Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Rix.
Hi Tina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a Sr. licensed Psychotherapist specializing in trauma and narcissistic abuse, and a now 100% online group mental health practice owner. I am also a singer/songwriter who found that neglecting my creative and musically inclined side for too many years was unhealthy. I wanted to integrate all my creative sides with my healing/nurturing side displayed when practicing therapy and seeing clients. I have been fortunate and blessed to have my mental health company, Better Path Family Counseling and Consulting, PLLC, be able to donate 100% of the cost needed to produce Season 1 of the Music and Mental Health Docuseries film project.
At the end of 2019, I focused on feeling alive and happy again after putting my foot down and walking away from a severely abusive spouse. I realized there was no reason I could not merge the two worlds I operate in and love together. It was then that Music and Mental Health were birthed, but there was a pre-requisite, I had to go into the community and get the stories of the people who chose music. I aim to destigmatize and introduce mental health people worldwide, letting them know they deserve to share their stories. I decided not to focus on myself and only rely on myself for this project. The community needed to help me with this one. I wanted to tell the story of the importance of owning your story and stomping out the stigma surrounding mental health through the lives of artists and musicians in the creatively free city of Austin, TX, where I have resided full-time for the past five years.
The film’s main goal is to feature music and artists you may or may not have heard of before normalizing discussing mental health topics, bring awareness to the importance of mental health and trauma, and utilize music and musicians as a vehicle to help get the message out about the importance of sharing your story and stomping out the stigma surrounding mental illness and trauma (like PTSD).
The independent artists featured in this project helped her catalyze healing projects; each one is passionate about mental health awareness and the importance of supporting independent artists. They are our healing agents. They help us emote, process our stuff, and provide the soundtrack to our lives. Authenticity from each featured artist’s care for humanity is what the spirit of this project left our skeletal film/editing crew uplifted with. We hope that the docuseries’ content resonates with every viewer, young and old, positively. We filmed until the world shut down due to COVID-19 in March 2020, then resumed filming in the summer of 2021. It is amazing how timely and even more relevant this film project is now due to people’s mental and emotional state in the US and worldwide. The film has been awarded 60+ film awards globally since it entered the film festival circuit in the fall of 2021.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, where would you like me to begin? Lol, yes, I faced many obstacles and challenges completing this project. The biggest challenge was having the COVID-19 lockdown occur while filming in the spring of 2020; all work was halted for a good year. Post-production became a big challenge as the pandemic occurred, among other prominent societal matters arising between the spring of 2020 and the summer of 2021. This was extremely tough for me emotionally as the Executive Producer and Director of the film project. I am all about community and collaboration to reach the targeted population that will most benefit from the film project’s subject matter. That was absolved after all the plagues that attacked our world, communities, and personal lives. I pulled back and took a more low-key approach to complete the project’s post-production and film festival entry chapter. I didn’t want cast members already carrying grief and loss from the current state of the world to feel like they needed to keep up with the coming along of the film. However, I decided to keep working on the project because it positively impacts humanity, and mental health + trauma healing is so important and needed right now. I had to minister to myself throughout this time and remind myself that this vision was given to me, and I needed to complete the assignment. No matter what, I was determined to get all the footage retrieved (which we did, yay) and keep editing down all nine episodes, which range from around 35 mins to a little over an hour each. Thankfully, my core film team consists of my Film Editor, Paul. Rodriguez and my Music Score Producer, Jonathan Deas, did not pull away from the project and stuck it out with me throughout it all.
Early life Quick Version: I am a survivor of narcissistic abuse and was the scapegoated child in my narcissistic family of origin. There was also physical abuse and sexual molestation I endured at the hands of my father. My family ostracized me for whistle-blowing about abuse, and I became a foster teen turned teen parent at 16—pretty tough stuff. However, I graduated high school early and enrolled in a 4-year university at age 17. Not to go into too much of it here, but my life was extremely challenging. I always had a fighter spirit about me, with grit and determination. I knew I was meant to overcome and endure all the obstacles I had faced. I never took my eyes off the goals and visions that dwelled within my heart and soul.
50 Cent is known for “Get Rich or Die Trying,” which I understand, especially knowing his life story. My internal philosophy is, “Focus on your visions and keep a warm heart throughout all the highs and lows in life, find a way to heal and give back, helping others through healing your trauma and sharing your story in creative ways to deliver the gift of healing, empowerment, encouragement, relatability, and validation is the real pot of gold at the end of the tunnel. Money can not be a sustainable driving motivator for humanitarian projects. Money is a possible by-product at best. The foundational driving force is the authenticity and desire to serve and heal humanity. The road will not be easy, but arriving at the finished product is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears.”
What do you think about happiness? What makes you happy? Why?
My Music Work: Creating the 17-track “No Looking Back” Music Album
🎤 My music journey story (short version)
Creating this music album project brought me so much deep-rooted healing as I was healing. So many things were falling apart: trials, tests, and tribulations. But I made it out on the other side with my family healed and appreciative of all the hell I endured to make it out on the other side. This music project is so personal and healing for anyone who was a scapegoated child and suffered from narcissistic abuse and decided that enough is enough. I came, saw, conquered, overcame, and my family was there to pick me up when I had no more steam left, cheering me on and taking over all responsibilities (except cooking) so I could rest. Jeff and the kids are my biggest fans, which is an excellent feeling. My immediate family understands the importance of advocating for mental health and trauma healing and are 100% supportive while working on healing themselves. I broke the #generationaltrauma and #curses.
I did it! You can do it too! My higher power gave me strength, along with my assigned angels. I was in a spiritual battle for 3 Years Straight! I’m exhausted but so thankful. My spiritual gifts increased as I healed, and my outlook on everything in my internal and external world evolved. I now live an utterly purpose-driven life. It’s about helping others ultimately and loving myself fully. I let God and the Universe take care of the rest. I wrap up by saying spiritual warfare is real and the road to being healed from Narcissistic Abuse, Toxic Relationships, and Complex Trauma was treacherous, but it can be done. The creative arts helped with the process of deep-rooted trauma healing tremendously. I encourage you to begin your healing journey in 2023. Recovery is contagious. Let’s keep addressing the importance of healing trauma in 2023. I also want to shout out to this album’s producers and writers. I had a worldwide team of talented musicians, writers, and producers. I’m so glad about the finished product. The album has been streaming well even though I was too ill this summer and fall to put together live shows.
Confession: When feeling down, I play my album and immediately feel understood, empowered, loved, and validated. That’s what my music does. It heals, validates, encourages, and empowers. Give the “No Looking Back” album a listen 🎧 & add your favorite tracks to your playlist. Also, share the album with those you know who could use healing journey music with a vibe.
Pricing:
- Insurance Accepted: Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Oxford, Optum, and Texas Medicaid Accepted
- Tina Rix, LMFT-S Cash Price Per Session: $180.00
- Therapist Intern Cash Price Per Session: $90
- Graduate Student Cash Price Per Session: $65
Contact Info:
