Mental Health & Child Welfare Stakeholders Sign-on Letter
Joint Statement from Mental Health and Child Welfare Stakeholders: Remaining Committed to Supporting Gender Affirming Care
In response to the February 18, 2022 non-binding opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and subsequent letter from Governor Greg Abbott to Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jaime Masters, the undersigned 56 mental health organizations, child welfare organizations, and advocates write to express intense concern about any further action that would, by policy, practice, or statute, define gender-affirming care as child abuse and/or neglect. Any attempt to characterize gender-affirming care, including medical and mental health treatment, as “child abuse” carries significant potential negative consequences for families, transgender children and adults, mental health and medical professionals, as well as for professionals working in and around the child welfare system.
The undersigned group of stakeholders has remained opposed to any redefining of child abuse, including through proposed legislation filed during the 87th Legislative Session and in response to Commissioner Jaime Masters’ August 11, 2021 letter to Governor Greg Abbott regarding investigating child abuse. We will continue to oppose any such changes, as we know that this puts children and youths’ lives in danger and will punish families for providing care that has been determined by trained and licensed professionals to be medically appropriate and necessary for their child.
According to a national survey conducted by the Trevor Project, 94 percent of LGBTQ+ youth report that such actions have negatively impacted their mental healthi. Equating gender-affirming care with child abuse in any form goes against evidence-based practices, misleads the public, generates needless confusion, causes potential professional liability for mandatory reporters, and creates unnecessary barriers to accessing medical care for trans and gender diverse youth - barriers which are clearly and demonstrably associated with substantial risk of harm to children and adolescents.
All credible, major medical associations and mental health professional associations such as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryAmerican Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, believe that gender-affirming care for transgender youth is life-saving, best-practice, and medically necessary based on currently available research evidence; the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of Social Workers, and the American Counseling Association also support medical gender affirming care as best practice for transgender and gender diverse youth. These positions are well grounded in medical and social science literature. Although transgender youth experience higher rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-harm when their health and mental health care needs are not met, rates of mental illness and suicide decrease when youth are accepted, affirmed by who they are by parents, schools, and peers, and provided with appropriate medically necessary care.
Collectively we are concerned about any change equating gender-affirming care to child abuse because of broader implications for the child welfare system. Classifying gender-affirming medical and mental health care as child abuse creates unnecessary stress on families, preventing children and adolescents from receiving the evidence-based, lifesaving, and medically necessary care they need, due to the looming threat of targeted and undue DFPS reports and investigations. The potential for families to suffer unintended consequences of a referral - including loss of employment, prevention from future employment or even the ability to adopt a child - are significant if a parent ends up on the child abuse registry.
Beyond investigations, if gender-affirming care is classified as child abuse, children could be removed from protective parents who are prudently following professional medical and mental health recommendations. Such removals constitute an impermissible intrusion by the state government into the lives of private citizens and caring families. This will infringe upon parents’ rights and freedom to make critical healthcare decisions, made in consultation with qualified providers, they deem is in the best interest of their child. LGBTQ+ youth are already 3x more likely to enter foster care than their non- LGBTQ+ peers. LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to enter care for reasons related to family hostility and less likely to enter for things like parental substance use that generally drives children into the foster care system. We should not push transgender youth into the foster care system at a time when there is broad bi-partisan aupport, and recently enacted federal legislatoin under the Families First Prevention and Services Act (FFPSA), to reduce the number of children and families involved in the child welfare system. Importantly, we should not push transgender youth into the foster care system in the midst of an ongoing foster care placement crisis.
Any interpretation of child abuse to include gender-affirming care would negatively impact foster care staff and agencies, including those working in residential settings who are responsible for the safety and well-being of youth in their care. These agencies are not only responsible for faciliting medical care for the children they serve, but also for helping them heal and thrive. LGBTQ+ youth in foster care experience more instability and are less likely to be reunited with their biological family, adopted, or placed in kinship care. Additionally, they are more likely to be place in group care facilities. Through testimony and reports in the federal lawsuit against Texas foster care system, we have seen that these facilities often pose a greater risk of harm to children ranging from further physical and sexual victimization to preventable death. As recently as February 14, 2022, the Department itself has committed to develop guiding principles that support LGBTQ + youth in its care, and to do so by February 28, 2022. LGBTQ+ youth in foster care are at heightened risk of ongoing trauma while in the state's care, including physical and sexual abuse. LGBTQ+ youth in foster care also experience higher rates of homelessness and often view the streets as a safer alternative to foster care. We should not make it harder for foster care providers to care for transgender youth in a well manner.
We ask the Governor’s office and the Department of Family and Protective Services to consider the dire consequences, given the issues involved in the Texas federal foster care litigation and the Department’s recent problems involving Children Without Placement (CWOP), of interpreting the definition of child abuse to include gender affirming practices. We ask that the Governor’s office and DFPS seriously consider this information and withdraw any determination to equate gender-affirming care with child abuse.
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Stanley, A., Vincent, P., & Meltzer, J. (2022, January 10). Recommendations for improving Texas’ Safe Placement and Services for Children, Youth and Families: A Report of the Expert Panel Appointed under the Collaborative Agreement of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and the M.D. v. Abbott Plaintiffs. Available at https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/tx-foster-expert-panel-report.pdf On page 15, the Panelists recommended that DFPS develop guiding principles based on values that among other things ensure that "The system . . . provide equitable and just treatment for all, by addressing racism and eliminating practices that add trauma to vulnerable children, including those who identify as LGBTQ." DFPS committed to doing this in their response dated February 11, 2022, which was filed with the federal court on February 14. Specifically, in their response, they said, "1) Develop Guiding Principles, Page No. 14. The state should immediately adopt a set of shared values and principles that guides their work in eliminating the problem of children without placement. HHSC/DFPS Response: HHSC and DFPS are working together to implement this recommendation. Timeline: HHSC and DFPS expect to have the Guiding Principles completed by no later than February 28, 2022."
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Organizational Signers
Borderland Rainbow Center
Equality Texas
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Texas
National Association of Social Workers - Texas Chapter
Young Invincibles
Plumeria Counseling Center
GT Therapy Group, PLLC
Discovery Counseling Austin, PLLC
Austin Teen Therapy, PLLC
Austin City Counseling, LLC
Inclusive Therapists
Texas Counseling Association
Moving Parts Psychotherapy PLLC
Willow Tree Collective, PLLC
Wild Cactus Therapy, PLLC
Colors of Austin Counseling, PLLC
Ecotherapy Austin PLLC
Ample and Rooted, PLLC
Violet Crown Therapy - Austin, LLC
Deep Eddy Psychotherapy, PLLC
Bat City Counseling, LLC
Embracing Hope Counseling & Family Services PLLC
Pediatric Treatment Group
Peaceful Living Counseling and Wellness
Texas Working At The Intersection for Safe Families
Texas Society for Clinical Social Work
Anxiety Treatment Center of Austin, PLLC
Tonality Counseling, PLLC
Salvation Army
Inherent Wisdom Therapy, PLLC
Austin Counseling and Trauma Specialists, PLLC
Ovation Integrative Care, PLLC
Austin DBT Associates, PA
Strong Roots Psychotherapy, PLLC
Center for Survivors of Torture
Austin LGBTQIA2+ Elder Task Force
Embrace Austin
Ilumina Counseling, PLLC
Enhancing Intimacy Austin, Individual & Relationship Counseling
Austin Women’s Counseling, LLC
Ola Wellness, PLLC
Therapy Austin, PLLC
Clarity Child Guidance Center
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
Culture in Mind, PLLC
Texas School Nurses Organization
Austin Concierge Therapy
Greenbrier Counseling
Texans Care for Children
True North Wellness, PLLC
Dugan Psychotherapy, PLLC
Tahirih Justice Center
Transgender Education Network of Texas
Austin Counseling and Nutrition, LLC
Family Eldercare
Red Koala Counseling
Individual Signers
Micki Washburn, PhD, LMSW, MAll, LPC-S
Irene Arlette Werthmann, LCSW
Karen J. Langsley, JD, CWLS*
*Child Welfare Law Specialist, certified by the National Association of Counsel for Children and the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Jessica Sanchez, MSW, MEd
Elizabeth A Felthous, LPC
Brittanie Ash, MSW, PhD
Erin Underbrink Newins, PhD
Jessica Begans, LCSW
Courtney Gilkison, LPC Intern
Catelyn Devlin, LMSW, LCPAA-I
Nancy Sullivan SPED Teacher
Katie Malinski, LCSW-S
Devyn Box, MA, LMSW
Blake Tierney, MA
Michelle Zadrozny, LCSW-S
Rebecca Cole, LCSW-S
Blake Howard Norton, LMFT-S
Kyler Shumway, PsyD
Amy Odin, LCSW
Rebekah Kate Coffield, LCSW
Renee Brown, LCSW
Sarah Jones Park, LCSW-S, CDWF
John Nowicki, LCSW-S
Megan A. Mooney, PhD
Maura Kinney, LMSW
Elizabeth Duffey, LMSW
Jessica Deimler, LCSW
Lindsay G Camp, LMFT
Christian A Littlejohn
Gianna Viola, LCSW-S
Katy Manganella, LPC
Courtney Harris, M.Ed.
Charmecia Morris, LPC
Tanya N. Rollins, MSW
Brenda Risch, PhD, LCSW
Jennifer Wilhelm LCSW-S
Brian Kunde, LCSW
Carly Bassett, LCSW-S
Sarah Aberg, LCSW-S
Ashley Heidebrecht, LMSW
De’An Roper, PhD, LCSW-S
Jessica Chester, CD(DONA), CHWI, CHW, CLC, CPST
Laura Reid, CHW
Charlotte Howard, Ph.D.
Melanie (JaeHee) Chung-Sherman, LCSW-S
Ilyse Kennedy, LPC, LMFT, PMH-C
Ashlyn Riley, LPC, LCDC
Marilyn Adams, LCSW
Emily Kerzin, PhD
Meg Mattingly, LPC
Soledad Gonzalez, Middle School Teacher
Marie Gray, LPC-S
Hannah Stewart, MS
Elizabeth Kotin, PsyD
Ian Woodwick, PsyD
Ashley Taylor, LPC
David Hutsell, PsyD
Sally Lineback, PhD
Lauren David, PhD
Brian Trager, PsyD
Robyn Trimborn, LPC
Rachel Villareal
Ernesto Villalobos, SPED Teacher
Paige Avedician
Caitlin Coyner, LCSW-S
Shannon Haragan, LPC
Vanessa Newton, LCSW-S
Kerry S. Walker, MA, LPC
Elizabeth Baker, LCSW-S
William Shoaf, Middle School Teacher
Erin K. Ebert, LCSW-S
Rachel McCarthy, PsyD
Tess Lipscomb, LMSW
Stephanie Banuelos, PhD
Celine Redfield, LMFT+ ATR
Elizabeth Robles, LPC, CT
Cristopher Zubia, M.S. LPC- A
Stephanie Otero
Alexandra Gomez, M.A. LPC-A
Anna Cohen, LCSW
Savannah Parnell, LCSW-S
Diane M Harvey, LCSW
Amber Jekot, LCSW, RPT, Mdiv
Laura Conner, M.S., LPC
Monica Lenker, LCSW-S
Michael Azarani, PhD
Nooshin Valizadeh, Ed.D, MBA
Anoosh Razian, LCSW
Leah McCollum, LCSW-S
Samantha Meyer, M. Ed., LPC
David C. Smith
Jaime Caplis, LICSW
Julie Hsu, PhD
Harriet Stares, PsyD
Daniel Singelyn, PsyD
Victoria Reyna, M.A., LPC.
Shawn Walker
Zarina Moreno, LCSW
Annie Farmer, PhD
Alice Bradley-Harmon. LCSW
Sheena Yazdandoost, LCSW
Charlotte Mulgrew, LPC
Alicia Soto, LMFT
Neathery Falchuk, LCSW-S, CGP
Amanda Pouncy-Ross, LMSW
Jenna Bock, LMSW
Dana Reichman, LMSW
Alison Clifton, LMSW
Sarah-Louise Leyva
Julie Falchuk, LMSW
Monica Munoz, PsyD, LP, LSSP
Jessie Lewis, LCSW
Maureen Havelka LCSW-S
Colleen Bardelli, LMHC, LPC
Natalie Kretsch, PhD
Julie Burke, LPC
Karen R. Mengden, PhD
Alison Devlin, M.A., LPC
Bri Craig, LMFT
Lindsay Legé, LCSW-S
Erica Heller, LCSW, LCDC
Julie C Carolan
Greg Hansch, LMSW
Catherine Ferguson-Mappus, LMSW
Shelly Hogan, LMFT
Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen, PhD, MPH
Janna Greeson, PhD
Stacy Nakell, LCSW
Inbal kleinerman, PhD,
Spenser Crain, LPC
Shawna Williams, LCSW
Angie Lutts, LCSW-S
Morgan Rupe, LPC
Hannah Alexander, M.A.
Taylor Vest, LPC-Associate
Morgan Shingle, LMSW
Sara Bushey-Reyes, LPC
Claire Griffy, LPC
Paola Ortiz, LMFT
Catherine LaBrenz, PhD, LMSW
Andrew Fernandez, LMFT Associate, LPC Associate
Alice E. "Bess" Green, LPC AT/S
Christopher Scott, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Marianela Dornhecker, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Megan Morris, LCSW
Miranda Nadeau, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Megan Hunter, LCSW
Brooklie Benson Gonzales, LPC
Natalia Amari, LCSW
J. Aaron Waggoner, PhD, High School Teacher
Marie Carlson, Ph.D.
Marian Thompson, LCSW
Grace Shook. LPC
Alexandra Rosen, LMSW
Maria Cordero Robinson, LPC-A
Bianca Segura, LMFT Associate
Leslie Vaughn, LPC-A
Callye Lawrence, LPC
Anastasia McAteer, LMFT, LPC
Eva Lorini, LPC
Abby Lubran, LCSW
Joel Sanchez, LCSW
Kristal DeSantis, LMFT, Guardian Ad Litem -Travis County
Richard Hoefer, Ph.D.
Jason York, LPC
Annette Morales, LCSW
Victoria Elizarde, LCSW
Candyce Ossefort-Russell, LPC-S
Katie Green, LPC Associate
Edgar Talavera LMSW
Alison Mullett, B.A., M.Ed., LPC
Maricela Salazar, LCSW
William Rain-Shadid, LMSW
Rociel Martinez, Psy.D.
Stephanie Stoeckl, MA, LPC
Crystal Morales, LMSW
Alex Parnell, LMFT
Wendi Kozlowski, LPC-S
Karen E Hill, MD, MBA, FACP, FAAP
Kaleigh J. Blanchard, LPC-A
Linda Mockeridge, LCSW
Fabiola Ekleberry, LPC-S, NCC
Ellen Lindsey, LCSW
Norma W. Reed, MSW, LCSW-S, LSOTP-S, BCD
Monrovia Van Hoose, LCSW
Ussama Taha, LMSW
Irek Banaczyk, LMSW
Catherine Mok, LMSW
Jenna L. Steen, LPC
Kathleen Fahrner, Ph.D.
Melissa Davis, LMSW
Melanie Dyer, LPC
Vanessa Gill, LPC
Katherine Collier, LMSW
Danielle Hayes, LCSW
Elena Espinoza, A.A, Elementary School Tutor
Caitlin O'Keefe
Jason Mallonee, DSW, LCSW
Erin Clark, RD, LD
Dakota Milloway, LMSW
Michelle Silva Segura, LPC-S, LMFT-S, SEP
James A. Baker, LPC Associate
Michael J. Balsan, Ph.D.
Monica Faulkner, Ph.D., LMSW
Shana Varnell, Psy.D.
Courtney Caudill, LMSW
Ana De Leon, LPC-A
Darrell Wiggins
Kalila Homann, LPC-S
Seja Rachael, LPC-S
Eden Stone, LPC-A
Mark Lusk, Ed.D., LMSW
Bernadette Pinon, LPC
Stephanie Blackburn, LMSW
Asha Ramkumar, LMSW
Deborah Torrey Fisher, MS, RDN, LD
Amalia Monica Segura, M.Ed, LPC
Jorie Himmel, PsyD
Sandy Magaña, MSW, PhD
Natalie Fikac, EdD
Caitlin Gannon, Ph.D.
Michele Sharon, MS, LPC
Tanya Voss, MSSW
Dante Daniel Vargas, LBSW
Megan Campbell, MSW
Mary Beer, LCSW-S
Lauren Gulbas, PhD
Terry Greenberg
Melissa Quackenbush, LMSW
Cindy Martinez, LCSW
Paula Morales
Cory Morris, MSW
Anacani Gonzalez, MSW
Ashleigh Moses
Natasha Horner, LMFT-Associate, LPC-Associate
Uriel Navarrete, PsyD
Julia Pynes
Cheri Yadon M.Ed. LPC LMHC
Ashlyn Bellamy, LMFT Associate
Alyssa Baker, MSW, LICSW
Jairo Leon
Melissa L. Trejo
Sara Bybee, LCSW, PhD
Calandra Bradford
Tamera Linseisen, ACSW, LCSW-S
Tessandra Lancaster
Diana Damer, Ph.D.
Nicholas Taylor, Ph.D.
Rachel Goold
Tiffany Adeigbe, PsyD
Julieta Caamano
Margaret Ainsworth
Destiny Garza
Barbara Ball, Ph.D, LPC
Whitney Wheeler, PhD
Lisa Gianandrea, LPC Associate
James Green
Brooke Robb, LPC
Anna Wasim, LMSW
Elizabeth Brown, early childhood educator
Beth Lewis, LPC
Patrick Lloyd, LMSW
Farya Phillips, PhD, CCLS
Ashley Welch
Kayla Chauvin, LPC-A
Megan Case
Erin Nielsen, LCSW
Ryan Smith, LPC, NCC
Kate Cotnam, LPC
Chauncey Stephens
Austin Chatillon-Reed, LMSW
Andrea Zarate
Erika Esquivel, LPC
Jay Treloggen
Marian Mahaffey, LMSW-AP
Beatriz Vera, BSW, MA
Patricia A. Cody, PhD, MSW
Rachel Sixkiller Maccabee, MS, NCPM
Ashlyn Simmons, LMSW
Sarah Shah, LPC
Farah Hussain Asghar, LMSW
Ryan P. Douglas, Ph.D.
Caroline Touma
Christopher Bobicchio, Graduate Social Work Intern for Cap City Kids
Clara Hayes, Graduate Counseling Intern
Aaron Geringer, LPCC
Suzanne Potts, LMSW, MPH
Deanna Shahady, LMFT Associate
Hannah O’Brien, MSSW
Emily Gardner, MS, CTRS
Jennifer Rae Comeau, LPC
Sara Hammond, LMSW, JD
Maggie Manning, LCSW
Megan Fox Navarro, LCSW
Miranda Nolen, JD, LMSW
Rachel Jacobs, LCSW
Lauren “Ren” Reed, LMFT Associate, LPC Associate
Tiffany Dancer, LPC-S
Kaity Dallas, MA, LMFT-Associate, LPC-Associate
Kady Maxwell Wise, MA, LPC Associate
Cossy Hough, LCSW
May Matson Taylor, Ph.D.
Hannah Godbout PsyD, LP, Counseling Center director
Adam McCormick, MSSW, PhD
Brian Ellis, DISD
Ariane Corcoran, LMFT, LPC
Clarissa Pedraza, LMSW
Carly Boland, LMSW
Laurie Cook Heffron, PhD, LMSW
Larisa Corder, LMSW
Chelsea DeBernardis, LMSW
Samantha Zuniga Thompson, LCSW-S
Samraat Saxena, MPH, CHES®
Michael D. Romero, LCSW-S
Heissel Herrera, LMSW
Kaleigh R. Emerson, MPH
Ricky Waite, LMSW
Maria Martinez, LCSW
Karli Kucko, LPC-A
Annelisa Pedersen, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
Ariel Wilson, MFA
Denise Garcia, PMHNP-BC
Maggie Weisenberger, LCSW-S
Jael Williams, RN
Matthew Steele, RN
Jamie Falco, LPC
Tiffany Nicely-Williams, LCSW
Hannah Sims, LPC, CCTP
Jamie Delgado, LPC, NCC
Jill Baumgarner, LPC
Haley Marshall, LCSW
Cassandra Mendoza, MSW
Peyton Jones, PsyD
Karen R. Mendoza, LCSW-S
Sheridan Aguilar, Graduate Social Work Intern
Hannah Bobker, MSSW Graduate Student
Natalie Beck Aguilera, DSW, LCSW-S
Becky Morales, LCSW-S
Ursula Fernandez, LMSW
Laura Sandoval-Sweeney, LCSW
Kathy Armenta, LCSW, ACSW
James Butler, M.Ed.
James Baker, MPH Graduate Student, Sexual Health profressional.
Noell Busch-Armendariz, PhD, LMSW, MPA
Korin Schruben, LCSW
Brittany Houston, PsyD
Kimberly Bird, LMFT, LPC
Heather Hart Gause, LCSW
Sarah Torok, PharmD, RPh
Nadia Velasquez, LCSW
Celestie Nguyen, LMSW
Shannon Rueter, LCSW
Halana Kaleel, MPH Graduate Student, Public Health Educator
Emily Shelton, MSW Candidate
Beth Gerlach, PhD, LCSW
Giana Martinez, M.S., LPC-Associate
Joan Powell, case aide,
Valerie Whiting, LCSW-S
Monica R-Graham, PsyD, LPC-S
Krystal Green, LPC
Jessi Davis, MHPS, RSPS
Gina Torres, LCSW
Karlie Rowley, LPC-A
Ashley Brignac, MD
Cheryl Young, LCSW-S
Stephanie Garcia, LPC
Ana Vidina Hernández, MSSW, MA
Drew Dubcak, M.Ed., LPC, LCDC
Kyle Harmon, LMSW
Christine Schumacher LMSW
Sara Balkanli, LPC Associate
Pamela Geisinger LPC-S
Sabrina Smith, LCSW-S
Alyiah Plummer, LPC Graduate Student Intern
Victoria Shepard, MD
Catherine Dilger, LPC
Molly Lopez, PhD
Carolina Machado, MSW Candidate
Stephanie Waitt, LPC, CEDS
Monette Woods, LPC
Mary Mulvaney, LMSW, ACSW, Clinical Professor Emerita
Nicole Meitzen, LCSW
Maricela Mayo Roller, LMFT-A
Angela Vallejo, RN
Jenna Burns, LPC
Debra Burkhardt, LCSW
Keri Riggs MA, LPC-S
Emily D. Harrington-Cheney, LPC Associate
Erica Mathis, Ph.D.
Ariana De Andrado, MA, LPC
Ayla Peret, LCSW
Julia Herrera, QHMP
Kim Nguyen, Grants Coordinator at HIV Resources Administration Unit
Arna Erega, PhD, LPC
Paige Loria, Professional Counseling student
Russell Kauitzsch, MS, LPC-S
Amy Schenck LPC Associate
Victoria Latifses, Ph.D.
Brianna Hamlyn, LPC Associate
Mayan Herman, LCSW
Avery Perez, LCSW
Amy Hoffman, LMSW
Daniel Edens, M.Ed., LPC
Stephanie Holmes, LMSW
Eden Blesener, BSW
Mark Provence, PhD
Alex Abbott, MPH, MPAff
Era Steinfeld, MA
Brian Temple, M.D.
Barbara Jones, PhD, MSW
Megan Satterfield, LPC-A
Becca Harkleroad, RN, NCSN
Ellen Johnson, LPC
Brittany Gilpin, LPC-A LMFT-A
Ashley Porter, LCSW
Sam Robinson, LCSW
Nicole Lansbery, LPC-S, LMFT
Shimarah Mehrotra, MPH, CPH
Richard Mann, LMSW
Tracy Morris, MA, LPC, LMHC
Rebecca Kalomiris, LCSW
Stacey Cholick, LPC
Molly Platz, LMSW
Erika Schiller, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC
Amanda Robinson, LPC, RPT
Noor I. Zibdeh, LMSW
Amanda Reyes, MSSW student
Jadyn Phillips, LPC Associate
Richard Bondi, HHSC retiree
Ryan Neugebauer, LPC Associate
J. Jade Adair, LCSW-S, LCDC
Anita Guajardo, LCSW-S
Angeline Miller, LPC Associate
Julia Lasker, LMSW
Tessa Lucia, LMFT-A
Jill Hokanson, LCSW-S
Dianna Verduzco, LMSW
Jena Simon, LPC
Annie Holleman, PhD
Leslie Bailey-Smith, LCSW
Sasha Arevalo, LCSW
Kathryn Taylor, BSW
Donna Shanor, LCSW-S
Shailagh Clarke, PhD
Alexandra Elder, LCSW
Molly Mayberry, LCSW
Sara Sloan, MFT-Associate
Marc Geronimo, Hypnotherapist
Lyndsay Brooks, PsyD
Jordan Weinert, LPC Associate
Erica Foster, MSW Candidate
Victoria Ortiz, LCSW
Marianne Stout, Licensed Psychologist
Isadora Cabral, DO
Claudia Thompson LPC-S, LMFT-S
Amanda Fuhr, LCSW
Jocelyn Chamra-Barrera, LCSW
Macey McClenen, MS, LPC Associate
Molly Synnestvedt, MA Counseling Candidate
Ashley Salinas, LPC
Molly Mead, LMSW
Michelle Tran, Graduate Counseling Intern
Philippa Mason, LMSW
Stephanie Davila, LMSW
Karen Pate
Kalee Gower, LCSW
Caitlin Jones, LMSW
Kaleigh Simental, MA
Jen Kahn MA, LPC
Sarah K. Sloan, LCSW-S,
Nick Winges-Yanez, LMSW, PhD
Carol M. Lewis, Ph.D.
Colton Seggern, LPC Associate
Lauren Corbin, LBSW, LPC
Robin McCullough Smith, LCSW-S
Sarah Pollard, LCSW
Ricky Vaughn, LPC
Shlomit Kirsch, Psy.D.
Melanie Kelner, LPC Associate, LMFT Associate
Moné Miller, LMSW
Kate Peoples, LCSW
David Duran, Ph.D.
Lorena Urbina, LCSW
Kerry Sheehan, LCSW
Brianne Blevins, LMFT-S, LPC-S, PMH-C
Matty Jernigan, LMSW
Adam Jimenez, LMSW
Ileana Gonzalez, LPC Associate
Christine C. Leyva, Ph.D.
Shari French, MS, LMFT
Ian Cole Watts, LCSW, LCDC
Michele Pierson, LCSW-S
Gurjit Kaur, LMFT Associate
Colleen Brunell, LCSW
Chelsey Carr, MSSW student
Sarina Lal, MSSW student
Chad Hejl, MSW candidate
Rachel Freedline, MSSW Candidate
Kaleena Prate, LMFT
Cara Presley, LICSW
Marissa A. Rivera, LPC-S
Rachel Ladov, LCSW
Liana Petruzzi, LCSW
Amelia Zique, LPC
Kaitlin Valentine, MD
Anita Franz, OSF, LCSW
Corie L. Cormie, LCSW-S
Jonathan McNutt, LPC
Anne Johnson, LPC
Jeni Wade, LCSW-S
Roxanne Watson, LPC
Hannah Jones, LPC
Zanna Stevanovic, LPC
Alec Wilhelmi, MD
Jack McDaniel, MD
Hilda Torres, MSSW candidate
Courtney Shields, LPC-Associate
Irene M Perez, LPC-Associate
Jade Kestian, Licensed Psychologist
DeLinda Spain, LCSW-S
Christine Molina, LCSW
Elizabeth Madaelil, MSSW Candidate
Benjamin Ehrenfeld, LCSW
Katelynn Kozbial, LPC, LCDC
Iris Baughman, MSSW Candidate
Brittany Baize, Director of Development & Communications at Family Eldercare
Ashley Hogan, LPC-A
Kelly Pajares, LPC
Justin Taylor, MSSW Candidate
Stephanie Ruh, LPC-A
Adriana Sanchez, LPC
Victoria Thorpe - MSSW Candidate
Stephanie Smiley, LCSW
Nataly Sauceda, MSSW
Abigail Findley, MSSW Candidate
Rich Armington, LCSW, CGP, SEP
Colleen Knox, LCSW
Melanie Skyler, LMSW
Mia Pastel, LPC-Associate
Brittany Rettenmeier, LPC-Associate
Alyn Bullock, LPC-Associate
Katie Cullather, LCSW
Samantha Benn, LCSW-S
Mallory Nelson, PharmD
Marsha Lowes, LPC Associate
Kara Nassour, LPC Associate
Mckenzie Martin, MSSW/MPAFF Candidate
Lynne Pierce, LMSW
Elene Drakonakis LCSW-S
Alyssa Schafer, MSW
Laura Marra, MSSW
Susannah Parkin, LMSW
Kyle A. McCall, MA, LPC Associate, LCDC
D L Staples, LPC
Savannah Shivers, MSSW Candidate
Mary Margaret Behle, LCSW
Jack Tsan, Ph.D.
Madeleine Brunk, LMSW
Devon Bortfeld, Ph.D. Student in Counseling Psychology
Sarah Chalmers, LCSW
Kyoko Kamishima, LCSW
Holly Casero, LCSW-S
John Sullivan, PhD Student
Kate Storm, MSW
John Betancourt MSSW Student
Andrew Dochen, MSSW Student
Lindsay Burns, LPC Associate
Susan Hilton, LMSW
Lori Axler Miranda, MSSW
Emily Fredericks, LCSW
Jennifer Dockery, Psy.D.
Camille Matthews, LCSW
Joo Lee, MD
Saloni Naik, MD MPH
Haley Fountain, MSSW Candidate
Devin Marsh, M.A., CCC-SLP
Samantha Simms, LPC Associate
Jamie Alger, LPC
Bradley Watson, LCSW
Anna Weinstein-Perez, MSEd, MSSW candidate
Kelly E. Green, PhD, LP
Claire Leight, Ph.D. Student in Counseling Psychology
Katherine L. Goldey, PhD
Sabrina Janecek, LPC
Georges Kim, LPC
Heather E. Thiel, LMSW
Celeste Gusme, M.A., LPC
Luke Steinman, M.A.
Darian Salinas, MSSW Candidate
Jennifer Bernard, MSSW/MPAff Candidate
John “JP” Cardenas, LPC Associate
Alex Sexton, MPAFF
Veronica Rothney, LMSW
Susan Harnden, LCSW
Amber Hunter-Crawford, LCSW-S
Emma Denning (she/they) LPC A
Laura Waltrip, MD
Cyndi Crowell, LCSW, EMDR Trained
Jocelyn Worley, DO
Anya Toskey, MSSW Candidate
Victoria Mireles, MMFT, LMFT-Associate
Kathryn Reynolds, LPC
Jenna VanSpronsen, LLPC
Michael Disch, PhD
Leslie Sirrianni, LCSW
Taylor Cnudde, LPC-A
Shanaz Ikonne, LPC, NCC, RPT
Jody Crenshaw, LCSW
Jessica Schroeder, MSSW Candidate
Katherine Michalske, MOTR/L
Victoria Cane, Ph.D, LP
Stephanie Solis, LMSW
Karen Confer LCSW-S
Camille Smith, LMSW
Rebeka Villarreal, LCSW
Dr. Curtis Simmons, DMA, Music Teacher
Naedean Herrera, LMSW
Lauren Davis, PhD, LMT
Eden Males, LCSW-S
Joyce Hefner, LMSW
Shelley Aubuchon, LMSW
Marina Dewberry, LMSW
Betty A. Twombly, LCSW, NCG
Sarah Sumpter, LPC-A
Dexter Northcutt
Michelle Robertson, PhD
Ann Boden, LPC
Dana Sprute, MD, MPH
Aerin Abrams, MSSW/MPAff Candidate
Kimberly Lacorte, LPC Associate, ATR-P
Laura Aguilera, BSW Intern
Carolyn Hilton, LMFT-A
Elana Carter, LMSW
Blake Smith, LMSW
Jennifer Rivera
Marlene Rodriguez, LMSW
Lindsey C. Taucher, LPC
Lydia Stetson, MA, LLP
Max Bellman-Seeskin, LPC-A
Mikaela Frissell, LCSW
Beatriz Moreno, LBSW
Lynn Panepinto, LCSW
Amanda Norcross, LPC
Elisabeth Bock, LMSW
Jenna Williams M.Ed.
Lisa White, LCSW
Lauren Fazio, LCSW
Aurelia Lopez, Sexual Health Professional
Vanessa Y. Fishel
Jessica R Dugan, LPC
Lisa ArrongeLPC-A
Hannah Vogt, LCSW
Hannah Rupley-Ulbrich, MS, LPC
Abby deSteiguer, MSc
Rachel Weisenburger, Clinical Psychology PhD Student
Poonam Dubal, PhD, LP, LSSP
Ginger Main Chun, MSW
Kadie Rackley, PhD
Victoria Brett Barrier, MSSW Graduate Student
Stephanie Askins, LCSW
Lisa Shenk, LPC
Debb Deitch R.N.
Jessica Russell, LCSW
Emma Holder, LMSW
DDeitch RN
Pam Johnson, LCSW
Joy Uwange, LCSW, LCDC
Jeannetta G. Williams, PhD
LeAnn Dapper, LPC
Jessica J. Chapa, MBA
Rachel Madorsky, LCSW
Emily Nash, MSW Candidate
Lori Holleran Steiker, Ph.D
Shannon Mann-Butler, MSSW, MAC
Kristen Whittington, MS, RD, LD