My approach to psychotherapy is humanistic, psycho-dynamic and relational. I view healing of the whole person as part of an individual’s natural development and growth. This therapeutic process provides an introspective, empathetic focus, aimed at understanding, removing emotional blocks and moving toward ongoing growth. After assessing the individual's concerns, needs and goals, I make psychiatric referrals when necessary for prescriptive treatment and work closely with the psychiatrist, so that collaborative treatment planning and treatment options can be considered. I believe the relationship between the client and therapist is where the most significant healing occurs. Psychotherapy becomes a creative process, incorporating mindful attentiveness to one's self as well as the self of the other. The healing of mind, body and spirit merges into a solid foundation of the integrated self. Through the use of a variety of approaches such as psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and attachment theory, I offer a warm, accepting environment for the disclosure of emotions, experiences and secrets that may be difficult to discuss or have been held inside. Throughout our work together, we will bring awareness and light to the areas of your life where you feel stuck. Therapy can be a place to unravel your life story in order to “make sense” of it. The weaving of past stories, events, feelings and traumas, with current emotions, patterns, stressors and events will enable you to integrate the past with the present.

Have you been struggling with your relationship with food and your body? Does food or your appearance make you feel anxious or guilty? Do you find food, the need to exercise or body size to be occupying all of your thoughts? You CAN change your relationship with food and your body and I would like to help. I specialize in helping people work through their anxiety and fears related to food. Creating a safe, non- judgmental environment, we can help you recover your true self. Therapy does and can work to decrease the intense feelings of guilt, shame, fear and depression. I truly believe that no one needs or deserves to suffer. I want to work with you to liberate yourself from self defeating thought and introduce you to your true power and happiness.

Career Counseling: Joan has many years of experience in career counseling, career change coaching, and academic advising—supporting experienced professionals, undergraduate and graduate students in choosing or changing careers that express who they are and in selecting appropriate educational and training programs that will move them toward their career goal. As a manager in the computer industry, she hired and trained multiple employees. As a result, she has a clear picture of the employment process from an employer’s perspective. She has also been through a lay-off and understands the financial and emotional impact a lay-off can have, as well as the opportunity it provides for a person to find a career in which one can thrive. Joan is a “poster child” for positive career change. Personal Counseling: Joan works with clients facing a variety of challenges, from anxiety and depression to self-esteem and assertiveness skills. As a life-long caregiver, Joan has a unique ability to empathize with and support caregivers in carving out a life for themselves in the face of challenging demands. Having lost her husband, a life-long friend and a sister to cancer in barely two years, she has a special gift for developing resilience in the face of family illness and loss.

It can be very anxiety-provoking to take the first steps to identify and locate a therapist. Maybe you have been searching for a Houston therapist for a few days or even weeks. Maybe you have called and hung up several times. Maybe you were taught that strong people don't need help. Maybe you think a therapist won't understand. There is no shame in seeking help. It shows strength to ask for help. It also puts you in control of your well-being. Every individual struggles with issues, which can span the spectrum from long-standing psychological disturbances to short-lived situational problems. I value you as a unique individual based on your identity and experience in life. You are the expert of your life, and I am an assistant on your journey of self-exploration, growth, and healing. Whether you are working on everyday struggles or major life dilemmas I offer an understanding ear and warm, nonjudgmental setting. We will work together to make sense of your story.

Some clients need only a few sessions to make changes, and others need longer. As your therapist, I will work with you to establish goals that are specific to your needs, not a "cookie cutter" approach. I will provide an atmosphere of support and nurture as we address your needs. I have a deep appreciation and respect for my clients' stories. My style as a therapist is characterized as respectfully curious, collaborating with clients to help transform problem-dominated stories into hopeful ones. I value my clients' experience and encourage them to pursue creative approaches to working through their situations. I have a collaborative approach to therapy, and value feminist perspectives. This approach helps clients find their voice, giving them a sense of their own power. Both men and women benefit from this perspective because it helps clients see life from a new perspective that voices creative, life-affirming stories. The most important aspect to my work is that my clients feel they have my respect and my sincere interest in their lives. I believe these two components create an environment for healing and wholeness.

Some clients need only a few sessions to make changes, and others need longer. As your therapist, I will work with you to establish goals that are specific to your needs, not a "cookie cutter" approach. I will provide an atmosphere of support and nurture as we address your needs. I have a deep appreciation and respect for my clients' stories. My style as a therapist is characterized as respectfully curious, collaborating with clients to help transform problem-dominated stories into hopeful ones. I value my clients' experience and encourage them to pursue creative approaches to working through their situations. I have a collaborative approach to therapy, and value feminist perspectives. This approach helps clients find their voice, giving them a sense of their own power. Both men and women benefit from this perspective because it helps clients see life from a new perspective that voices creative, life-affirming stories. The most important aspect to my work is that my clients feel they have my respect and my sincere interest in their lives. I believe these two components create an environment for healing and wholeness.

You're one step closer to a new you where you feel empowered and on a positive path to growth and well-being. As solution-focused therapists, our goal is to help you uncover your true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life. By applying complementary therapeutic approaches and techniques, we will unearth long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life. If you're looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you're just ready to move in a new direction in your life, we look forward to working with you to achieve your goals. Please call or email us for an individual, couples or family therapy consultation today.

Therapy for Families helps children, adolescents, adults, individuals, couples, and families by providing emotional support as well as compassionate therapy. We welcome individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, addiction, family conflict, and daily stress. There are numerous approaches to therapy, we use researched based  therapeutic models to help with your individual, couple or family situation. Our focus is for individuals to obtain self discovery and work towards peace and wholeness.

Christian Life Counseling is a team of Christian Counselors dedicated to maximizing the spiritual, emotional and physical well being of our clients though the power of Jesus Christ, the Ultimate Healer. CLC is a growing group practice in which serves individuals, families and marriages facing various emotional, relational and spiritual issues. Therapy is done from a Biblical perspective and foundation. Our team addresses a wide array of issues including but not limited to: depression, anxiety, grief-loss and transition, unresolved traumas, unhealthy habits, anger and stress management, ADHD, spiritual matters, marriage and other relationship challenges. We serve children, adolescents, adults, marriages and families. We also work closely with medical providers, churches, agencies, and schools to further assist our clients with their lives. We offer payments plans for those who qualify, an in-house billing service for their convenience and a wonderful support staff.

What Interests Me I’m interested in what we can do that can make a significant difference in your Life… --Some people see me in order to eliminate Feelings that trouble them…sometimes that’s Jealousy, Anger, Sadness, Fear, Shame, and Guilt… -- Some people see me because they’re looking to eliminate Craving, Interest, Openness, or Desire to drink or use… --Sometimes people continue to be troubled by Impressions that were left by Experiences that were difficult for them… If we could get it done, what could we get done that would make a difference for you…?

Are you feeling anxiety, stress, depression, or struggling in your relationships? Do you struggle with body image concerns or eating disorders? If so, you are not alone. These are often due to struggles of everyday life. Ask yourself the questions below and keep reading to see how together we can help you develop the skills you need to better cope with these issues. Do you worry more than most people? Have you had a panic attack? Do you obsess over certain things? Do you avoid certain situations due to anxiety? Does your anxiety prevent you from doing the things you want to do? Are you typically tense and on edge? Are you always on alert? If you have answered yes to these questions you may suffer from anxiety. As a therapist I can teach you ways to identify the thoughts, feelings and actions that maintain your anxiety. In therapy we will work on ways to change them. In addition I will teach you ways to cope with and manage your stress. Life is full of normal ups and downs. But if you have been feeling sad almost every day, most of the day for longer than 2 weeks and you are having difficulty with your normal life functioning, you may have symptoms of depression. Are you feeling sad and blue? Do you have difficulty finding enjoyment out of life? Have you had recent weight loss or weight gain? Are you having trouble with sleep? Loss of energy Difficulty concentrating or making decisions? Thoughts of suicide? If you have answered yes to several of these questions, and are feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to seek help. I will help you to understand the cause of your depression and teach you ways to improve your mood. Is your relationship in trouble? Does it lack passion? Is there constant conflict in your relationship? Do you have difficulty attaining or maintaining relationships? Are you having trouble with communication? Have you or your partner engaged in an affair? Do you seem to keep ending up with someone who ultimately disappoints you? If so, you may benefit from couples or marriage counseling. You may benefit from couples counseling if you answer yes to any of these questions. Together we can help you identify your sources of trouble. Then I can teach you the skills necessary to meet your relationship needs and improve intimacy. Do you feel depressed or uncomfortable with your appearance? Do you spend too much time worrying about what you look like? Do you replay the same negative thoughts about your body over and over in your mind? Do you evaluate your self-worth primarily by your appearance? Do you binge eat or purge? Do you severely restrict your calorie intake? Do you over exercise? Most of us have some minor dissatisfaction with the way we look. However, if you have answered yes to several of the above questions you may have poor body image or an eating disorder. When these concerns greatly impact our mood, life functioning, or intimacy in our relationships, it is time to seek help. I can help you understand the reasons behind your poor body image/eating disorder such as negative beliefs, media influences, family influences, interpersonal influences, or past abuse. Then we can work on ways to help you develop a healthy body image. Many people are reluctant to contact a therapist because they feel something needs to be seriously wrong with them. However, that is far from the truth. Most of the people who seek my services are well functioning adults that are going through a difficult time in life. If you are struggling within your relationships, having trouble dealing with strong emotions, or not functioning as well as you have in the past, you may find it beneficial to speak with a professional. Reaching out for help is actually a sign of strength.

Are you feeling anxiety, stress, depression, or struggling in your relationships? Do you struggle with body image concerns or eating disorders? If so, you are not alone. These are often due to struggles of everyday life. Ask yourself the questions below and keep reading to see how together we can help you develop the skills you need to better cope with these issues. Do you worry more than most people? Have you had a panic attack? Do you obsess over certain things? Do you avoid certain situations due to anxiety? Does your anxiety prevent you from doing the things you want to do? Are you typically tense and on edge? Are you always on alert? If you have answered yes to these questions you may suffer from anxiety. As a therapist I can teach you ways to identify the thoughts, feelings and actions that maintain your anxiety. In therapy we will work on ways to change them. In addition I will teach you ways to cope with and manage your stress. Life is full of normal ups and downs. But if you have been feeling sad almost every day, most of the day for longer than 2 weeks and you are having difficulty with your normal life functioning, you may have symptoms of depression. Are you feeling sad and blue? Do you have difficulty finding enjoyment out of life? Have you had recent weight loss or weight gain? Are you having trouble with sleep? Loss of energy Difficulty concentrating or making decisions? Thoughts of suicide? If you have answered yes to several of these questions, and are feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to seek help. I will help you to understand the cause of your depression and teach you ways to improve your mood. Is your relationship in trouble? Does it lack passion? Is there constant conflict in your relationship? Do you have difficulty attaining or maintaining relationships? Are you having trouble with communication? Have you or your partner engaged in an affair? Do you seem to keep ending up with someone who ultimately disappoints you? If so, you may benefit from couples or marriage counseling. You may benefit from couples counseling if you answer yes to any of these questions. Together we can help you identify your sources of trouble. Then I can teach you the skills necessary to meet your relationship needs and improve intimacy. Do you feel depressed or uncomfortable with your appearance? Do you spend too much time worrying about what you look like? Do you replay the same negative thoughts about your body over and over in your mind? Do you evaluate your self-worth primarily by your appearance? Do you binge eat or purge? Do you severely restrict your calorie intake? Do you over exercise? Most of us have some minor dissatisfaction with the way we look. However, if you have answered yes to several of the above questions you may have poor body image or an eating disorder. When these concerns greatly impact our mood, life functioning, or intimacy in our relationships, it is time to seek help. I can help you understand the reasons behind your poor body image/eating disorder such as negative beliefs, media influences, family influences, interpersonal influences, or past abuse. Then we can work on ways to help you develop a healthy body image. Many people are reluctant to contact a therapist because they feel something needs to be seriously wrong with them. However, that is far from the truth. Most of the people who seek my services are well functioning adults that are going through a difficult time in life. If you are struggling within your relationships, having trouble dealing with strong emotions, or not functioning as well as you have in the past, you may find it beneficial to speak with a professional. Reaching out for help is actually a sign of strength.

Clinical Focus: My therapeutic style is eclectic and active, with an emphasis on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I match the therapeutic approach to the need of the patient. With over 20 years experience helping people explore how and why they are hurting, I work with the client so that, together, we can discover hope. It is exciting to see that as we explore new beliefs, new behaviors emerge, creating new life, for themselves and their relationships. To date, my clients have ranged from four to 91 years of age. Currently I serve adult and adolescent clients, as well as couples and families. I am a confidential, caring, accepting, compassionate listener/guide who can help my client achieve a goal of understanding and change. It takes courage to face problems and begin the process of change, but change is possible in a safe, caring environment. I believe that we all have most of our answers inside of us and we only need help to find them. I accept you where you are and help you find your answers and help you reach your goal to become who you want to be.