Find a therapist, counselor or psychologist in Pflugerville, TX

"As someone who has had my own mental health issues, I understand the challenges of finding your way out of depression, anxiety, and the intense pain of emotional suffering."

Matthew Harmon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has worked with adults and children with disabilities, with death and dying, and extensively in the inpatient/outpatient behavioral health setting with individuals in crisis, including suicidal depression and other issues.

Matthew completed his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and his Master of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. He is passionate, attentive, and well-organized. Matthew believes that life is not always easy, and though there is joy, there is also much heartache. After years of working in this field, providing services to many different clients, Matthew came to the understanding that no situation is hopeless, that there is a solution to every problem, though not always what we expect.

Matthew aims to provide a safe, nonjudgmental environment where you can learn about yourself and your loved ones in an effort to feel more whole, more connected, and more in control of your life’s direction. He specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is one of the most effective evidence-based therapeutic treatments available. CBT is based on something called the “cognitive theory", an idea relating back to the ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus, who said, “Individuals aren’t disturbed by the world or what happens to them, but by their thoughts about the world.” The primary idea is that if we can change our thoughts about ourselves, the world, and our idea of the future, then we can change our experience. Matthew is also trained in hypnotherapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and has a passion for mindfulness, existentialism, ecotherapy, and other holistic methods.

Rica Puazo is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Art Therapist (LPC, RAT) who holds more than 4 years of experience working in residential treatment facilities and inpatient acute care with children, adolescents, young adults, college students, young professionals, adults, and geriatrics. She has experience working with individuals diagnosed with ADHD, bipolar disorder and mood disorders, schizophrenia, conduct disorders, depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, substance abuse, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and neurocognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Rica also has experience working with families, couples, the LGBTQIA+ community, and individuals with disabilities.

She received her Master’s degree in Counseling and Art Therapy from Adler School of Professional Psychology and her Bachelor's in Psychology from Baylor University. Rica’s approach to therapy is adapting the different theories, applying appropriate intervention, and finding the right tools and support for the client’s therapeutic goals. 

As an Art Therapist, Rica encourages exploring the art process to help individuals visualize inner struggles as well as encourage self-expression. Rica believes in building confidence in oneself to overcome and accept personal struggles. Work with her to start building self-confidence, happiness, and healthier relationships.

"I believe every new day is an opportunity to teach new skills to others who would like to grow."

Dwight Newell is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 30 years of experience in the mental health field. He has worked in outpatient, inpatient, and intensive outpatient settings to offer quality mental healthcare to assist those in need. He has worked with individuals, families, and couples to assist them in learning the steps necessary to reach their greatest level of happiness. Dwight has worked with all age ranges needing to learn skills to reach higher levels of life satisfaction. Dwight has worked with parents to help them learn ways to guide their children to attain a greater level of emotional health. Dwight has worked to assist children to have healthier relationships with peers and their families. Additionally, Dwight has worked with adults of all ages to help them reach greater levels of work/life balance and happiness. Dwight has worked with persons of all ages to assist them with situations that trigger increased anxiety, depression, and decreased functioning. Dwight specializes in mood issues, anger, anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues which contribute to problems in functioning.

Dwight completed a Master of Counseling Psychology Degree at Mississippi College. During his career, he has worked with all kinds of people struggling with a variety of psychological conditions that impeded their daily functioning. Dwight has worked with military families and helped them learn ways to deal with the unique challenges they face. Dwight has worked with people from all walks of life who simply lack confidence and motivation to reach their greatest potential as a member of society, their families, and as an individual. Dwight utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and Christian counseling to help individuals and families learn the skills necessary to grow. Dwight's experiences in numerous settings with people from all walks of life coupled with extensive experience with the counseling approaches mentioned above allow him to assist clients wherever they may be in life and assist them in reaching their goals.

Dwight has learned some things about people throughout his career to this point. The fact is that everyone needs help figuring out the next step in life sometimes. We all have difficult experiences that we have to learn to navigate. Getting experienced, thoughtful advice can assist one at a critical crossroads in life. If you are willing to put in the effort to implement new strategies that will promote mental, physical, and spiritual growth, schedule an appointment with Dwight today!

"Whether you are navigating family dynamics, coping with daily life stressors, looking to improve social relationships, or anything in between, the empowering environment I create will provide you space to explore and work to resolve the challenges you face."

Catherine Atkinson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), who has a passion for helping others achieve the best versions of themselves. She is passionate about helping adolescents, adults, and families address their unique challenges and live more fulfilled lives. Catherine specializes in anxiety, relationship issues, family dynamics, and major life transitions.

Catherine completed her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from A&M University - Central Texas. She believes that effective therapy starts with establishing a strong therapeutic relationship with clients so that they feel comfortable, free from judgment, and encouraged to find solutions to reach their goals. Catherine utilizes multiple treatment approaches including Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Family Systems. This allows her to adapt her approach to the specific needs of her clients.

We all go through challenges in life. Catherine is confident that she would be able to empower and support you on your path to gain new perspectives and techniques that will allow you to tackle whatever challenges you may be facing. If you are ready to do the work, schedule an appointment with her today!

"I provide a safe and nonjudgmental environment where I can get to know you and what treatment(s) will work best for you."

Dr. Angela Ziskis is a Licensed Psychologist who enjoys working with adults and adolescents and has clinical experience in a variety of treatment settings, including inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System. Dr. Ziskis has 10 years of experience in the mental health field.

Dr. Ziskis completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology at Northwestern University and her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University. She has lived in the Austin area since 2012 and is a native Houstonian. 

Dr. Ziskis's approach to therapy is person-centered, that is, creating an open and honest environment to get to know you, your strengths, and your struggles. Together, she will create a treatment plan with you that will enable you to use your strengths to achieve your life goals. Dr. Ziskis is trained to provide evidence-based treatments, which include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). She often uses components of a variety of therapies to best suit your needs.

"My goal, as your therapist, is to help you look within to find your strengths that will help you to overcome adversity and discover the person you were meant to be."

Natalie Lenard is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with more than 10 years of experience in counseling and mental health. Working with clients across all age ranges, she has assisted clients with issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, academic struggles, dissociative disorders, family and relational problems, and stage of life hardships.

Natalie graduated with a Master's degree in Counselor Education from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. Her degree included a focus on both School and Community Mental Health Counseling. Natalie's later experiences working in domestic violence, substance abuse, criminal justice, parental alienation, and high-conflict divorce have taught her that long-term healing is the result of working to heal the root causes of our struggles. Natalie’s treatment approach incorporates trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy (TI-CBT), relational methods, and attachment theories, among many others.

Natalie understands the importance of personal growth to promote long-term healing. Her goal is to help you look deep within, find the person you are meant to be and use those strengths to be able to overcome difficulties yourself. Together, you will work to find the YOU that is the author of your story. Natalie looks forward to helping you achieve your goals.

"As a seasoned therapist, I am well equipped to meet you where you are and work with your unique needs and experiences to help support positive growth and emotional stability."

Amanda Ramos is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who has a great passion for helping clients remove any identified barriers between themselves and their life goals through healing therapeutic work and an increase in positive coping skills. Amanda has 13 years of experience working in the mental health field with a background in all levels of clinical care within both mental health and substance abuse treatment settings. She has worked within the court systems where she advocated for clients in drug court settings as well as in family court as a representative of the Department of Children and Families. Additionally, Amanda has extensive experience with clients in one-on-one and group settings. Throughout her career, Amanda has worked directly with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, change of life issues, substance abuse, trauma, eating disorders, mood disorders, family conflict, relational conflict, grief and loss, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Amanda completed her master's program in Psychology at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with a concentration in Mental Health Counseling. In addition to being an LPC in the state of Texas, Amanda is also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (LMHC-S) in the state of Florida, where her career began.

Are you ready to begin the healing journey and become everything you have always wanted to be? Well, you are in the right place! Your healing journey starts here! As you begin your therapeutic journey with Amanda, she will ensure that a person-centered approach is at the foundation of your work together. The person-centered approach is utilized to create a safe space, free of judgement, with unconditional positive regard in which you, the client, will feel comfortable being vulnerable and open in order to foster the level of healing you desire. Amanda will also provide an individualized plan for therapy that will utilize coping skills and new ways of thinking that fit your learning style and personality to make certain that the change you work hard to bring about will be long-lasting and sustainable. Additionally, Amanda will always collaborate with you, the client, on the plan for therapy. She is experienced in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), including the use of narrative therapy to bring about resolution to trauma symptoms, and mindfulness-based CBT.