Trauma and PTSD Therapists in Olmos Park, TX

Early morning, evening, and Saturday appointments available. Your family and even many therapists don't understand you and are not open. Anxiety, relationship issues, numbness, and negative self-image can be signs of trauma. The life transitions you are going through feel harder than you think they should. You feel like you are carrying a heavy load that no one else can see and are disillusioned. Perhaps you had spiritual experiences or dreams you cannot make sense of. You don't know what to believe anymore. But you've had enough of this. You want hope and meaning in your life. I get you. Let me help you move from pain to purpose!

I'm about love, self-compassion, radical acceptance, embracing failure, trusting your innate wisdom and starting over. I fundamentally believe in every person's ability to recover from trauma, addiction and life, in general. Experience has taught me that no one is really avoiding anything. When people accuse you of not dealing with something, what they are really saying is you aren't dealing with it the way they want you to. From my perspective, if you wake up every morning and breathe in and out all day long, you're dealing with your stuff. A tiny bit of intention is all it takes to begin healing.

My areas of focus are family of origin issues, dissociative disorders, and complex PTSD. I help clients “update” or transform their own relationship to their need for connection to themselves and others.

I strive to provide you with the tools to build and maintain a more fulfilling life. Each person has unique needs and goals in their therapy. I will not just passively listen, but will engage you, share my thoughts, and challenge you when appropriate. I strive to provide my clients an atmosphere of flexibility, acceptance, compassion, and humor. For 15 years I have successfully helped clients navigate life issues. Many people come to me feeling overwhelmed or lacking meaning in their life, while others are experiencing depression, anxiety, grief/loss, trauma/PTSD, relationship or gender issues.

Life can be messy–and by messy, I mean painful and joyous and everything in between. Counseling can provide a space where you feel seen, supported, and validated through it all. My approach is grounded in relational-cultural theory and trauma-informed counseling. I have worked with survivors of various losses and traumatic events. These experiences can result in feelings of shame and isolation. For this reason, my practice centers on healing through connection. I emphasize your safety and empowerment throughout the counseling process. I meet you where you are with warmth, non-judgment, and even a little bit of humor.

John is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC), and a board-certified National Certified Counselor (NCC). John has worked in the field of mental health, substance use, and lifestyle recovery for over 20 years. He provides counseling and group therapy for individuals, couples, adolescents, and children.

Located in Midtown San Antonio, River North Anxiety is a specialized mental health practice serving patients aged 18 to 65 with anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. Those experiencing any form of anxiety understand how it can control their lives. People often feel shame and don't realize that they have a treatable condition. Treatment need not involve extensive psychotherapy or even medication. Examining the accuracy of anxious thoughts, making strategic behavioral adjustments, and learning how to manage the physical sensations of anxiety are three components of effective, lasting anxiety treatment.

What do you want from your life? Are you experiencing a fulfilled life? If not, what's in your way and how can we work together to get you there? I help my clients seize what they want from their lives with more health and ease, and with less pain and suffering. My therapy approach is to be a collaborator with you in this process. Psychotherapy should be empowering! You are the expert about your life so far; we start with where you are now, and together through small but powerful shifts, we will create the life you want.

Making the decision to address life issues affecting your mental health can feel overwhelming and difficult. As a LPC, I take great privilege helping adults work through issues or situations that cause mental, emotional, and/or spiritual distress. I have experience working with some of the most acute and chronic mental health issues of varying diagnoses. I am trained to diagnose individuals appropriately per my years of clinical work experience as a crisis counselor, and I utilize that information in therapy to help clients gain knowledge, insight, and develop the necessary tools to help them succeed in daily living.

Have you been going to therapy for years, yet find yourself still struggling? Perhaps you're highly emotional, angry, anxious, depressed, avoiding, having distressing habits, or feeling hopeless like life isn't worth living. These behaviors are common with individuals who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or who have had highly stressful or difficulties with family of origin, all of which can compromise your sense of self, safety, and your ability to maintain healthy relationships with those you love the most. Know that you are not alone, and that I can help.

A native of San Antonio, I am a semi-retired Licensed Psychologist with a specialty in completing psychological evaluations for veterans, which I do on a contract basis for a company called Veteran's Evaluation Services (VES). I am no longer taking private therapy clients. My degrees are from Texas A&M University and Duke University.