I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. I have experience working with adults, adolescents, and children both in individual and group settings. In addition, I specialize in working with couples and families. I believe the best treatment comes from establishing trust in the therapeutic relationship. You want to make sure you feel comfortable and that I am the right fit for you as a counselor. In counseling, I aim to be supportive and compassionate, while actively listening to and respecting the issues that my clients are facing. I want to meet my clients where they are at, whether it be in struggles or encouraging achievements as counseling progresses. My counseling style combines strength-based, cognitive-behavioral, and solution-focused approaches to help individuals achieve their therapeutic goals. Identifying one's strengths and coping skills that can be used to help work through various issues is an important part of my therapy approach. In counseling, I want to see my clients have hope for their future, and that from the therapeutic relationship that they gain skills and confidence to manage what may come in life. If you feel like I would be the right counselor for you, I would be honored to work with you.

My name is Laura Salazar, and I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor for Illinois and Texas with over nine years of experience. You are the expert on your own life. I am an expert in helping you outline and achieve your goals. Therapy is intended to prepare you for working through your life's issues as they happen with empowerment and knowledge. I would be honored if you would choose me to provide you with the tools to build the kind of life you want to have. Together, we will create treatment plans outlining what you would like to accomplish in therapy. Based on those goals, I will use evidence based treatments that match with each goal. What I tend to use most often are Rogerian Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialetical Behavioral Therapy, Constructivism, and Art Therapy techniques. I have the most experience with depression, anxiety, stress management, grief/loss, trauma/abuse, self-esteem, intimacy/couples issues, and behavior change.

I am glad that you have decided to take a proactive step for your personal healing and growth. Managing life's battles can be overwhelming and inherently all-consuming. I am a direct, solution focused and client centered when it comes to working with people who are seeking treatment related to substance use/addiction disorders, family/relational conflict, dealing with trauma, grief or purposeful living, life transitions, case management, as well as working with teens, emerging and aging adults. Our sessions can range from helping manage fear that may cause immobility or clouding our brightest path to addressing coping skills to better navigate relapse, improving communication or building insight for positive behavior and purpose. Managing life's battles can be overwhelming and inherently all-consuming. I am direct, solution focused and client centered when it comes to working with people who are seeking treatment related to substance use/addiction disorders, family/relational conflict, trauma, grief, purposeful living, life transitions, case management, as well as working with teens, emerging adults. Our sessions can range from helping manage fear to developing better coping skills to better navigate your presenting problem, improving communication, and building insight for more positive behavior and purpose. My modalities vary depending on the need of the client. In my practice, I focus on a holistic lifestyle to attain mental clarity, overall wellness and increasing desired outcomes by implementing my 'MEDS' approach; Mindfulness, Exercise, Diet and Sleep. We will do this by assessing treatment objectives and tracking goals. I'm a native of Chicago and grew up in the heart of the Midwest. I have lived and worked in Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean I have been active working as a middle and high school counselor, a therapist for Integral Care of Austin, and more recently in private practice. After 20 years in the field, my resources and approaches to therapy are designed to specifically address your needs as you define them. We will utilize a variety of didactic and psycho-therapeutic modalities throughout our sessions along with assigned homework. We will work together to facilitate personal insight and a better understanding of your struggle(s) and equip you with a variety of tools to promote healing and growth. I will encourage you to be an active participant in this process. I applaud you for taking this much needed step at this point in your life. It takes a lot of courage!

My name is Karen Medlock. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both Texas and Louisiana. I have two Masters' Degrees, one in Social Work and one in Theology. I take a holistic approach with my clients. I have worked with all age groups, from three years old all the way in the eighties. Yes, I have been around awhile. I have teaching certifications in Michigan and taught Kindergarten through twelfth grade. The experiences I had as a teacher were tremendous and very helpful in my therapeutic relationships with adolescents and teenagers. I enjoy working with all age groups and totally enjoy diversity in culture, race and sexual orientation. I ran and did sexual offender treatment with male adult offenders at Norton Correctional Center in Norton, Kansas, which gave me a great magnitude of skills in addiction treatment, running groups and providing psycho-social classes in multitudes of topics. I would have to say working with inmates in state prisons is very rewarding for me because I can now view them as people with problems from the past that have never been dealt with for the most part. Also, I have much experience in helping people work through trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, including the severe panic attacks that occur. I have worked extensively with grief and loss. I am very excited to be a part of Better Help because it is a way for people who need help to access me at various times via text, phone or video. It is a good medium for all those who are a bit shy to meet in person (or aren't ready) or have tight schedules. I am very excited to work with you! I am quite a laid-back therapist, and always respond to where you are in your life-path. We all are on personal life journeys...let's use this time to explore and traverse new worlds and paths! I will help you develop your strengths and accompany you on your journey.

I have been counseling in the mental health field for 37 years. I utilize my training as a registered art therapist to put creativity (both my own, and my client's) to work in problem solving and gaining different perspectives on the unique difficulties he or she may be dealing with . Depression, anxiety, feeling unloved or unappreciated, feelings of anger, resentment, guilt, sorrow..,,,poor coping skills as a result of unacknowledged trauma…all these things and many more can be healed. I strive for my clients to gain hope and optimism during the first session. My approach is warm and humanistic; I use humor and compassion freely, and have come to believe that both of these qualities are essential for personal growth, healing and resilience. I am influenced by Jungian theory, as well as Native American spirituality. Both of these life outlooks consider balance, respect of differences, and gratitude as important to a happy life. In addition, neither of these traditions shy away from facing the darker sides of our personalities, recognizing that denial only keeps a person stuck, ……..while allowing the light of awareness to illuminate our dark sides can bring the reward of greater self-knowledge, personal growth and authentic living. I may ask you to have markers and paper nearby at times, to help symbolize a problem or relationship, express feelings, or create a 'map' of a situation or problem. Please embrace this idea with an open mind, as no talent whatsoever is required to make marks on paper. I look forward to assisting you on your path of loving yourself and others more, releasing pain, seeing more reasons for laughter and gratitude, and healing old wounds whose time has come to be healed.

Hi there, my name is Kathy Pratt and I am a licensed clinical social worker, substance abuse professional, and a certified clinical supervisor. I have over 20 years of experience in the mental health field in a clinical setting. I have worked with inpatient hospital clients as well as outpatient. I have an expertise in drug and alcohol and dual diagnosis issues as well as anxiety ,depression and family issues. My style is warm and supportive and I am willing to challenge you to think and participate in your treatment. My primary modality is cognitive behavioral therapy, rationale emotive therapy, reality therapy and attachment theory. I believe that not one modality is beneficial for all and providing the appropriate modality for each individual person is of the utmost importance. If you are committed to improving the quality of your life and the way you see your life you will find support, empowerment and quality services that you deserve here. Let's schedule our first session !

My name Is Marisa Esparza. I am a licensed LPC in Texas. I completed my Masters of Education in Mental Health Counseling from University of Texas at El Paso in December 2015 and have a Bachelors in Education from the University of Texas at El Paso in May 2011. I have worked in several settings that I feel allow me the advantage to recognize the barriers and conflicts with receiving mental health treatment. My most recent position at El Paso Behavioral Health systems includes: Program manager children and adolescents inpatient unit, Program manager adult and military outpatient group, Program manager adolescent outpatient group. In this position I was able to Work collaboratively with patients, medical staff, and families to help stabilize high risk children and adults. I Provided psychological assessments and risk assessments to determine needs and communicate with medical staff. I facilitated daily groups as well as family sessions. I worked collaboratively with treatment teams and attended to emergency crisis on unit. I was able to build rapport with adult and children and provide verbal deescalation when in crisis. I assisted with medical staff and treatment team to determine safety in community. Previously I worked s a qualified mental health professional on the Assertive Community Treatment Team I provided individual psychiatric rehabilitative skills training and crisis assessment/management in consumers's homes and in the community. I provided ongoing assessment, preliminary diagnosis of present Axis 1 psychiatric and co-occurring disorders. My job required coordinating of community resources to assist in assessing medical, social, educational, financial, and other appropriate services that help in achieving an improved quality of life, increase tenure in the community, and decrease the need for unnecessary inpatient hospitalization. Throughout my internship at El Paso Behavioral Health,I developed the necessary skills in order to work effectively with children, adolescents, adults, military, and seniors. Through my course work I was able to gain an understanding of mental health, chemical dependency, crisis counseling, as well as other areas of counseling. I was able to effectively apply counseling for clients experiencing psychological, social, behavioral, and emotional issues. As an intern I worked primarily in the Children and Adolescent Unit, I counseled with emphasis on Reality Therapy. I worked with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. I ran group therapy sessions, completed assessments, took risk assessments, shadowed treatments teams, and attended family sessions. As a Mental Health Technician in the Children and Adolescent Unit, I helped admit and discharge patients. I maintained close contact with them, and monitored vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. I observed patient behaviors, recorded their conditions and lead them in therapeutic and recreational activities. I regularly consulted with RN’s, LVN’s, social workers, Dr.’s, and therapists. I am confident in my skills and abilities and am willing to work with all populations. I have a deep passion for working with adolescents, young adults, and their families. It has been in my experience that there is a disconnect in communication and world views. I am a LGBTQIA advocate and passionate about empowering youth exploring their identity as well as educating families. I have been able to explore several populations within inpatient hospitals, out patient settings, and the community. This advantage has allowed me to grow as a clinician and empathize with all my patient populations better.

I am licensed in Texas with 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, & depression. I also have experience working with executive and professional coaching. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. 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 licensed in Texas with 10 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. 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 licensed in Texas with more than 30 years of professional work experience. I have experience counseling teens and adults who have experienced trauma of all kinds, stress and anxiety, abuse, anger management, mental health issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence. 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 sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!