Counselors

Steffanie R. Thompson

LPC-Intern, CAS, RBT

LCDC

Supervised by:

Margie C. VanCleave
LPC-S

Trauma & PTSD
Drug and alcohol counseling/education
Spirituality
Anger Management
Peer Relationships
Emotional Disturbance
LGBT
Child abuse

Emotional Disturbance
Anger Management
Behavior/Conduct Disorder
Children/Adolescents
ADHD
Social Skills
Anxiety/Stress Management
Depression

Early Onset dementia
Adolescence
Abuse
ADHD
Anxiety
PTSD
Spirituality
Laughter Yoga
Canine Therapy

Eating Disorder
Self Esteem
Grief & Loss
Marriage, Couple and Family Therapy

Margie C. VanCleave

LPC-S

ADHD
Adolescent Issues
Anger Management
Anxiety/ Stress Management
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Behavior/Conduct Disorders
Blended Families
Bullying/Social Skills Issues
Christian Counseling
Depression

Anger management
ADD/ADHD
Anxiety Depression
Self-esteem
Social skills
Children/Adolescents
Play therapy
Trauma
Parent-child relationships

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:

Rosalia Martinez

LPC-Intern

LCDC-Intern

Bilingual

Supervised by:
Margie C. VanCleave
LPC-S

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

ADD / ADHD
Adult Individual Counseling
Adult Testing and Assessment
Anger Management
Anxiety / Phobic Disorders
Bereavement-Grief Counseling
Certified Employee Assistance Professional
Child abuse
Christian Counseling
Codependent Behavioral Therapy
Depression
Dissociative Disorder
Domestic Violence

          Rick is a loving husband to his wife Robin. Rick is active in the community having served on many boards and committees including Hospice Care Team, The United Way of Brazoria County and The Brazoria County Mental Health Task Force. He offers his time to many causes and he has served as a volunteer at the Houston Area Women’s Center.
          He has been honored by his former students on multiple occasions by being recognized as Who’s Who Among American Teachers. Rick also received the Betty Bliss Scholarship for perspective counselors. Rick is a veteran of the United States Navy where he received the Meritorious Service Award.
          Rick earned his doctorate from Baylor University in Educational Leadership. He also earned an M.S. in Counseling and a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and an LPC Supervisor. He is certified by the State of Texas as a Special Education Teacher, Counselor, Special Education Counselor, and Principal. He has served as an Elementary, Middle, and High School Counselor. In addition he has also served as a school administrator.
          Rick has presented on many occasions including the Texas Counseling Association Annual Convention, NAMI Gulf Coast and various counseling and educational organizations.
          Currently Rick is the Chief Operations Officer for Brazoria County Counseling Centers. Rick currently sees clients for individual counseling as a licensed clinician. He also conducts screenings, assessments, and groups.
           Ricks latest endeavor is as a Trainer of Trainers, presenter, and speaker for Managing Your Crazy Self an advanced Neuro Psychological way to reprogram your brain to overcome past trauma and negative experiences and gain happiness in your life.

My clinical areas of expertise include:

Greetings, my name is Domonick F. Crane I. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, currently licensed in the states of Oklahoma and Texas. I received my masters in Rehabilitation Counseling and Disability Studies from Langston University in Oklahoma. I am a husband and father of 4 wonderful children who allow me to test and sharpen my skills on them daily.

I employ an eclectic style of counseling from several modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused, Existential, and Client-Centered to name a few. I prefer working with children from the age of 4 up to that transitional young adult stage, simply because of my background and upbringing. I am the oldest of 4 boys in a single-parent household. Upon graduating with my bachelor’s, I had no true direction and ended up working in a juvenile detention facility. These journeys allowed me to be on both sides of needing help from a mental health stand. I was able to receive counseling, which I did not understand at the time, from different areas because I had several individuals that I was able to talk to and get the guidance that I needed to be successful. While working in juvenile detention, I was able to see that I was going to be able to effect more change in a child’s life if I can connect with them before they enter into the judicial system.

As stated before, my experience is in juvenile detention settings, school based, clinic based, and community-based counseling. I enjoy being flexible in my approach because it allows the client to feel more at ease and comfortable with the counseling process. I look forward to meeting you and building a bridge to a successful and more positive future.

My areas of expertise includes:

My clinical areas of expertise include:

Susan Avila

LPC

Divorce and Remarriage
Family Conflict
Grief and Loss
Marital Problems
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Parental Guidance
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Relationship Conflicts
Self-Esteem/ Self Respect/Boundaries
Vocational Coaching

Delma Z. Garza
Chief Executive Officer
LPC, LCDC

Bilingual

Domonick F. Crane, I

LPC

Greetings! My name is Jacqueline Higgins and I hold a Master of Science degree in Counseling from the University of Houston-Clear Lake campus. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and also work as a school counselor for the alternative school (DAEP) in Angleton ISD. In addition, I taught high school science for 21 years. I have been married for nearly 30 years and have 2 grown children. I love spending time with my family, traveling and reading. I am also an active member of my church and work with the middle school ministry and serve as an intercessor for our prayer team.

I have always had a heart to help people who were hurting and let them know that they are valued and that they have purpose. My approach to helping others is to listen non-judgmentally, care genuinely and speak truthfully within a safe and supportive environment. Most individuals hold the answers to their problems within themselves—sometimes it just takes someone to listen and help bring those answers to their awareness. I employ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (Mindfulness) as the primary counseling styles to cause change and solve problems within the lives of my clients.

My areas of expertise include:

Adolescence
Anger Management
Anxiety/Stress
Career Counseling
Christian Counseling
Conflict Resolution
Depression
Grief/Loss
Self-Esteem
Social Skills/Relational Issues

Jacqueline Higgins

LPC

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.
I earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Counseling and Guidance from Texas A & M – Kingsville. I hold a certification in Anger Management, and I am a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). My passion for helping others has lead me to volunteer in a women’s shelter, prison ministry, women’s ministry, and community outreach programs. I have worked as a program coordinator for at risk youths and families, a life skills coach at a men’s prison, and as an elementary and junior high counselor. I provide individual, couples, family, and group counseling, and I am also available for speaking engagements and educational classes both in English or Spanish.

My clinical area of expertise includes:

I hold a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Our Lady of The Lake University. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. I have been in private practice for 10 years. My education and previous work experience as a Harris County Juvenile Probation Officer and elementary school teacher gives me a unique insight with children and the adolescent population.

As your psychotherapist, I will help you establish goals based on your needs and provide you with skills to accomplish them. I consider myself to be a supportive and nurturing therapist. I strive to provide an environment where thoughts, ideas, and feelings can be shared without reservation or fear of judgment. I hope to empower those who come to share their struggles or issues, so they may continue their lives with peace of mind and solace. You will not only find a compassionate listener in me, but you will also find a proactive partner to assist you in implementing skills needed to help you live a fulfilling daily life.
On a personal note, I enjoy riding horses and spending time with my husband, family, and friends who are very special to me. I love dancing, traveling, and listening to a variety of music.
I also serve as a volunteer for The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

My clinical areas of expertise include:

Dr. Ricky D. Ertell

Chief Operations Officer
Ed. D., LPC-S, CART, CSC, CSEC

Marriage and family counseling
Parent/ child conflict
Domestic violence
Grief/loss
Children & adolescents
Self injurious behavior
ADHD
Bipolar Disorder
Depression/Anxiety/Trauma & PTSD

Eating Disorders
Gay / Lesbian Issues
Gender Identity
Learning Disabilities
Marriage and Family Therapy
Men's Issues
Mood Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Parenting Issues
Personality Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual-Physical Abuse
Stress Management

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)

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