Hello
I'm Dr. Madeline Divine.
Since you’re considering trusting me with your story, here’s a little of mine:
Therapeutic Approach
The ways we think, behave, relate to others, and protect ourselves likely developed for good reasons, but they don’t always continue to serve us as our lives and circumstances change. Together, we’ll work to understand your patterns while building practical skills that help you move toward the life you want to live. My goal isn’t to tell you what to do or who you should become, but to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself that empowers you to make choices that align with your values.
I bring warmth, humor, and a little Midwestern friendliness into the therapy room. Clients can expect me to be engaged and active in our work rather than simply sitting back and listening. Effective therapy is grounded in a relationship with a therapist you feel you can trust. You can expect me to show up with honesty, curiosity, and without judgment, accepting you as you are, but also gently challenging you when it may help you see things in a new way.
As both a clinician and researcher, I value asking thoughtful questions, approaching therapy without assumptions, and integrating scientific evidence with genuine human connection. I have provided evidence-based psychotherapy to adults in the Austin area since 2021 across a range of settings including private practice, the Center for Survivors of Torture, the Bipolar Disorder Center, and the VA Outpatient Clinic. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, I integrate a variety of research-supported therapies to tailor our work to your unique experiences, strengths, values, and goals.
Education & Training
Psychology is not my first career. In 2016, I left my job in the energy sector to pursue a path more aligned with my strengths and values. I spent several years training in psychological research while coordinating clinical trials at the University of Illinois Chicago before moving to Texas to pursue my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Choosing to change careers reflects some of the strengths I bring to my work as both a therapist and a scientist: the bravery to take on formidable challenges, the humility to reconsider what isn’t working, the flexibility to change direction when needed, and the determination to never stop learning and improving.
Ph.D.
M.A.
Doctor of Philosophy, Clinical Psychology
The University of Texas at Austin
Doctoral Internship: Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System
Master of Arts, Psychology
The University of Texas at Austin
B.S.
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
University of Missouri - Columbia
B.S.
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration
The University of Tulsa
For more information about my 9 years of experience in clinical psychology research, please check out my research page.
Currently, I am completing a Post-Doctoral Residency with Dr. Krista Jordan & Associates, with a focus on advanced training in the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT), an integrative approach to couples therapy grounded in attachment, neuroscience, and the study of how partners regulate emotion and respond to one another.
Outside of Work
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me tending my garden, exploring Austin’s restaurant scene, dancing at an R&B concert, or spending time outdoors with my two oversized dogs.