My name is Leah Alviar and I would like to share a little bit about myself with you.  Degrees, Certifications, and Professional Experience:  Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership from the University of the Incarnate Word M.A. in Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio B.S. in Generic Special Education from Our Lady of the Lake University.   I am both a Licensed Professional Counselor and certified professional school counselor with over 22 years of counseling experience.  I have held leadership roles in local, regional, and state counseling organizations, am a published author, present at local, state, and national conferences and served as editor for Ph.D. student dissertations.   Currently I am a Senior Director at the University of the Incarnate Word and teach graduate counseling courses as well as undergraduate prep courses at various universities. I previously served as the Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, an instructional designer, adjunct professor for the M.A. in Counseling program, Director of Field Experience, and assistant professor of education at OLLU, as well as professional school counselor in various ISDs in San Antonio.  I have over 15 years’ experience teaching university students in both the online and face-to-face environments and have authored courses and taught classes at the undergraduate and graduate level for over 17 years. Theoretical Perspective: Over the course of my counseling career, I have worked with people who were anxious, depressed, stressed, and simply burned out; I have helped adolescents and couples who have struggled with communication issues and relationship barriers; I have worked with families regarding parenting, abuse, grief, and death; and I have helped individuals with career planning, self-esteem building, goal setting, and wellness strategies to cope with major life changes. Throughout my work, I have used many techniques and applied multiple theories, as each person is as unique as the theories and techniques.  I am solution-focused and client-centered.  I feel the counselor serves as the guide and facilitator for the clients as they move through their journey.  I use a humanistic approach to counseling, but also integrate cognitive behavior therapy techniques as deemed appropriate.  I adapt my counseling strategies to meet the needs of the client. A Little About Me: I have been happily married to my high school sweetheart for almost 25 years and together we have three amazing sons.  We enjoy fishing, being outdoors, reading, traveling, and catching the latest movie together as a family.  When practicing self-care, I enjoy ultrarunning, reading, skydiving and quilting.  

Welcome! Thank you for reaching out and taking the first step in being vulnerable, and asking for help. You are definitely not alone. This is a safe space, so please feel free to share anything you’d like. I want to join you on this counseling journey to help you feel safe, heard, respected, and comfortable in sharing your story so that together we can help you succeed and feel better. I have a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Ball State University, and a professional counseling license in the state of Texas. I am originally from Ohio, but currently live in Clearwater, Florida with my husband and baby. Before we moved to Florida, we lived in Texas where I worked in several different locations, including a psychiatric hospital where I helped determine if people needed to be admitted or referred to outpatient counseling. Using my crisis counseling skills, I helped patients feel safe, respected, and accepted in sharing their stories of depression, anxiety, trauma, or addiction. I then worked at a private counseling practice working directly with adults and families in their homes as a mental health counselor. After they closed their doors, I worked at a non-profit mental health center using play therapy with children. After that I worked as a community-based counselor and case manager at a non-profit, certified community behavioral health center. I met with people in their homes or in the community listening to their stories, helping them work through their emotions to better make decisions for their lives. I then transitioned to a new unit at the same agency as a school-based counselor working with children at a local elementary school. I have the most experience working with people experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and low-motivation. I draw from a variety of counseling theories including person-centered counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and choice theory. It is my goal to create a safe, welcoming and caring space for you to feel free to be vulnerable in sharing your story so that we can work together in helping you succeed. It can be tough finding a counselor you feel comfortable with, so if at any time you think we’re not working well together, please do not hesitate to say so! I look forward to meeting you and joining you on your counseling journey!

Greetings everyone. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who truly believes in and is devoted to reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. I have been licensed independently since 2009 with experience in all levels of care. Prior to that, I was an associate certified Applied Behavioral Analyst and the combination of these specialities has been helpful professionally and personally. My passion is to assist you in self actualization and guide you through the recovery processes. My approach to treatment identifies the client as their own expert and I provide necessary support to achieve higher life quality. I am genuinely interested in the human experience and will do everything in my power to ensure that we all thrive and coexist.

When I was training for this profession, a professor told me that "people only change when the pain of changing is less than the pain of staying the same." That quote has always stuck with me as a constant reminder of what a big step it is to ask for help. I am glad you are here. We all have stories. They govern our lives, shape our being, cause tremendous challenge, and become catalysts for growth. I have spent my time answering the call to meet people at critical points in their lives and walk with them through difficulty. I use a combination of solution-focused and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to help people discover what works best for them. I believe in the power of the relationship between a therapist and a client. I believe in challenge and support. I believe in meeting people with compassion. I believe in humor as a therapeutic tool. I believe in harnessing your strengths to help you achieve your goals and I would love to help you do just that. That's my story. What's yours?

Hello, my name is Deborah but most people call me Debbie. I have been a Professional Counselor for 20 years and have had the opportunity to work with many interesting people so far. One of the things that is very important to me is our professional relationship. Together we will work on building trust and respect for one another so the environment is one where you feel completely safe sharing any thoughts, feelings, or ideas that you have. I will be on this journey with you, guiding you and supporting you the whole way. The goal is for you to get to that place where you have the skills, tools and thoughts to help you get to where you want to be and make your life as fulfilling as you choose. Everyone is unique and that is part of the beauty of the process, no person is like you and every thought you have is yours and any feeling is one that you can be comfortable owning. We will work at a pace that you are comfortable with and you will be challenged and given HW if this something that helps. To avoid being overwhelmed, we will be organizing each issue and tackling each bit at a time until pieces of the puzzle begin to start fitting together. I have experience working with family issues, depression, anxiety, panic, self-esteem, marital difficulties, loneliness, abandonment, trust, behavioral issues and more. I want you to know that what you say and feel is very important and you deserve to be heard, you matter. You also deserve to have that life you want. I can give you tools to work with and I can help you use them as needed for everyday life. I am eclectic in that I use different treatment modalities as needed. I may use Client Centered and then move to Behavioral Therapy and then on to Cognitive Restructuring as needed and it all comes down to what works best for you and where we are in the process. As we move forward, we will continue to work on the next hurdle until the road becomes more manageable. Every road has bumps along the way but it is how you learn to control the bumps that makes you in control of the ride. Life is YOUR journey and YOU will be in the driver’s seat. You can do this. I look forward to meeting you!

Sometimes in the journey of life we could all benefit from someone to journey with us during the difficult times. My name is Merissa and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have over eight years experience in individual counseling as well as advocacy, and mental and emotional health. I specialize in empowering individuals that may be struggling with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, or relationship issues. My main therapeutic approach includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as I believe there is so much power in learning how thoughts influence behavior and emotion and then changing those negative patterns. I also incorporate holistic counseling and solution based therapy among other treatment approaches and tailor my approach to your needs. I am empathetic, non-judgmental, and very passionate about the work I do. I enjoy being able to help others heal, grow and achieve their goals. I am excited about beginning this journey with you!

You are here, and I believe I can help you--that is the first step, reaching out. My name is Monique C. Foster, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who worked in counseling, coaching, teaching and consulting for over 15 years. It gives me great pleasure to plant seeds of hope in other people's lives. My counseling experience ranges from pediatric to adolescence, young adult to mid-life, and older to aging adults. I have a wide range of counseling and coaching experiences from educational institutions, substance recovery, and psychiatric hospitals. Besides counseling, I also was a college professor in Human Services who taught others studying to become a counselor. I am a down-to-earth counseling professional who is versatile, willing, and ready to meet my clients right where they are--dealing with their unique issues. I could write more information about me, but you will gain a first-hand phone call or video chat. I believe in building a therapeutic alliance with my clients. You will do your part, and I will do mine, and together we can improve your quality of life. Please know that I respond within 24-hours when you send me a message. I encourage clients to call 911 for all medical emergencies.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Texas. I've worked as a Social Worker for the past 9 years. Most of my experience has been in hospice and end-of-life settings. I've worked with a diverse group of clients, with a range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, coping with terminal illnesses, caregiver burnout, and compassion fatigue. My counseling style works towards the goal of creating a safe and open space with my clients. Your treatment will be specific to you and your needs to empower you to make positive changes. I'm here to help you through this journey. I look forward to meeting you!

Has Life thrown you some curve balls? Do you feel lost, distracted or unfocused? I strive to work with children, adolescents, couples, individuals, veterans, and families. Despite the presentation of the problem there can be a way for you to feel more prepared for life's challenges. I utilize Solution Focused therapy to help a client build a foundation of self efficacy, perspective, support, and balance. I hope to provide a nonjudgmental and non-bias atmosphere that facilitates healing and growth. You may seek my services if you are feeling loss or lost, anxiety, suffering, hopelessness, or insecure. Do you want to find more direction in life, improve you relationships whether familial or romantic, need a new perspective that helps you gain more insight on life and your goals for life?

I am licensed in Texas with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & career difficulties. I also have experience working with coping with life changes. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Texas with over 15 years of experience working in hospitals and the child welfare system. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, motivation and self-image issues. I also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. My main goal is to listen and support you in becoming a better and healthier you. You are the expert on your life, but it is common and easy to get stuck in our thought patterns, relationships, and careers. When we become stuck we lose sight of our goals and visions for who we really want to be and causes us to not live the most fulfilling life. I believe in treating anyone with respect, dignity, and the value they deserve. I use a blend of approaches but mostly focus on cognitive behavioral therapy and solution focused therapy. I will tailor our dialogue and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. The first step of any journey is always the hardest and the fact you are means you are looking to take that first step to getting help. You are taking the steps to becoming a healthier you and I would love to help you get there. I look forward to working with you!

I am licensed in Texas with 20 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, family conflicts, parenting issues, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Texas with 7 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, ADHD, and confidence, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in Texas with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey. **At this time, I am only able to see clients Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8am - 2pm.

Juwairiah is a Clinical Social Worker (Licensed in VA and NC). I received specialized training to be a Certified Child & Adolescent Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP-CA) Certification in 2020, I also specialize in treating depression and self-esteem related symptoms. I believes in supporting individuals with discovering their strengths, balance, and ability to thrive and enjoy life. In order to do this, she adopts an eclectic approach to therapy which includes, strength based, solution-focused, self-psychology, systems and attachment theory. For the past 8 years, she has been working as a qualified mental health professional in various cities in Virginia. She received her Bachelors in Social Work and minor in Spanish at NC State University in 2012, Master's Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016 and obtained her license in Clinical Social Work in 2019. She was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina by her Pan-African (African-American) parents and with her four sisters. She has two young sons and a loving and supportive husband. She has healthy relationships with her mother, father, brothers and sisters. Her hobbies include walking, traveling, making things out of play-dough with her sons, cooking and trying new foods, as well as learning about different cultures and history.