually looks like getting a matcha, grabbing acai bowls, spending hours by the pool, doing something active like thrifting, hiking, or pickleball, and then ending the day with a movie.
How do you relate to Mindfulness? How do you incorporate it in your sessions?
I relate to mindfulness as a way of being present with what is happening in the moment, without judgment and without immediately trying to fix or push it away. To me, it is about slowing down enough to notice thoughts, emotions, and body responses as they show up, and creating space to respond more intentionally rather than react automatically. In my sessions, I incorporate mindfulness by gently guiding clients to pause and check in with themselves when they start to feel overwhelmed or emotionally activated. For example, I may invite them to notice their breathing, name what they are feeling in the moment, and observe where they feel it in their body. I also encourage grounding techniques, such as focusing on what they can see, hear, or physically feel in the room, to help bring them back to the present. This often helps clients feel more regulated and better able to talk through what they are experiencing.