Hello, my name is Susan Avila. I hold a Master's degree in School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling from the University of St. Thomas. I am a licensed professional counselor. I have worked in the Houston education system for 19 years. In my fourteen years of working with middle school children, the last eight as a middle school counselor, I have a wealth of experience in supporting adolescents in working through their challenges and helping their families navigate the adventure in this development stage of life.
I am very passionate about guiding young people as well as adults in creating meaningful goals and explore the answers they hold within themselves to overcome the challenges they may be facing. I take pride in building strong, trusting, long lasting positive rapport with my clients.
Life has many ups and downs, as your therapist, I seek to decipher any challenges life throw at you. I am a compassionate listener who will help you find the positive pathway to adjust and cope with these challenges. I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental zone and create a comfortable, positive environment where humor is incorporated, while keeping it real. Life is stressful on its own, talking about your issues shouldn't be.
Everyone wants to know that there is someone willing to listen to their struggles, that they matter and that they are heard. What you have to say matters and provide you with the support that is needed to overcome any adversities you may be facing.
My counseling interests are:
- Anxiety / Depression
- Grief
- Self Esteem
- Self- harm
- ADD/ADHD
- Parent/child relationships
- Social Skills
- Anger management
- Life transitions
- Anger Management
- EMDR
- Trauma
- Neuroscience
- Attention Deficit Hyper Active Disorder (ADHD)
- Marriage and Communication
- Veterans / First Responders
- Mindfulness/ DBT/ Meditation
- Former Incarcerated Population
- Emotional Intelligence
- Suicide Prevention (CRP)
- Emotional Disturbance
- Anger Management
- Behavior/Conduct Disorder
- Children/Adolescents
- ADHD
- Social Skills
- Anxiety/Stress Management
- Depression
- Eating Disorder
- Self Esteem
- Grief & Loss
- Marriage, Couple and Family Therapy
Margie C. VanCleave
Clinical Director
LPC-S
My clinical areas of expertise include:
Rosalia Martinez
LPC-Intern,LCDC-Intern
EMDR
Bilingual
Supervised by:
Margie C. VanCleave
LPC-S
Clinical Director
- Early Onset dementia
- Adolescence
- Abuse
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Spirituality
- Laughter Yoga
- Canine Therapy
Susan Avila
LPC
Steffanie R. Thompson
LPC, CAS, RBT
LCDC
Life allows us to experience personal contentment and fulfilling relationships, but as all of us know we also encounter disappointments, losses, and setbacks. Sometimes we can easily navigate through life’s challenges, but other times we find ourselves at a crossroad face with confusion and overwhelming emotions and not knowing which direction to take. If you find yourself in such place, please know that you are not alone and that there is help in your time of uncertainty.
Personally and professionally I have witnessed how genuine care and a non-judgmental approach can initiate personal insight and healing. Therefore, I welcome my clients to come as they are and expect to find hope through practical solutions. Whether it is a stumbling block or a mountain in your path, together we will discover how to overcome by cultivating inner strength, bringing perspective for your life goals, and equipping you with the necessary skills to successfully continue on your life’s journey.
You don't have to face your giants all alone. Take heart and ask for help. You are worth it.
Education: ( Graduate of Texas A&M Kingsville)
- Bachelor of Science in Education
- Master of Science in Counseling and Guidance
Specialized Training and Clinical area of expertise:
Howdy, my name is Anna-Lisa Hernandez and I am a Graduate-Clinician here at Brazoria County Counseling Clinic. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Sociology and I am currently a graduate student pursuing my Masters of Education in Counseling from Sul Ross State University.
I am drawn to theories and techniques that focus on the individual, positive and healthy behavioral choices. I am eager to continue to learn about the way one’s perception can impact their thoughts and behaviors. My goal is to facilitate a safe and welcoming environment for my clients to embark on a journey of positive self-growth and actualization.
My counseling interests are:
- Anxiety & Stress Management
- Depression
- Career Counseling
- Children & Adolescents
- Marriage, Couple & Family Therapy
- Substance Abuse
- Self-Harm
- Self-Esteem
- Social Skills
It has been my honor to live and serve in Brazoria county for the past 30 years. I attended Angleton High School and graduated with honors from Brazosport College. My Bachelors and Masters level work was done at University of Houston. Currently I hold a Texas Certification as a counselor in special needs and L.P.C. with supervisor status. I am also a member of the Brazoria County Task Force and a Suicide Prevention educator.
My goal as a mental health therapist is to facilitate self awareness and empowerment in a safe environment. My methods are client centered and focus on mind/ body connections. I am trained in mindfulness and animal assisted therapy.
On a personal note I enjoy dancing, water Zumba, travel, volunteering, being a grandmother to 3 youngsters and serving in the recovery community. I am a member of Brazosport Association of Retired Teachers, Texas Retired Teachers and Community Advisory Council for Brazoria County .
The following are my areas of expertise:
- Play therapy with children ages 5 and up
- Life Role Transition
- Grief
- Major Depression Disorder
- Bipolar
- Special needs
- LGBT Issues
- Eating Disorders
- Family Systems
- Co-dependency
- End of Life Issues
- Chronic Pain
- Addiction
- Grief and Loss
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Parental Guidance
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Relationship Conflicts
- Self-Esteem/ Self Respect/Boundaries
- Vocational Coaching
- Faith Based Counseling
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
Anna-Lisa Hernandez
LPC - Practicum
Supervised by:
Margie VanCleave
LPC-S
Clinical Director
I am a Registered Behavior Technician and Certified Autism Specialist with 11 years of experience in the education and mental health field. I am also a professional member of the American Counseling Association (ACA). I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from University of Houston-Downtown, a Master of Education degree in School Counseling from University of St. Thomas and Clinical Mental Health Counseling Certificate from Lamar University. I currently serve as a Behavior specialist with Angleton ISD. In my graduate program, I specialized in Anger Management, Marriage and Family Therapy as well as Individual Therapy.
My professional experience includes group and individual therapy in the school setting with Kindergarten-5th grades and individual therapy of all ages in local counseling facilities.
I have worked with individuals and groups on issues such as family issues, divorce, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, anger management, parenting skills, grief and loss, physical and sexual abuse, and adolescent issues.
Counseling Style
I know that making the decision to contact a therapist can be difficult for some and my goal is to make the process as welcoming as possible. I work in an extremely relaxed, informal manner that is collaborative in nature. You will find that our therapy sessions most resemble a warm conversation in a soothing office setting. I like to use humor regularly in my therapy sessions and I take every possible measure to ensure that my office is a safe place for clients to freely laugh, cry, or express anger as they need.
I believe that many people not only experience stress and anxiety by unfortunate adversities, but also by how they construct their views of reality through the stories they tell themselves regarding the stressful incident. While I like to systematically pull different counseling techniques from a wide range of theories, I tend to work most heavily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused (SF) and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) standpoints. Both of these types of therapies help people overcome irrational, dysfunctional, and unhealthy thought process that tend to add to and prolong emotional strain, trauma, and tension due to a stressful life incident.
Certification
- Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) #RBT-17-32043
- Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) #162866
- Texas Educator Certificate #1306134
- Generalist EC-4
- Special Education EC-12
- School Counselor EC-12
- Professional Memberships
- American Counseling Association, (ACA)
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA)