Lavelda Naylor, MA LMFTA
Existential-Cognitive Therapy: Individual, Couples, Family
Specializing in Anxiety, Mood, and Conflict Management
We all must struggle as we go through life. Yet, I see humans as remarkable and find that we can effectively handle many complex problems when we feel supported and understood. Thus, I offer a non-judgmental environment in which to explore your relationship with the world, the self, and important others in your life. If you choose to come see me, together we will try to better understand the issues you face and how you experience the world. Along the way, we will build new skills and make new meaning together.
While I work with a wide range of issues, I specialize in anxiety and mood disorders, adult giftedness issues, and couples/family dynamics (including LGTB dynamics). My therapy approach is integrative, which allows me to better account for each client's personalized way of being in the world and design a treatment plan that is uniquely tailored to the way the issues at hand are being experienced by you. I often start with the most urgent need, like a problematic behavior, and work towards a deeper understanding of the problem experiences, like thoughts, feelings, and values surrounding the issues. My favorite techniques are those that combine mindfulness based cognitive therapies with existential explorations of the self.
As a marriage and family therapist, I most enjoy working with the Satir Model to address relational functioning. This model suggests that when safety to be authentic is absent in a family or couple, there is often a sense of being trapped or stuck that can increase conflict, encourage poor choice selection, decrease self esteem, and increase negative thinking. When safety to be authentic is present, there is an overall sense of well being that allows for better conflict management, positive meaning making, good self esteem, and more fulfilling choice selection. Goals of the model are to increase awareness, acceptance, responsibility, and positive thinking and communication skills so problems can be solved more effectively and harmoniously. I have found couples in particular to benefit from the model and be able to deepen partner intimacy by improving acceptance of each other and improving communication about the self.
Education/Training
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists
License Number 202002
Master’s of Arts
St Mary’s University, Graduate School of Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy
Distinguished Graduate
Bachelor of Arts
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), Psychology
Summa Cum Laude
Egregia cum Laude (with Thesis)
Bio
In keeping with an integrative approach, I promote a research-practitioner model in my practice. I stay abreast of current research findings and often inform treatment plans with research-driven techniques. As a researcher myself, I have investigated attentional control mechanisms, the bilingual brain, and ADHD medication attrition. My current research interests are in video game play therapy, technology's impact on treatment outcomes, and group therapy efficacy for health impaired populations. Links to participate in current research will be included on this webpage when available. In keeping with my research driven perspective on being a mental health professional, I founded The Key Counseling Services of SA. In addition to therapy services, we offer a variety of professional consulting services, such as research planning, professional editing, curriculum design, etc. Please contact us if you are interested in a collaboration. Publications/Presentations:
Pillow, D., Naylor, L., & Malone, G. (2012). Beliefs Regarding Stimulant Medication Effects Among College Students with a History of Past or Current Usage. Journal of Attention Disorder, DOI:10.1
Naylor, L., Stanley, E., & Wicha, N. (2012). Cognitive and neural correlates of the bilingual Stroop effect: Evidence from behavior and event-related potentials. Frontiers in Cognition,3, 81. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00081
David R. Pillow, Glenn P. Malone, Lavelda Bradley (Naylor), & Cristina Cadena (2010). Beliefs Regarding Stimulant Medication Effects Predict Patterns of Use in college Students. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Boston, MA.
(Naylor) Bradley, L., Stanely, E., & Wicha, N. Y.Y. (2009). De Colores: An ERP study of cross-language interference using a bilingual color-Stroop task. Presented at the annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, CA.
Bradley, L. & Pillow, D. (2009).
Pillow, D. & (Naylor) Bradley, L. (2008). Predicting Stimulant Medication Use in College Students with AD/HD. Presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, San Antonio, TX.
Memberships
AAMFT
Payments Accepted
Cash, Check, MC, Visa, PayPal
Hours:Tues-Sat, Hours vary. Visit Website.
Cost/Session
$40-80.00/hour, sliding scale basis.
License:LMFTA, 202002
Helpful Links
 Blog posts about therapeutic issues and interventions I often work with:
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Practice Areas/Issues Treated
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Therapy
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Life Transitions
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Adolescents
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Loneliness
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Anger Management
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Marriage & Family Therapy
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Anxiety and Panic
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Marriage Counseling
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Caregiver Issues
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Men's Issues
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Couples
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Online / Teletherapy
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Depression
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Premarital Counseling
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Divorce
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Relationship Issues
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Gay or Lesbian Issues
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Self-Esteem Issues
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Gender Identity / Transgenderism
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Stress Management
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Gifted / Talented Issues
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Women's Issues
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Grief and Loss
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Work and Career Issues
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Group Therapy
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Licenses/Certifications
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Marriage and Family Therapist Registered Intern (MFTI)
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